The state of armor

[Raephire]

Unfortunately, this game favors (at current) people who wear armor and use weapons, providing little alternative for those of us who wish to master the art of unarmored combat as well as unarmed.

It is a true shame that, as it stands, armor is required to fight on even terms. I truly hope something is done about this.

[p1geonman]

This isn't a movie; there is no plot armor.

[Ferinex]

Unfortunately, this game favors (at current) people who wear armor and use weapons
...
It is a true shame that, as it stands, armor is required to fight on even terms.

Wait.... what? I fail to see the problem. Man covered it hardened steel/fruits of his labor + swinging a 50 pound battle axe > Man spinning in circles trying to kick said armor with feet.

[KoE]

Yes, there's some degree of simulation here, and I don't think crazy kung-fu monks are particularly close to the flavor of the game. Of course, from game balance terms, making unarmed suck is making it sort of a trap skill - only really useful for increasing dodge chance (good for two-handed people and archers?) and convenience of murdering foxes when you don't have your weapon around... which with most melee combatants is fairly rare, actually.

I dunno, perhaps unarmed should have some sort of wrestling aspect to it - better manipulation of all the combat variables and such. The guy in a tin suit flailing an oversized knife around should win most of the time, but a crafty or powerful unarmed brute should be able to turn the tide against him.

I'm not sure where I stand on the matter, really. Hmm.

[sami1337]

a naked unarmed person can win of a fully armoured person with a battleaxe. The axe simply won't hit if you use dodge..and you gain combat advantage with ease as you attack much faster.

[Rift]

yea but one hit.. and WHAM there goes 1/2-1/3 of the unarmed persons life.. or cleave and INSTAKILL.

[Raephire]

yea but one hit.. and WHAM there goes 1/2-1/3 of the unarmed persons life.. or cleave and INSTAKILL.

Precisely - Armor should absorb damage, but not all of it. It should reduce it (to most) 1 damage. Not 0. Also remember that armor is HEAVY There should be a skill that reduces the stamina loss for wearing heavy armor - It's these small changes that would give unarmed and unarmored combatants a balanced quality - Not an advantage, just even terms depending on skill.

[AlexFili]

Theres a good Monty Python sketch in the Life of Brian where a Gladiator keeps chasing this Peasant who has no armor. Eventually the Gladiator has a cardiac arrest and promptly dies! Result for un-armored dude!

[Dwarfu]

... chasing this Peasant... un-armored dude!

Moral of the story, if an armored guy with a weapon is coming at you, being unarmored and unarmed, you should run away.

[sami1337]

yea but one hit.. and WHAM there goes 1/2-1/3 of the unarmed persons life.. or cleave and INSTAKILL.

Do note that full steel armour "only" reflects and absorbs like what? 25 damage. It will just take another hit to take an armoured person down. That while someone trained in unarmed combat can beat the shit out of the armor and the person slowly but steadily granted the person has enough str.
Plus, combat advantage is in favor of the unarmed person.