How does Skyrim handle improvement of armor in the code?

[newzilla7]

As part of trying to create the mod idea I posted here, I need to replace armors with better versions as they are improved, and at different rates than the default improvement. How does Skyrim handle the armor you improve at the workbench? Does it modify the armor you have? Or replace it with a new set with better stats? In other words, could the FormID of the armor that you receive be different from the FormID of the armor you input?

Edited February 1, 2015 by newzilla7

[cdcooley]

It's a modification to the armor you have. I think the SKSE team have given access to that data in recent versions but there's no way to access it with default game functions.

[lofgren]

There are two globals, called something like SmithingArmorMax or similar, which determine the number of bonus armor you get when an item is improved to Legendary status. The bonus from the other five levels is then calculated based on that. You can set (and get) the improvement rating of an object reference, but not of a form. In other words you can get the level of improvement of an item on the ground but not an item in an inventory. (Unless the item is persistent.)

[newzilla7]

Okay, I understand. Thanks for the help!