Armor balance

Warning: This section is outdated. It does not reflect current content inclusion policy and may not accurately represent how armor is implemented. When real armor performance data is available (eg military standards) for an item it should be used.

Approximating armor value is hard, but a rough algorithm helps with finding outliers - armor pieces too weak to matter or too strong not to be used.

The formulas presented are rather calculator-unfriendly, but simpler versions will be provided to help with balancing new items.

Coverage multiplier

Coverage is very important for all protective armor pieces. As such coverage below 100% is penalized extra hard.

Coverage multiplier is calculated as follows:

1 - tanh(3 * (1 - coverage / 100))

Or from table:

Coverage	Value
100	1
95	0.85
90	0.7
85	0.6
80	0.45
75	0.35

Simple value

Simple value only takes coverage, physical protection and encumbrance into account.

Note: simple value is only useful for calculating protection of torso, arms and (to lesser extent) legs. Head takes no encumbrance penalty, mouth, eyes, and hands are attacked very rarely but cause heavy penalties for encumbrance, feet are attacked very rarely but need acid protection.

The formula is:

coverage_multiplier * ((bash_protection+cut_protection)/2) / (encumbrance + 2)

Encumbrance is increased by 2 to penalize very light armors that require layering to provide real protection, get damaged quickly and are affected by armor stacking limit. If the item is refittable, the lower, refitted encumbrance should be used.

Armor stats should be balanced so that simple value fits the guidelines:

Simple value range	Good example	Armor type
>2	Powered armor	Ultra-high tech armor that consumes rare, non-replenishable resources (right now) just to work
1-2	Power armor	Ultra-high tech armor with major flaws (no acid protection etc.)
0.8-1	Chainmail	Best craftable armor focused solely on physical protection
0.5-0.8	Plated leather armor	Great craftable armor that may have some other features
0.4-0.5	Leather duster	Good armor (can be craftable relatively early on) or specialized armored clothing
0.2-0.4	Hoodie	Good clothing or mediocre armor
<0.2	Lab coat	Clothing too thin, uncovering, or encumbering to work as armor

Sample armors and their simple value (not necessarily fitting the table above):

Armor	Coverage	Encumbrance	(Bash+Cut)/2	Simple value
RM13 combat armor (on)	100	5	18	2.57
heavy power armor	100	60	114	1.84
basic power armor	100	50	66	1.27
plate armor	95	10	16	1.13
salvaged power armor	95	40	48	0.97
dragon skin vest	85	5	11	0.91
light survivor suit	100	7	8	0.89
MBR vest (Kevlar plates)	85	8	15	0.87
light power armor	100	40	36	0.86
chainmail armor	95	10	12	0.85
chitinous armor	90	10	14	0.83
heavy survivor suit	100	25	22	0.81
MBR vest (superalloy)	85	15	23	0.78
O-yoroi	85	7	12	0.77
MBR vest (empty)	85	7	12	0.77
scrap suit	90	15	18	0.75
Kevlar vest	85	5	9	0.74
leather vest	90	4	6	0.71
light survivor body armor	95	8	8	0.68
survivor cargo pants	100	10	8	0.67
pair of chitin arm guards	90	10	11	0.65
MBR vest (ceramic plates)	85	15	18	0.61
survivor suit	100	15	10	0.59
fencing jacket	100	5	4	0.57
nomad gear	95	10	8	0.57
shark suit	100	20	12	0.55
faraday shark suit	100	20	12	0.55
plated leather armor	90	14	12	0.53
light survivor cargo pants	95	8	6	0.51
subject suit	95	3	3	0.51
boiled leather armor	90	12	10	0.51
motorcycle pants	100	10	6	0.50
bone body armor	95	14	9	0.48
leather body armor	90	10	8	0.47
leather jacket	90	7	6	0.47
scavenger gear	100	20	10	0.45
winter survivor suit	100	27	13	0.45
striped pants	95	2	2	0.43
pair of iron greaves	70	6	12	0.43
leather duster	90	8	6	0.43
sports jersey	90	3	3	0.43
sleeveless leather duster	90	8	6	0.43
MBR vest (steel plating)	85	30	23	0.42
flame-resistant suit	100	3	2	0.40
armored leather vest	90	14	9	0.40
MBR vest (hard plates)	85	45	32	0.39
fur duster	90	9	6	0.39
sleeveless fur duster	90	9	6	0.39
survivor duster	85	7	6	0.39
ornamental plate armor	90	35	20	0.38
SWAT armor	95	25	12	0.38
fencing pants	95	7	4	0.38
judo gi	95	5	3	0.36
sweater	95	5	3	0.36
sweatshirt	95	5	3	0.36
AEP suit	100	20	8	0.36
turnout coat	100	20	8	0.36
turnout trousers	100	20	8	0.36
survivor firesuit	100	20	8	0.36
fur pants	95	10	5	0.35
army winter jacket	95	10	5	0.35
flannel jacket	90	6	4	0.35
red leather jacket	90	10	6	0.35
leather trenchcoat	90	10	6	0.35
leather pants	95	8	4	0.34
fur body armor	90	15	8	0.33
survivor wetsuit	100	10	4	0.33
pair of hard arm guards	80	5	5	0.33
pair of metal arm guards	80	15	12	0.33
armored leather jacket	85	14	9	0.33
hoodie	95	6	3	0.32
pair of bone arm guards	95	22	9	0.32
RM13 combat armor	100	20	7	0.32
pair of leather arm guards	90	16	8	0.31
motorcycle armor	95	20	8	0.31
army winter pants	95	12	5	0.30
jean jacket	90	5	3	0.30
XL survivor suit	100	25	8	0.30
wool poncho	85	2	2	0.29
rain coat	95	7	3	0.28
army jacket	95	7	3	0.28
jumpsuit	95	1	1	0.28
long underwear bottom	95	1	1	0.28
long underwear top	95	1	1	0.28
leather touring suit	95	7	3	0.28
union suit	95	1	1	0.28
polo shirt	90	3	2	0.28
leather chaps	65	3	6	0.26
gambeson	80	7	5	0.26
jeans	95	8	3	0.26
red jeans	95	8	3	0.26
sleeveless fur trenchcoat	90	15	6	0.25
fur trenchcoat	90	15	6	0.25
leather corset	75	7	6	0.24
pants	95	5	2	0.24
ski pants	95	5	2	0.24
leather apron	70	5	6	0.24
entry suit	100	40	10	0.24
light jacket	90	4	2	0.24
long-sleeved shirt	90	1	1	0.24
pair of fishing waders	100	15	4	0.24
fur coat	95	20	6	0.23
army pants	95	9	3	0.23
greatcoat	95	13	4	0.23
wolf suit	100	30	7	0.22
ANBC suit	100	35	8	0.22
pair of hard leg guards	75	10	7	0.21
XL jumpsuit	95	2	1	0.21
checkered pants	95	2	1	0.21
pair of neoprene arm sleeves	70	2	3	0.21
cassock	90	5	2	0.20
beekeeping suit	100	8	2	0.20
kariginu	100	8	2	0.20
bookplate	80	5	3	0.20
peacoat	85	10	4	0.19
sable coat	95	25	6	0.19
lab coat	90	2	1	0.18
dress shirt	90	2	1	0.18
windbreaker	90	6	2	0.18
spring suit	90	2	1	0.18
cargo pants	95	8	2	0.17
pair of thigh-high boots	80	15	6	0.16
duster	90	7	2	0.16
trenchcoat	90	7	2	0.16
dinosaur suit	100	30	5	0.16
winter coat	95	20	4	0.15
pair of arm warmers	80	1	1	0.15
blazer	85	10	3	0.14
hazmat suit	100	27	4	0.14
tunic	75	1	1	0.12
cleansuit	100	15	2	0.12
pair of paper arm guards	80	10	3	0.12
wetsuit	100	7	1	0.11
fur cloak	65	6	4	0.11
leather cloak	65	6	4	0.11
pair of knee-high boots	65	10	6	0.11
pair of 2-by-arm guards	75	25	8	0.11
pair of 2-by-shin guards	75	25	8	0.11
fur blanket	100	55	6	0.11
fur sleeping bag	100	80	8	0.10
clown suit	90	20	3	0.10
housecoat	85	10	2	0.10
robe	80	8	2	0.09
pair of stockings	75	2	1	0.09
Jedi cloak	65	3	2	0.09
emergency jacket	90	15	2	0.08
utility vest	60	2	2	0.08
cloak	65	4	2	0.07
sleeveless tunic	65	1	1	0.07
pair of leather vambraces	50	8	6	0.06
pair of leg warmers	60	1	1	0.06
evening gown	75	7	1	0.04
wedding dress	90	35	2	0.04
rag tunic	65	5	1	0.03