Silk undershirts as a non-obvious defense against arrows.

[zanzibar]

Silk undershirts were worn by the Mongols as a protective layer that saved themselves from enemy arrows.  Arrows do most of their damage when they are removed.  Silk however wraps around the head of the arrow, making removal much less dangerous.

Given the popularity of ranged attacks, silk undershirts would be a good way of putting armour into the game that worked for ranged attacks but little else.  Also, people would probably be surprised every so often to discover that the shirt they bought because it looked cool was actually good for something.

[bilbous]

What makes the silk ... consumers?

[zanzibar]

What makes the silk ... consumers?

Sorry, I forgot that silk doesn't exist in the Planeshift universe. 

[josephoenix]

That may not be true... when they introduced the randomized item generator, wasn't there a modifier called spidersilk? I suppose it could be a substitute for silkworms' silk.

Up to the devs in their faux ivory tower to decide ;]

josePhoenix

[Karyuu]

I'm rather sure that silk will be available as a material. That's a neat piece of info about arrow removal - as far as I know though, in games damage is counted when one is hit (especially when it comes to weapons and projectiles) and arrow removal doesn't really fall into the picture. To make this idea fully functional would require some complexities.

[zanzibar]

I'm rather sure that silk will be available as a material. That's a neat piece of info about arrow removal - as far as I know though, in games damage is counted when one is hit (especially when it comes to weapons and projectiles) and arrow removal doesn't really fall into the picture. To make this idea fully functional would require some complexities.

Well, the theory behind it would be one thing, but the effect of it would just be to decrease damage from ranged weapons in general.

[Karyuu]

Makes sense :] I'd especially love the "layering" system when it comes to armor.

[zanzibar]

"Wait, so you're saying that this silk shirt will protect me from arrows?"
>"Yes."
"I don't understand.  It's just a silk shirt.  Is it magical?"
>"No."
"Oh, so it's like mithril?"
>"Mithril?"
"Fancy metal."
>"A shirt made out of metal?  It's just silk."
"So... why does it protect me from arrows?"
>"It stops barbs from tearing things up inside the wound when you pull the arrow heads out."
"But I don't pull the arrows out, they just sort of disapear after -"
>"Just trust me on this one."

[bilbous]

Why couldn't the silk come from consumers? They are wormy and they are in-game. Raw silk could even be added as a drop for them.

[Karyuu]

Maybe the same reason that cotton can't be harvested from the current plants :P It's not the right stuff. Consumers have their own role.

[bilbous]

Just expanding on the previous post indicating that it was not an arbitrary challenge to the OP, I could have chosen any other in-game critter

When are consumers going to start dropping the magic jewelry the book in the library implied they would? No don't answer that it isn't important.

There are plants that can be harvested? You mean the apple trees?

[zanzibar]

I find that consumers drop better loot after they've had a 'humanoid' meal.

[bilbous]

[OT]I've never had a humanoid volunteer to be consumed before are you offering?

It could be that larval consumers produce the silk, there could be a market for them.

[Nikodemus]

Have you heard of hedgehog syndrome in RP games ? ;P
Think, how would you look like ater someone hit you with 50+ arrows xP Pretty much like a hedgehog hehe.
This term appeared in my and mine friends heads while we was playing some WFRPG, when you can have toughtness high enough that no arrow can you.
it is all the same in other RPGs. Nobody ever care about the arows or other missiles shoot into body.
It would be a good change to see this in PS.
Shooting from a bow would have also a bit more meaning. It is usually that you can't really increase damage from a bow, because you are limited by its strenght, while you can train it by yourself, thus increase, while you are using a hand weapon. It is said that bows are often better because you can shoot from distance, but i say it is not enough.

[Rolf Blacksmith]

But the better you are, the better you can aim, increasing your ability to hit critical/weak points in your enemy's armor, doing more harm.

And if you want more damage:
Use a crossbow, but then prepare for a decrease in firing frequency.