Armor balance

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	Armor type
>3	Ultra-high tech armor that consumes rare, non-replenishable resources (right now) just to work
2-3	Ultra-high tech armor with major flaws (no acid protection etc.)
1.5-2	Best craftable armor focused solely on physical protection
1-1.5	Great craftable armor that may have some other features
0.75-1	Good armor (can be craftable relatively early on) or specialized armored clothing
0.5-0.75	Good clothing or mediocre armor
0.3-0.5	Thick clothing or improvised armor
<0.3	Clothing that isn't supposed to be used 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	26	3.71
heavy power armor	100	60	171	2.76
plate armor	95	10	24	1.70
dragon skin vest	85	5	16	1.32
chainmail armor	95	10	18	1.28
heavy survivor suit	100	25	34	1.26
chitinous armor	90	10	21	1.24
MBR vest (empty)	85	7	18	1.16
MBR vest (superalloy)	85	15	34	1.16
leather vest	90	4	9	1.06
survivor suit	100	15	15	0.88
fencing jacket	100	5	6	0.86
subject suit	95	3	5	0.85
motorcycle pants	100	10	9	0.75
bone body armor	95	14	14	0.74
leather body armor	90	10	12	0.71
leather jacket	90	7	9	0.71
sports jersey	90	3	5	0.71
striped pants	95	2	3	0.64
leather duster	90	8	9	0.64
armored leather vest	90	14	14	0.62
MBR vest (steel plating)	85	30	34	0.61
judo gi	95	5	5	0.61
sweater	95	5	5	0.61
MBR vest (hard plates)	85	45	48	0.59
survivor wetsuit	100	10	7	0.58
fur duster	90	9	9	0.58
survivor duster	85	7	9	0.58
ornamental plate armor	90	35	30	0.57
fencing pants	95	7	6	0.57
jumpsuit	95	1	2	0.57
SWAT armor	95	25	18	0.57
union suit	95	1	2	0.57
turnout trousers	100	20	12	0.55
survivor firesuit	100	20	12	0.55
hoodie	95	6	5	0.53
flannel jacket	90	6	6	0.53
leather trenchcoat	90	10	9	0.53
pair of hard arm guards	80	5	8	0.53
leather pants	95	8	6	0.51
jean jacket	90	5	5	0.51
RM13 combat armor	100	20	11	0.50
army winter jacket	95	10	7	0.50
pair of metal arm guards	80	15	18	0.49
army jacket	95	7	5	0.47
leather touring suit	95	7	5	0.47
long-sleeved shirt	90	1	2	0.47
motorcycle armor	95	20	12	0.46
jeans	95	8	5	0.43
polo shirt	90	3	3	0.43
gambeson	80	7	8	0.41
leather chaps	65	3	9	0.39
pants	95	5	3	0.36
lab coat	90	2	2	0.35
dress shirt	90	2	2	0.35
light jacket	90	4	3	0.35
pair of arm warmers	80	1	2	0.31
ANBC suit	100	35	11	0.30
windbreaker	90	6	3	0.27
cargo pants	95	8	3	0.26
pair of thigh-high boots	80	15	9	0.25
duster	90	7	3	0.24
winter coat	95	20	6	0.23
pair of paper arm guards	80	10	5	0.19
clown suit	90	20	5	0.16
pair of 2-by-arm guards	75	25	11	0.15
pair of leather vambraces	50	8	9	0.09
duffel bag	50	30	3	0.01
American flag	60	50	2	0.01