Modular Armor System in Wizardry CRPG
Unlike Dungeons & Dragons, some early CRPGs (e.g. 1981’s "Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord" and 1985’s "The Bard’s Tale: Tales of the Unknown") had a modular armor system. Helms and gauntlets provided a defensive bonus. Helms could also have a magical bonus. Items like shields and gauntlets had more than one type, each with a different defense value.
Here is a summary of the system from Wizardry I, which is closer to D&D regarding character classes:
| Armor | Defense Bonus |
Maximum Magical Bonus |
Class Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robes | 1 | 0 | best available to Mage |
| Leather Armor | 2 | 2 | best available to Thief |
| Chain Mail | 3 | 2 | – |
| Breast Plate | 4 | 3 | best available to Priest |
| Plate Mail | 5 | 3 | martials only |
| Small Shield | 2 | 3 | best available to Priest, Thief |
| Large Shield | 3 | 3 | martials only |
| Helm | 1 | 2 | martials only |
| Copper Gloves | 1 | 0 | martials only |
| Silver Gloves | 3 | 0 | martials only |
| source: tk421.net | |||
Starting Armor Class is 10. The lowest (descending system) AC possible is -10.
Priests in Wizardry cannot wear helms thus enabling the combat primacy of the martial classes. This inspired the blogpost, Armor Class Penalty For Not Wearing a Helmet, and the taboo that a Demodarid sorcerer’s head must be bare to perform magic.
