Heavy shield (maybe helmet) with armor being light?

[Venom Candle]

So, as I was thinking about the different armor types and what armor class combination would be most effective IRL? Then it hit me, what if I could major in both heavy and light armor, but wielding a heavy shield and maybe helmet for the most protection while the rest of the armor stays light for mobility?



Might make a well-rounded fighter build because of this in the near future.

[-Na Shagul-]

That could work but iirc you need to be in a full set of either to reap maximum benefits, mixing them together might nullify anything good.

[Count Von Count]

For real life you’d have to weigh the weight of heavier armour vs the potential for protection. For game purposes, I’d advise against taking a major in both armours, as being a master of either allows you to reach the armour cap (light armour takes extra damage, and heavy weighs nothing)

Originally posted by -Na Shagul-:

That could work but iirc you need to be in a full set of either to reap maximum benefits, mixing them together might nullify anything good.

It’s been a long time since I actually read the perks in this game, but I’m pretty sure that the benefit for being a apprentice/journeyman/expert/master in armour happens regardless of how much armour you’re wearing

You write of a Skyrim type of perk where you must wear the full armour type to get any perk benefit.

[Rez Elwin]

The only perk that is affected by what you're wearing is the Master level light armor perk. That perk increases the defence of light armor by 50% but only when wearing light armor. It doesn't matter what armor or how much just that it's only light, mixing armors will remove that effect.

I would not mix them because once you reach master the same level light armor provides the same protection as heavy and once you reach master in heavy the weight while equipped become zero. They essentially become exactly the same and are only for aesthetics at that point. Heavy armor has a bit more health than light but that's it I think.

One last thing to consider is the type of character you’re making because if you want to make the most of your levels each armor skill levels a different attribute. Light armor raises Speed while heavy raises Endurance; Endurance is also a very good attribute to level as early as possible because the higher it is the more hp you gain on level up but it isn’t retroactive.

[ralphtobybob]

You have to be flexible. Sometimes you'll come across some enchanted gear that is useful. This game I'm heavy armor. It's a combo of Dwarven and Blades with a feather enchantment. The boots are loot. They're light armor with feather. The shield is from a city quest with a reflect damage and fortify attribute. It's heavy armor. The boots give light armor XP. I never really get around to raising light armor since I keep it as a minor skill
I found the helmet early in the game. its a Mage type with dual enchantments. It's heavy armor.
I also carry a light armor cuirass with a chameleon enchantment for sneaking. That was loot too.

Your armor skill also affects your spell effectiveness.