thom_gog: (Sorry, I'm used to a "one question per thread" thing, hope that's ok here).

I am finally starting to see the first couple of "unusual" items in the loot now, stuff you couldn't buy in the shop, Mithril stuff, really.
So, if the mouse-over info says, an item is just as good as the regular stuff I'm wearing... is that actually true then? As in, the Mithril Chain appears to give exactly the AC bonus as the Scale Mail. So, keep wearing the Scale, and sell the Mithril off for more coinage? Or is there some hidden property in the items, something like a bonus to saves or whatever?

One of the hidden notes in town states, that "more expensive items usually perform better" or something to that extend. So, I'm kinda unsure.

thom_gog: Thanks.
So, I CAN rely on the ingame info to be accurate, which means I can sell the Mithril Chains, as none of my chars would get better AC out of it? :)

jsjrodman: Yes.

I think there was some port of some version of the classic games where a character type was limited to chain as the best armor. Maybe (surprisingly) monks? In Bard's Tale 2 IIgs? I forget but somewhere Mithril Chain was of use, but it seems not in this game.

I liked to pretend that the magic armor gave a minor benefit to resisting magic and suchlike, but at some point I dug into the code enough to find out it doesn't.

sambrookjm: The best plate armor a Paladin can wear is Mithril, and they cannot use a Diamond shield. Adamant shields are fine, but Adamant plate is not. I guess the warriors have to have *some* use...

dtgreene: It's worth noting that this is only true in the first game.

In Bard's Tale 2, Paladins can use all the items you mention, which does make Warriors (in classic versions) rather useless.

In Bard's Tale 3, with some of the new equipment there is a sort of "separate but equal" appriach; however, eventually the Titan Suit gives Warriors 3 better AC than Paladins, but that item is rather rare. (The more common Dmnd Suit is a lot more useful, usable by both classes, provides 15 AC, and uses the Cloak slot that would otherwise be empty.)

Personally, I think it is Hunters that get shafted here.

sambrookjm: ... it's good to see their AC show below "L0" in this game.