Ruling on Armor, RAW

[Stilts]

However, I do wish there was something in the Encumbrance/Fatigue rules so that putting on heavy armor for a full scale battle was different (and less penalizing) than wearing it for weeks on end in case you run into trouble.

I guess that's more what I was going for. Switching to a particular set of gear at a critical point in the story can be very exciting. Sometimes this happens when a hero is given a cultural reward or finds a famous weapon or armor, but I kind of like the idea of a company preparing for a larger conflict. Of course, cultural rewards and gear with qualities will always be kept, but I think it's reasonable for an adventurer to realize he could do with a shield, for example, and acquire it without much fuss. Would his standard of living support such a purchase? If so, he gets it. If not, it might require a skill roll and/or an Undertaking.

[Rocmistro]

Elf/Stilts:

In fact the rules do kind of support this...

Bilbo & Company travel across Middle-earth on their journey in light or no armor (lower fatigue rating, thus, failed travel tests are not as bad.

Once their travels are over with, they go to war and get heavier armor to wear, not having to worry about the increasing affects of bad travel rolls.

It's a bit stretchy, but the idea basically supports the narrative that you travel a long way wearing easy stuff, and then suit up for battle once you're there.

Sorta.

[Glorelendil]

Elf/Stilts:

In fact the rules do kind of support this...

Bilbo & Company travel across Middle-earth on their journey in light or no armor (lower fatigue rating, thus, failed travel tests are not as bad.

Once their travels are over with, they go to war and get heavier armor to wear, not having to worry about the increasing affects of bad travel rolls.

It's a bit stretchy, but the idea basically supports the narrative that you travel a long way wearing easy stuff, and then suit up for battle once you're there.

Sorta.

Soooooorta.

[Rocmistro]

Yeah as I re-read it, Elf, it's very weak.

The more I think about the more I think the right fix is to set the Encumbrance value a little lower(maybe 15/18 for mail coat, mail hauberk respectively) but have them affect the travel fatigue. Ugh, there I go again on that tangent.

[Glorelendil]

Yeah as I re-read it, Elf, it's very weak.

The more I think about the more I think the right fix is to set the Encumbrance value a little lower(maybe 15/18 for mail coat, mail hauberk respectively) but have them affect the travel fatigue. Ugh, there I go again on that tangent.

It's a slippery slope, for sure. Every solution I can think of requires extra bookkeeping.