Armorsmith Archive
Thread: 4-piece armor, vs. fewer pieces, vs. none
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Uthyr
Thu Dec 02, 2004 11:50 am
#1
I dropped into this forum today to research 4-piece armor sets, and find myself being both enlightened and confused on the topic. Until a few days ago, I used to walk around (when I wasn't buffed and expecting to do battle) with comp gloves, chest plate, and boots, and I wore Mabari Steelweave pants because I think they look cool and because I like the Dizzy and Ranged Defense mods and very low encumbrance.
Lately I've been experimenting with fighting medium-level stuff unbuffed,mainly to see if I could do it skillfully and not be so dependent on buffs (partly in preparation for whateverHAM revisionsmay come about with the CU), and so I am trying to reduce my encumbrance as much as possible so I can spama bunch of pistol specials before I need to heal (I'm also a medic). I do use food (mainly Scrimpi) to reduce/balance my specials costs, but it only helps so much, and I go through an awful lot of expensive stimpacks (which drain myMind to use). So, I have recentlyjust been wearing a comp chest plate and the Mabari pants, and nothing but regular clothes on the rest of me. The way I have my HAM stats currently set (heavy on Mind--I've done a lot of experiementing with stat migration), my pistol specials drain my Action the most, followed by Health. When I am buffed, I wear either full Ubese, or else 5-piece comp (minus only the arm pieces), orsometimes substituting Mabaripants for the comp pants. With that in mind, and considering that I am exclusively PvE except for when I am caught off-guard with a TEF, here are my questions:
1) Is it doing me much good to wear just one piece of comp armor (chest plate) fighting medium-level NPCs/creatures (usually starting as ranged attacks, but occasionally advancing to melee range if I can't drop the target quickly enough), or would it be worth theremovedencumbrance to just wear no armor at all in these situations, and rely on my stimpacks? I mainly want to avoid getting killed unexpectedly bya random attackerin one or two shots/hits (before I have time to use a stimpack), but also want to prolong my ability to deal damage in low-level battle.
2) I read in a recent thread (if I am understanding what was said) that skirts can actually cause leg damage because they cover armor boots. Does this include the skirt-like Mabari pants? In other words, during times when I am wearing comp boots, should I not wear Mabari pants?
3) What else would you do differently than what I am doing, in my position?
Homer_J_S
Thu Dec 02, 2004 12:18 pm
#2
A good armorsmith can put 80% kinetic Ultralights under 200 HAM(sliced) for the 4-pcs. I would suggest you play with stat migration first to make regenation a priority. Keep mind stats high also. Food buff you want to get is BE accarragm and BEGarrmorl and Ahrisha, or Canape, Moun gold for emergencies. You drink one of each and eat an Ahrisha you can take on anything under 10k HAM.
Uthyr
Thu Dec 02, 2004 2:09 pm
#3
Thanks for the response, Homer.
As for making regeneration a priority, I can see how that would be a useful suggestion for some templates, but I feel little need to do that because I can instantly regenerate my Health and Action to 100% with a stimpack D or E. My mind stats are already high enough so that I don't need to pay them much attention in the types of PvE encounters I typically have (Nightsisters being a noteworthy exception), especially whenenhanced with a couple of hits of brandy. I do use Canape in rare emergency situations when I find my mind dropping.
I did a lot of research on foods recently (basically justlooking overtables of their stats), and the scheme that I find myself using most often lately(when I'm not buffed) is to do 2 hits of brandy + 2 hits Scrimpi +1 hit of Gruvaan Shaal. That keeps me good to go for about 45 minutes, provided I keep using stimpacks everyseveral specials (which I hate having to do). I don't like having to be dependent on a wide variety of foods, especially if they only last for a few minutes and then leave my stomach full, unless as you said it's an emergency. I may go back and take a closer look at the other foods you mentioned though. But I digress...
You did raise another interesting question in my mind. Would I be better off with a 4-piece set of the kinetic ultralights you mentioned, rather than the single 90% base chest plate that I currently wear when unbuffed? I don't like having to carry around too many sets of armor (my inventory space is usually extremely limited!), and I prefer having a full set of the higher-damage stuff on handfor when I am buffed. I only wear the chest plate (when unbuffed) because it seems to me that's what tends to take the most hits if a random NPC attacks me, but I may be way off-base on that. Is that 200 HAM the total encumbrance for a 4-piece encumbrance-sliced set of comp? That seems too good to me to be true. Kinetic protection is frequently not my main concern though, since as a ranged attacker I can often clear an entire lair wearing no armor at all without taking a single hit, if I do it right. I'm more concerned about that random NPC that catches me off guard and takes me out in a couple of shots, or the occasional creature that reaches me before I take him out. If I'm after more dangerous stuff, I simply make sure I'm buffed.
Asir_SWG
Thu Dec 02, 2004 2:29 pm
#4
Re the ultralight comp armor with 80% kin, it is possible to get a 4 peice set to 260/190/330 ish before slice, so after a top enc. slice so around 143/104/181 is possible, while keeping full protection and 80% kin / 60% base.....
Homer_J_S
Fri Dec 03, 2004 11:13 am
#5
Uthyr,
By wearing only the chest you're gonna leave the mind and action pool open, any hits there will not be blocked. With npc's abilty to do special moves now it will only take one hit to take you down. If you thinks you're ok with the foods department and don't require any regeneration by all means keep your stats the way it is.
But, 4-pc ultralight is what you should be looking for armor with your play style. and if you worry about needing more energy protection than kinetic, then ask your AS to make you ultralight with energy layers instead. Or you could even ask for 80kin/80 energydual layer armor from your AS. but dual layers tends to be heavier. Even with the best encumbrance sliced pcs my best dual layer stuff comes in arround 300-HAM for the 4-pcs. Composite armor is very versitile in the way you play with resist.
Uthyr
Fri Dec 03, 2004 3:08 pm
#6
Thanks for the very useful info, Asir and Homer.
Homer, you've definitely convinced me to go for a set of layered ultralight. I'm really not sure if kinetic or energy-layered would be best for me, and I don't know if I want the added encumbrance of a dual layer. I really just want to wear it to protect me from random attacks (like what happened today when I was cruising around on my speeder and a Tusken warlord incapped me with one shot from out of nowhere), although I would sometimes be wearing it when doing ranged attacks on creature lairs. What do the base (unlayered?) stats tend to be on this armor?
I did know that I had no Mind and Action protection just wearing a chest piece. I guess I was sort of gambling that more random incapacitating hits would get me in the Health, and was willing to risk the Action and Mind for better encumbrance. I'm not usually concerned about random mind hits because my mind pool is so high (it's maxed out) and because I need an unencumbered mind to regen quickly after using my stimpacks, so I rarely wear a helmet unless I am expecting to do heavy battle (although I could have used it today against that Tusken warlord!). I am a bit concered about my Action vulnerability though, so I like your suggestion. I'll probably buya 4-piece set of layered ultralight, and leave the helmet unequipped until I really need it.
Back tomy earlierquestion of a skirt impeding foot armor--does anybody see any problem with wearing Mabari steelweave pants with a 4-piece comp set? Will wearing it even give me any added protection (other than the useful defensive mods), or would I be better off with just ordinary (non-armor) pants?
If any armorsmiths on Naritus sell (or can custom-make for me) any good encumbrance-sliced stuff like what we're discussing here, please send me a PM or in-game e-mail.
Asir_SWG
Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:51 pm
#7
Uthyr wrote:
Back tomy earlierquestion of a skirt impeding foot armor--does anybody see any problem with wearing Mabari steelweave pants with a 4-piece comp set? Will wearing it even give me any added protection (other than the useful defensive mods), or would I be better off with just ordinary (non-armor) pants?
If you ware leg armor it will get hit, as the resists are much lower than comp, the steelweave will reduce the protection you have.... The 4 peice sets only work as the system see no armor in that area thus re-directs the hit to the boots...
Get some BE'd camo pants to go with your set, this works for me and 100% no armor holes...
AndJusticeForAll
Sun Dec 05, 2004 11:19 am
#8
Not sure ultra-lit 80 kin 80 energy is possible... my lit kin uses three 2/2/2 HAM kin layers 80 kin 63 base....
Perhaps keep the heavy 90 base chest and get a nice encum sliced 80kin 70 base helm? (these can go as light as160-180 mind ham with a great slice)
OR you could have a smith custom craft you some nightsister comp and hope for encumb slices.... I recently made some shard enhanced lit comp with medium quality shards (5 suits) and the best pieces gave me a full 9-piecesuit with ~270 HAM...
Message Edited by AndJusticeForAll on 12-05-2004 11:27 AM
Uthyr
Sun Dec 05, 2004 12:07 pm
#9
Asir_SWG wrote:
If you ware leg armor it will get hit, as the resists are much lower than comp, the steelweave will reduce the protection you have.... The 4 peice sets only work as the system see no armor in that area thus re-directs the hit to the boots...
Get some BE'd camo pants to go with your set, this works for me and 100% no armor holes...
That's just bizaare--that adding a piece of armor will actually reduce your protection! 
So it sounds like you're saying that I'm better off giving up the +5 Defense vs. Dizzy and +3 Ranged Defense that my Mabari pants have (that's going to hurt to do, and to have to give up my signature look with my armor-plated "kilt"), to improve the effectiveness of the armor system. What kind of stats/mods should I be looking for with BE camo pants?
So it sounds like you're saying that I'm better off giving up the +5 Defense vs. Dizzy and +3 Ranged Defense that my Mabari pants have (that's going to hurt to do, and to have to give up my signature look with my armor-plated "kilt"), to improve the effectiveness of the armor system. What kind of stats/mods should I be looking for with BE camo pants?
Uthyr
Sun Dec 05, 2004 12:15 pm
#10
AndJusticeForAll wrote:
Not sure ultra-lit 80 kin 80 energy is possible... my lit kin uses three 2/2/2 HAM kin layers 80 kin 63 base....
Perhaps keep the heavy 90 base chest and get a nice encum sliced 80kin 70 base helm? (these can go as light as160-180 mind ham with a great slice)
One thing I'm trying to avoid doing at all cost is increase any of my HAMs any more thanthey aready ares with my 269/112/80 HAM, 90% base chest plate. That's already more HAM than I care to wear in my non-battle activities. I wouldn't mind getting the encumbrance-sliced helmet you mentioned for situations where I really need it (in fact I may just do that), but I would really prefer not to keep a helmet equipped all the time when I am not expecting to do battle. I appreciate the suggestion, Mauro.
This pointraises another question... what will happen to my defenses if I only wear a 3-piece set (chest, boots, and gloves)? I know it will leave my mind more open to damage (I'd gladly risk that to free up the mind encumbrance), but how will it affect the effectiveness of the other 3 pieces?
AndJusticeForAll
Sun Dec 05, 2004 12:37 pm
#11
I made my combat alta suit of 80% kinetic encumbrance sliced padded minus the helm... got buffed and went hunting on yavin.... my head got hit more times than I care to think about...
As for ranged attacks....a lucky headshot from a tusken will bring you down off your bike even with a mind buff. dont risk it. (this has happened to me) get a helmet or wear a good high energy psg while traveling...
There are alternatives too. I made some janta-enhancedhigh base tantel helms for a friend a couple weeks ago. After a 30% effectiveness slice one even got 37% base (tantel resists everything btw) They only had like 100 mind encumbrance, and look cool.
As for pants, one of the clothing vendors in the scmall (you're on naritus right?)makes 4 socket bleeding/stun resist BE pants for like 4k each.
Oh ya, you can wear boots gloves and chest... it works. The headappears to beisolated in how damage is calculated. Head hits WILL eat your mind pool fast however. The previous suggestion of using garrmorl and aracome (sp?) is a good one. I can hunt unbuffed with a lit 4-piece and good food buffs/stims....
snuff0r
Mon Dec 06, 2004 3:18 am
#12
i have a suggestion for your unprotected head problem.
i suggest youuse a tantel helmet for that one.
it is light ham, providing light AR protection to your head it catches 50% of any shot firedat you.
plus it looks really cool 
if you worry about more protection, you can even push the base on tantel to about 45%
i dont remember exactly but i think it has no vulnerabilty and only one or none special, so a pretty good overall protection
Uthyr
Mon Dec 06, 2004 4:45 pm
#13
Thanks for the suggestion about the Tantel helmet, snuff0r and Mauro. I checked out some pieces of that today, and it is indeed cool-looking, but I thought it over and decided I was willing to give up a bit of encumbrance to get a higher-basecomp helmet. I bought a very nice new 4-piece set of encumbrance-sliced comp today (from Mauro--thanks Mauro!), and I am extremely pleased with it. I think it's going to do just what I was trying to obtain for my HAM goals. So check out my new armor scheme and please let me know if there's anything you'd improve/tweak/modify, and please let me know if I've created any armor holes. Recall that my intended use for this armor is mainly to protect me from surprise attacks by NPCs, but also to offer me some degree of protection while fighting creature lairs or faction bases, and my main goal was to reduce my encumbrance as much as possible so I can spam my pistol specials with minimal cost from a safe ranged distance.
My new set is amostly unlayered (I think one piece has a kinetic layer) comp set of boots, chest plate, gloves, and helmet. The total encumbrance with all 4 pieces equipped is 199/69/228 (better than my solitary old 90% base chest plate!). I replaced my Mabari pants with BE camo pants (+4 Melee Defense, +15 Defense vs. Stun -- I couldn't find any bleed defense camos), and replaced my +18 bleed defense undershirt with a new +4 Melee Defense, +19 Defense vs Stun undershirt (I'm not sure yetif giving up my bleed defenses was a wise tradeoff, but I do at least have bleed-healing medic skills).
When I went off running factional missions today, I wore these pieces, equipped a 47% base PSG, and experimented with various combinations of food. With nothing but a singleserving of Scrimpi, I was able to spam my specials continuously with all my HAM pools draining at a uniformly slow and manageable rate, all pools draining at the same rate. Changing this to 2 servings Scrimpi + 1 serving Gruuvan Shaal + 2 servings Vasarian brandy (the most my stomach can hold), neither my Health nor Action dropped at all with continuous spamming of my specials--I might as well have been buffed. My health was the only pool that I had to keep an eye on, and that dropped at a very manageable rate--I was able to easily clear bases without having to use a stimpack as long as I was careful not to get hit too many times.
So, any comments on this scheme would be welcome,but I also just wanted to thank everybody for helping me figure out the best way to set this up. You're a most helpful group of players.
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