Hexen’s armor system, a crucial element of gameplay, often confuses players. This article delves into the mechanics of armor points (AC), damage reduction, and degradation in Hexen, clarifying how these systems interact and influence combat.
Decoding Hexen’s Armor System
Hexen assigns each character class (Fighter, Cleric, Mage) base armor points and specific values for different armor pieces (Plate, Helmet, Shield, Amulet). These values, stored as fixed-point fractional numbers, allow for continuous armor degradation.
Here’s a breakdown of base and armor piece values:
- Fighter (Base 15): Plate = 25, Helmet = 15, Shield = 20, Amulet = 5
- Cleric (Base 10): Plate = 10, Helmet = 5, Shield = 25, Amulet = 20
- Mage (Base 5): Plate = 5, Helmet = 10, Shield = 15, Amulet = 25
Total armor points are calculated by summing the base value and the values of equipped armor pieces. A fully equipped Fighter boasts 80 points, a Cleric 70, and a Mage 60.
Damage Reduction in Hexen
Damage reduction in Hexen is calculated using the following formula:
DamageAbsorbed = Min( ( TotalDamage * ( TotalArmorPoints / 100 ), TotalArmorPoints * 2 ) This formula signifies that damage absorption is proportional to total armor points, capped at twice the total armor points. Effectively, damage exceeding 200 points won’t be reduced beyond this cap. For instance, a fully equipped Fighter with 80 armor points achieves 80% damage reduction, but the maximum damage absorbed is limited to 160 points. This cap likely comes into play during high-damage instances like telefrags.
Armor Degradation Mechanics
Armor degradation in Hexen follows a more complex formula:
CurrentArmorPoints = CurrentArmorPoints - ( TotalDamage * ( StartingArmorPoints / 300 ) ) if (CurrentArmorPoints > 2)
CurrentArmorPoints = 0 if (CurrentArmorPoints <=2)This formula indicates that armor degrades proportionally to the damage received and the armor piece’s initial value. Essentially, each armor piece has an effective health pool of 300 hit points before complete breakage. However, the second part of the formula introduces a critical threshold: if an armor piece’s points fall to 2 or below, it instantly breaks.
Consequently, armor pieces with higher starting values possess greater durability. Here’s a breakdown of effective hit points for different starting armor values:
- 5 armor: 180 HP
- 10 armor: 240 HP
- 15 armor: 260 HP
- 20 armor: 270 HP
- 25 armor: 276 HP
Importantly, as armor degrades, its damage reduction capacity diminishes proportionally.
Connecting Armor Points to AC
The displayed Armor Class (AC) on the status bar is simply the total armor points divided by 5 and rounded down. This provides a readily visible indicator of a character’s current armor protection level.
Conclusion: Mastering Hexen’s Armor System
Understanding the interplay between armor points, damage reduction, and degradation is paramount for success in Hexen. By grasping these mechanics, players can make informed decisions regarding armor selection and combat strategies, optimizing their survivability and effectiveness in the game.
