ToME: the Tales of Maj'Eyal

Right now Light armors are in a weird spot. They don't see a lot of use because both robes (which tend to have ridiculous offensive bonuses) and heavy/massive armor are just so much better.

I think this problem could probably be remedied if Mobile Defense were a) More readily available, and b) Probably better in some way other than raw defense, like bonus movement speed or maybe making ranged attacks miss you or something.

Maybe it could come with a (-small-) evasion chance?

Robes are classed as light armor for the purposes of Mobile Defense.

That wouldn't fix the problem.

The best answer to that issue I've come up with is that the Defense values on Light Armor need to be higher. Probably closer to 35~ at cap, rather than 20 like they are now-basically a bit near double the values they have currently.

Looking at the talent I think it should be more readily available - at least any class that should come off as mobile should be running around with it. If it is left in the Mobility Tree then Brawler, Archer, Rogue, and Shadowblade (perhaps Temporal Warden too) should all be good candidates to pick up the tree (even if they pick it up locked). If it is moved to Combat Training the the problem of availability is mute.

The bigger problem is most likely the case of it being and inferior talent that doesn't match up to Armor Training or other Generic Talents you might go after. Armor Training gives you two notable advantages - one being it enables you to make use of more equipment, two improving said equipment more with each talent point invested in a meaningful way. Mobile Defense on the other hand only improves your use ability to use the limited equipment - sometimes in a way that doesn't matter (Offensive Bonuses on Armor) or not enough to match up to what Combat Training would give.

If we are looking to improve the talent then it should give a clear bonus that is really useful. Movement speed is already given by Strider (if left in Mobility Tree, Combat Training would render that mute). Giving a bit of Evasion or Deflection is perhaps useful but it seems like a really minor use.

Perhaps though one bonus that is really useful that it could have is Action Speed - or if that is too powerful just limit it to Physical Attack Speed.

Maybe it should just be passed out default on any class that actually cares about Defense stacking, but isn't a robe-using mage?

That'd be Rogue/Shadowblade/Temporal Warden. That's not a long list, and it doesn't seem overpowering or out of place on any of them.

I wouldn't solve the problem compared to robes but it might compared to heavy armor.

You're right though in that the robe classes don't really need the help.

The talent should probably be buffed and made available to relevant classes, I agree.

I think it's better to just buff the armors than the talent, really.

Just make them high Defense. Heavy armor's high Armor, light armor's high defense, robes are neither but good at other things. It seems like good symmetry, and by buffing the armor's defense, you effectively buff Mobile Defense(which multiplies all of your Defense).

The main difference is, it gives robe using classes more of a reason to use light armor, rather than just robes. (Or, for that matter, Mobile Defense users.)

Well there's a general issue of making light armour relevant here... Some extra egos could help, especially offensive ones.

Personally I'd like to see character in light armour having higher physical crit rate, whether through equipment or talents.

Grey wrote:Well there's a general issue of making light armour relevant here... Some extra egos could help, especially offensive ones.

Personally I'd like to see character in light armour having higher physical crit rate, whether through equipment or talents.

Makes sense imo. You arent restricted as much so its a lot easier for you to strike those weak points on the enemy.

It would make me actually consider staying in Light armor as a rogue instead of just using heavy armor since im spending a talent in armor training level 1 anyways.

yea some decent resistance egos for light armors would help to match robes imo. also maybe change that second wind ego a little? maybe only like max -40 life and allow it on randart armors (never seen any, correct me if its possible)

i agree with acrin here, the key is more in the egos and uniques available. the defense values will be pretty hard to balance to grant a moderate evasion chance - either too much or not enough.