Some thoughts about armor

[Fj45]

 

 

Well, remember a Brigandine is basically a cloth vest with metal strips sewn into it, and it was the standard civilian body armor for quite a while... I assume something similar wouldn't be horrible for limb protection.

 

Again, mobility, heat, weight. 

 

Plus zombies would probably be able to tear the cloth apart easily.

 

 

A leather jacket is hot in the summer, and would definitely guard against a few bites. The fact that an item has drawbacks doesn't mean it shouldn't be introduced to the game. 

 

I never said that armor shouldn't be introduced. 

[Suomiboi]

Ok sorry I misinterpreted and exaggerated a bit there.

[Connall]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Duck tape wrapped around your arm? 

 

Being able to make some sort of duct tape guard around your arms like in season 3 of the walking dead would be cool as well

 

If it is what I think it is, I would have to say that duck tape around your arm would be pretty much useless. Protection from bites would negligible, heat would be a massive issue and mobility would be affected.

 

 

 

That's Milton when a walker tried to bite him but is unable to because of the duct tape. It could be useless, but it looks like it's doing a decent job at protecting his skin

 

 

It would also do a decent job of restricting your movement so much that it would be impossible to fight back.

 

Seriously, that is even worse then what I had in mind. I can't even comprehend how someone would be able to move their arm with the duct tape like that. 

 

 

I dislike most suggestions that come from The Walking Dead, makeshift silencers, zombie camo etc. I don't like this one either because I just see it as completely ineffective and the hit you would take to your mobility and the way it would impede defense probably outweighs the protection you would get (if any.)

 

I'm so/so on whether armor should be introduced or not. I don't know why, I just don't care for it much. Hey if people want it, might as well put it in if we have the time.

[Walther]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Duck tape wrapped around your arm? 

 

Being able to make some sort of duct tape guard around your arms like in season 3 of the walking dead would be cool as well

 

If it is what I think it is, I would have to say that duck tape around your arm would be pretty much useless. Protection from bites would negligible, heat would be a massive issue and mobility would be affected.

 

 

 

That's Milton when a walker tried to bite him but is unable to because of the duct tape. It could be useless, but it looks like it's doing a decent job at protecting his skin

 

 

It would also do a decent job of restricting your movement so much that it would be impossible to fight back.

 

Seriously, that is even worse then what I had in mind. I can't even comprehend how someone would be able to move their arm with the duct tape like that. 

 

 

I dislike most suggestions that come from The Walking Dead, makeshift silencers, zombie camo etc. I don't like this one either because I just see it as completely ineffective and the hit you would take to your mobility and the way it would impede defense probably outweighs the protection you would get (if any.)

 

I'm so/so on whether armor should be introduced or not. I don't know why, I just don't care for it much. Hey if people want it, might as well put it in if we have the time.

 

 

me too, TWD suggestions really grind my gear. anyways, before i get startet on TWD, I'm also torn between armor and no armor. Riot gear or the like is clearly OP in my OPinion. But certain clothes, like a leatherjacket or a thick anorak should surely have an impact on the likelihood of scratches and bites

[Fj45]

To Connall:

It would be a perfect anti-suggestion. (I can't wait to see a bunch Walking Dead fans raging)

 

To Walther:

How would riot gear be OP? 

[DirectorPr]

Any type of armor in the game should be destroyed within at the most 5 hits. Typical body armor usually can take one to three blows, and then its ineffective. Armor isn't OP, it isn't made to last unless you're fixing it yourself after every blow, which is possible. If you have a plate carry vest you can remove the damaged plates, and replace them with new plates, but they aren't common and would be fount at military bases/camps.

[Fj45]

Any type of armor in the game should be destroyed within at the most 5 hits. Typical body armor usually can take one to three blows, and then its ineffective. Armor isn't OP, it isn't made to last unless you're fixing it yourself after every blow, which is possible. If you have a plate carry vest you can remove the damaged plates, and replace them with new plates, but they aren't common and would be fount at military bases/camps.

 

Maybe for stuff like bullet-proof vests or flack jackets but riot armor or heavy clothing (turnout gear, leather armor, ski jackets) wouldn't do much against bullets/melee (riot would protect against against blunt weapons) hits but could hold up well.

[John_234]

 

Well, remember a Brigandine is basically a cloth vest with metal strips sewn into it, and it was the standard civilian body armor for quite a while... I assume something similar wouldn't be horrible for limb protection.

 

Again, mobility, heat, weight. 

 

Plus zombies would probably be able to tear the cloth apart easily.

 

Don't really see how for example, an elbow guard would very much restrict limb articulation. Be it hardened cloth or leather, metal plates I think those sorts of guards are fairly reasonable bits of armor, and probably all you need for mitigating bites, though again agility is probably best.

[PhantomWarlock]

Hey guys, new player here. I've done a few PZ tries and although I haven't gotten very far in either of them, I have some ideas. I know that some people have brought the topic of armor up before and that it's gonna be in the game, so hey why not? I've been interested in the use and make of armor for quite some time and have given it a lot of thought so hopefully I'll be of some help.

 

Now the first thing is weight. What we have to remember though is that this isn't the middle ages and it's not supposed to stop bullets, blades or arrows (unless you're fighting another survivor, but that's rare enough that I haven't even done that myself yet) so it doesn't have to cover your entire body. What it SHOULD cover chief of all is the areas that zombies are most likely to go for which would be your hands, arms and shoulders.

 

Next we have to ponder what kind of materials would work for this and what comes instantly to mind for most people is probably leather. Now I've never actually been to Kentucky, but I can't possibly imagine that there would be a shortage of leather anywhere in the world where there are animals present. Now leather doesn't actually weigh that much and provided you have a knife and some good thread (using a needle is optimal but you can do it without) and some time on your hands you can make makeshift leather armor. This would greatly improve your chances of survival since even though humans have great biting power, it's very difficult to bite through tanned cowhide.

 

Second on the list on possible-to-make-into-armor is vulcanized rubber; tires. Now rubber is a lot harder to work with I admit, escpecially if we're talking car tires, but I'm pretty certain there would also be bikes in Muldraugh. Rubber is also very common, maybe even more common than leather, and although it would take a bit more time and effort it would give very good protection against bites and scratches.

 

Depending on the rubber used it would also be a little heavier, but then again we're not going to be wearing three truck tires here. A single car tire would give more than enough to cover your entire arms, and properly attached wouldn't actually weigh you down that much.

 

Finally we have chainmail. And you're probably going "Are you nuts? There's no way you'd find chainmail today!" and probably laugh, show your friends and call me an idiot. But here's the thing. All you really need is to find a single hardware store and you've got everything you need to make it.

 

First you need a rod of some sort, smooth. Pipes work but a solid metal rod is optimal, I have used wooden rods to do it but they deform and there's a risk that you don't get uniform rings, and you can only use them once. Then you need metal wire, which is readily available in any hardware store of many different gauges and spool lengths. To create the torque needed to bend it into wire it's best to have a hole drilled right through to stick the wire into but it's not absolutely necessary. I have personally used a Vise Grip to both hold the wire in place and apply the torque.

 

Of course this would take time, effort and a bit of skill (I'm self-taught, so it can be done) but if you manage to make it, there's simply no way that anything short of an alligator would bite through chainmail. And even if you don't have the time and know-how to do it I know that they make chainmail gloves for butchers and such.

 

Well, that's it for now.

I have an idea for armor, you could go to an old sports-ware store and get something like a football chest guard, volleyball pads, and more to make armor. Maybe the more pieces you add to it, (like boxing wrap, or shin guards) would make the armor's strength would increase, but so would the weight. And the store could be moderately common to find. But this could be the "cheap" armor until you could craft an anvil-like thing and forge. ( the forge could be a cut open propane tank? And you would have to empty it before cutting it open with a saw?)

[Fj45]

 

Hey guys, new player here. I've done a few PZ tries and although I haven't gotten very far in either of them, I have some ideas. I know that some people have brought the topic of armor up before and that it's gonna be in the game, so hey why not? I've been interested in the use and make of armor for quite some time and have given it a lot of thought so hopefully I'll be of some help.

 

Now the first thing is weight. What we have to remember though is that this isn't the middle ages and it's not supposed to stop bullets, blades or arrows (unless you're fighting another survivor, but that's rare enough that I haven't even done that myself yet) so it doesn't have to cover your entire body. What it SHOULD cover chief of all is the areas that zombies are most likely to go for which would be your hands, arms and shoulders.

 

Next we have to ponder what kind of materials would work for this and what comes instantly to mind for most people is probably leather. Now I've never actually been to Kentucky, but I can't possibly imagine that there would be a shortage of leather anywhere in the world where there are animals present. Now leather doesn't actually weigh that much and provided you have a knife and some good thread (using a needle is optimal but you can do it without) and some time on your hands you can make makeshift leather armor. This would greatly improve your chances of survival since even though humans have great biting power, it's very difficult to bite through tanned cowhide.

 

Second on the list on possible-to-make-into-armor is vulcanized rubber; tires. Now rubber is a lot harder to work with I admit, escpecially if we're talking car tires, but I'm pretty certain there would also be bikes in Muldraugh. Rubber is also very common, maybe even more common than leather, and although it would take a bit more time and effort it would give very good protection against bites and scratches.

 

Depending on the rubber used it would also be a little heavier, but then again we're not going to be wearing three truck tires here. A single car tire would give more than enough to cover your entire arms, and properly attached wouldn't actually weigh you down that much.

 

Finally we have chainmail. And you're probably going "Are you nuts? There's no way you'd find chainmail today!" and probably laugh, show your friends and call me an idiot. But here's the thing. All you really need is to find a single hardware store and you've got everything you need to make it.

 

First you need a rod of some sort, smooth. Pipes work but a solid metal rod is optimal, I have used wooden rods to do it but they deform and there's a risk that you don't get uniform rings, and you can only use them once. Then you need metal wire, which is readily available in any hardware store of many different gauges and spool lengths. To create the torque needed to bend it into wire it's best to have a hole drilled right through to stick the wire into but it's not absolutely necessary. I have personally used a Vise Grip to both hold the wire in place and apply the torque.

 

Of course this would take time, effort and a bit of skill (I'm self-taught, so it can be done) but if you manage to make it, there's simply no way that anything short of an alligator would bite through chainmail. And even if you don't have the time and know-how to do it I know that they make chainmail gloves for butchers and such.

 

Well, that's it for now.

I have an idea for armor, you could go to an old sports-ware store and get something like a football chest guard, volleyball pads, and more to make armor. Maybe the more pieces you add to it, (like boxing wrap, or shin guards) would make the armor's strength would increase, but so would the weight. And the store could be moderately common to find. But this could be the "cheap" armor until you could craft an anvil-like thing and forge. ( the forge could be a cut open propane tank? And you would have to empty it before cutting it open with a saw?)

 

 

We have already discussed sports armor earlier in the thread and smithing has already been discussed here: http://theindiestone.com/forums/index.php/topic/394-swords-shields-blacksmithing/?hl=smithing#entry6139

[Walther]

 

To Connall:

It would be a perfect anti-suggestion. (I can't wait to see a bunch Walking Dead fans raging)

 

To Walther:

How would riot gear be OP? 

 

 

Well, I just feel that riot gear is a whole other class of armor than lets say, a leatherjacket. It's designed for a full body, which means it has leg protection, body- and armprotection and a helmet. possibly bulletproof around the body. thats way too much IMO, thats real armor. not something thats an everyday item usefull as armor.

[Fj45]

 

 

To Connall:

It would be a perfect anti-suggestion. (I can't wait to see a bunch Walking Dead fans raging)

 

To Walther:

How would riot gear be OP? 

 

 

Well, I just feel that riot gear is a whole other class of armor than lets say, a leatherjacket. It's designed for a full body, which means it has leg protection, body- and armprotection and a helmet. possibly bulletproof around the body. thats way too much IMO, thats real armor. not something thats an everyday item usefull as armor.

 

 

AS I have said MANY times in this thread: heat, weight, mobility and rarity would make it balanced. 

 

Good for safe house defense, bad for looting.

[Walther]

I'm more drawn to household items, generic clothing and special clothing that differ strongly in looks. lets say uniforms and casual clothing, a suit, a jumpsuit, whatever. all basically the same. too hot for summer, too cold for winter, not water proof and bite proof.

leather jacket, jeans jacket, softshell jacket, more biteproof. those items won't need mobility punishmet though.

 

riot gear is a valid suggestion, also because in a police station there should be some vests, batons, helmets and maybe even a riot shield, but I'm just meh about it. it's such a huge advantage. if it is ingame one day, I'll sure use it though, because, who wouldnt if it got implemented?

[Fj45]

Read the above post.

 

But yes, household items would be great too. 

[Walther]

Read the above post.

 

But yes, household items would be great too. 

 

I read it, and I am not much for mobility punishment and rarity is also kinda biased, since realistically, you would just find this in a police station and not anywhere else. so, first run is police station and then your geared.

 

I just think that if too much military grade stuff is added, this will turn into dayz, where everyone just rushes the barracks, grabs some decent military gear and shoots people.

[John_234]

I worked on a wiki site that discussed zombies and everything about them. This is all old material lol.

[Fj45]

I worked on a wiki site that discussed zombies and everything about them. This is all old material lol.

 

Any good material from it?

[Connall]

 

Read the above post.

 

But yes, household items would be great too. 

 

I read it, and I am not much for mobility punishment and rarity is also kinda biased, since realistically, you would just find this in a police station and not anywhere else. so, first run is police station and then your geared.

 

I just think that if too much military grade stuff is added, this will turn into dayz, where everyone just rushes the barracks, grabs some decent military gear and shoots people.

 

 

Yeah I agree with that. The thing is when it comes to Military Bases and Police Stations the things people think would be there, aren't actually there. Stuff like Riot Gear is specialist gear and stuff like a Sheriff style police station wouldn't have any. Maybe a big city station might have some riot gear but I don't know. Not to mention when people think about Military Bases and weapons. People don't think they would have that stuff under lock and key, in a vault? I think there has to be some restraint on what you have otherwise it will be like you say. A rush. It's why I was not keen when someone brought up the idea of flashbang (among other reasons)

 

Anyway. Yeah, Military grade weaponry bad, civilian weaponry good.

[Suomiboi]

The difference this game makes to the likes of DayZ is that you're still extremely likely to die even if you have things like riot gear. It doesn't require more than the 5 zombies on you or one well aimed close range shot. They're not definite life savers but rather things that bring down the probability by a notch. Basically you might be just as fine without armor, because you're faster, not sweating like crazy (maybe slower fatigue drain than with armor) and can carry more loot, than to be almost fully encumbered by wearing the armor. It's not like you'll be able to withstand one more bite or shot than the other guy without armor and count on that, it's just a bit more probable.

 

Semiofftopic:

Also military grade weapons aren't that effective when you're trying to get a head shot on a zombie... Also I think that the shotgun is already OP as I think it should kill maybe max 1-2 zombies per shot and just push the others back, not to talk about the sawn off... But I do agree mostly that in PvP military weapons and armor are a thing that should be extremely scarce. We have to remember that there are no definite spawn points in PZ and when we're in beta it should be discussed what the likelihoods of finding stuff in certain places are as to avoid exploits.

 

Offtopic

Also imo insta spawning shouldn't happen on regular servers as to avoid the kill all frenzy.

[Armredhoof]

Just thought of another readily available piece of armor, motorcycle suits, these are made with bars in them to help protect in case of crashes, I know that not many people use them but it should help keep zombies from bite/scratching you, and there designed for use in t summer/winter depending on the suit

[Obinhi]

I would like to pint out that modern military uniforms ate designed to rip so medics can get to wounds quickly. The only part of my uniform I would take with me are my goretex lined winter boots. An mainly because they are broken in.

I like the brad Pitt mag around the arm idea. Also if a jaw can't fit around the arm it can't get full bite force on the location.

[Jingles Sideways]

I was thinking what about some more common stuff as armor, like sports ware. You've got cups to mitigate groin damage, shin guards that could make equally good bracers. Also remember we're in America so what about american footie armor? Hard to move in but you could push back whole columns of zed in that stuff (just watch your legs). Or if your going really DIY with it you could use chopping boards and wire for DIY stab proof armor or a cooking pot drilled with eye holes stuffed with a pillows stuffing and a woolie hat glued in as an inner lining (to protect your head from shock). I dunno, I just like the idea of tooling up with w/e is available. I mean everytime, I think zombocolypse, I think improvised equipment.

[Obinhi]

I love the cooking pot idea, even if it's only in the game as an Easter egg.

I know most people only have kid football pads if they have them at all. Lots of people just rent them for the season. Helmet would be more common but not a whole lot.

[HenryGuy]

I was thinking about armor myself. Is it possible for an item to give a trait modifier? If so, you could design a trait that isn't choosable in the main menu that you get while wearing X armor with degrees of awesomeness varying on the armor equipped. Like resilient but not as effective or more effective dependent on armor. 

 

The main thing is the noise factor. Leather armor would generate no noise, same as kevlar, but if someone equips a suit of armor or something lol. Or makes a make shift metal armor, sound must increase.

 

Every type of animal is all over the place in KY. I grew up in Louisville and dated a girl for 5 years who lived in Bardstown. Leather would be abundant. Also, an animals skin is NOT light lol.

[Fj45]

I was thinking about armor myself. Is it possible for an item to give a trait modifier? If so, you could design a trait that isn't choosable in the main menu that you get while wearing X armor with degrees of awesomeness varying on the armor equipped. Like resilient but not as effective or more effective dependent on armor. 

 

The main thing is the noise factor. Leather armor would generate no noise, same as kevlar, but if someone equips a suit of armor or something lol. Or makes a make shift metal armor, sound must increase.

 

Every type of animal is all over the place in KY. I grew up in Louisville and dated a girl for 5 years who lived in Bardstown. Leather would be abundant. Also, an animals skin is NOT light lol.

 

1. I don't really get what you mean here. Do you want armor to give a visible buff?

 

2. Already discussed

 

3. Already discussed