How much Armor actually protects - a Numa Prime Study!

[Raulur]

You also have to consider the speed of the attacks, some are fast, and some are slow. I know on some maps you can without a doubt tell the difference between having protection buff and not, and others you cannot. The "dogs" on the last map also seem to hit harder than the ones on OL. On outer limits you do not really need the armor, but on the last two maps you do.

This is why I use damage implant + fast weapon on Outer Limits, and Rilfe + armor implant on Uncharted Ruins.

[kamikazees]

On outer limits you do not really need the armor, but on the last two maps you do.

I would like to prove this theory right or wrong. I have a feeling that armor values may have different effectiveness depending on the map. For example, I think 50 armor in the Cycorp maps means a lot more than 50 armor in Outer Limits. If I can get past the first Vular in Uncharted I will be ok to test... will update with findings later.

[Teddyache]

I would like to prove this theory right or wrong. I have a feeling that armor values may have different effectiveness depending on the map. For example, I think 50 armor in the Cycorp maps means a lot more than 50 armor in Outer Limits. If I can get past the first Vular in Uncharted I will be ok to test... will update with findings later.

Baddies also have stats, so the relative values of their weapons, str/dex/int, etc should factor in, right? That would explain why OL > CyCorp, etc.

I wonder if there is a multiplyer as you progress through a particular series of maps that causes the same baddy to become stronger, or if it is actually a different baddy that just looks the same as the one in a previous level. I guess it doesn't matter, I'm just curious.

Edit: thanks for putting in the work to do this. It is much appreciated and helpful! Same goes for the other players who wrote guides that are useful... You know who you are! I'm hoping to contribute soon and maybe tomorrow if Irene doesn't cut my power...

[noneo]

Baddies also have stats, so the relative values of their weapons, str/dex/int, etc should factor in, right?

That is a very good point. But the only thing that is making me lean away from this theory is the "mole" mobs. They do not have any weapon and are strictly meelee damage dealers. If armor was based on equips, all moles should deal the same damage/take the same damage.

I think that each mob has multiple different levels (for example, they can be ranked level 1 - 5). i.e. a lower level mole (on Outer Limits) has a lesser amount of damage/armor, whereas a higher level mole (Uncharted Ruins) has higher damage/armor.

[Natolx]

So the take home message for this is that 50 armor implant is almost totally worthless?

[WhoIsThis]

You also have to consider the speed of the attacks, some are fast, and some are slow. I know on some maps you can without a doubt tell the difference between having protection buff and not, and others you cannot. The "dogs" on the last map also seem to hit harder than the ones on OL. On outer limits you do not really need the armor, but on the last two maps you do.

This is why I use damage implant + fast weapon on Outer Limits, and Rilfe + armor implant on Uncharted Ruins.

In theory, we would expect armor to be much more useful against fast rate of fire, high DPS, but low damage per hit attacks versus attacks that have lower DPS, are slower, but hit harder per shot.

Bosses in particular seem to have very high armor. There have been serious arguments in favor of carrying 2 weapons for all classes, the class specific ones against mobs (for higher DPS in the case of engineers and operatives; AOE for commandos), and a rifle for bosses.

Baddies also have stats, so the relative values of their weapons, str/dex/int, etc should factor in, right? That would explain why OL > CyCorp, etc.

There's little reason to believe that the enemy armor will work any differently. This does have implications. The damage buff and critical hit buff in the operative skill amplify pain for example, are thus more valuable than the actual armor debuff.

[kamikazees]

On outer limits you do not really need the armor, but on the last two maps you do.

Raulur, I think you may be onto something. I have made significant edits to the original post based on additional testing. I still do not have all the answers, but I am starting to think that armor effectiveness depends entirely on the enemy being fought, with harder hitting enemies having their damage reduced faster than lighter hitting enemies.

Maybe Protection and Increase Mass are worth it after all, at least for the really bad guys...

[BodMaster]

Raulur, I think you may be onto something. I have made significant edits to the original post based on additional testing. I still do not have all the answers, but I am starting to think that armor effectiveness depends entirely on the enemy being fought, with harder hitting enemies having their damage reduced faster than lighter hitting enemies.

Maybe Protection and Increase Mass are worth it after all, at least for the really bad guys...

Have Increase Mass and live by it as I do alot of Guardian runs.. just before an initial clash between me and a vular or a mob this becomes a very effective skill to have.. even if its to hold of that initial damage to give you time to use your heavy hitting skills knocking them to the ground to get a one up on them and before they can attack yr Increase Mass is available to use again.

As for the moles im sure there are two different types which was more noticeable in defence, the one with metal kind of armour on their face seems to have alot more defence.. with a maxxed out com with full plat gear (repulsar rifle) I seem to be able to kill the lower lvl mole with 2-3 hits as in the mole with armour over their face takes a little longer 4-5 hits and seem to be able to take more life off when hit by one.. haven't got the exact dmg results with me but could easily be found out if needed. Maybe on the last two levels on Numa they have more of the second type of mole which seem to be heavier hitters or intact they are the same and sts has just made them stronger ect.