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Don't know if there's a mod that addresses this I've searched but can't quite find what I'm looking for...


So the thing is that I've never really liked the linear progression of armor variations being strictly better than others. I can understand why denser materials provide more defense at the cost of weight but certainly there should be reason why certain races prefer certain materials as to why there are no racial specific variations.

I think the previous titles at least Morrowind or earlier might have had them, not sure. I keep thinking about the Snow Princes equipment was steel.

So I thought from a lore perspective giving as to why certain races would prefer certain materials.


Fur: Asides from the need to skin animals furs are the easiest materials to create and come by. Good for providing warmth and when layered enough can provide defense. Fire and water linger on it though.


Cloth: Is by far the easiest article to enchant as it's considered that the art of enchanting is like weaving a spell into a material. What other material can you weave as easily as threads of cloth? Cloth is extremely abundant, extremely versatile material, but it is believed that the finer and consequently more expensive the fabric the more potent the enchantment it can hold. Of course the introduction of heavier materials such as metals to increase physical defense complicates enchanting and require an entirely different process. As such the most potent enchanted garments provide no armor.


Wood: Another exceptional material to enchant though in this case in the form of staves. As wooden armor would be ridiculous. Another abundant and versatile material wood is capable of channels magicka store in it's fibers to cast spells woven into it. Again the introduction of heavy materials to strengthen staves to be used as melee weapons complicates the enchanting process and even altering it's function.

However it should be noted that wood is a fragile material easily broken in combat if used inappropriately.


Leather: A common material made from animal hides. Provides some defense against physical attack and some resistance to fire. Easy enough to enchant though not known to hold very potent enchantments. Light weight and flexible. The preferred armor of fleet footed scouts and assassins.


Iron: A sturdy base metal that is cheap, easy to come by and easy to work. It's used for everything from simple farming tools to weapons & armor. The common man's material it is easy to hone & repair even if it's not as durable as other more expensive materials.


Silver: A pricey and less than ideal material to use in combat but no other material is better suited for defending against the undead. Rare and difficult to properly forge as weapons but possessing innate advantage against spirits, zombies, skeletons, vampires and werewolves/bears.


Steel: The second most common material used in weapons & armor. Slightly tougher to forge than iron as it requires the less common corondum ore. The composite metal is a balanced and more durable than iron. Easy to repair and only slightly more difficult to hone.


Dwarven: Impossible to reproduce the metal can only be smelted down from preexisting stock before being able to forge it into something else. Despite being quite abundant in areas of Tamriel known to have Dwarven ruins but difficult to acquire due to how deadly said ruins are known to be. It is unknown as to exactly why the Dwemer preferred this material but some scholar suggest that it is due to it's magic reflecting properties. Used as a defense against it's more magic using mer enemies.


Orichalcum: A very dense and durable material with magic resisting properties. However it is known to be one of the most difficult ores to work with. The physically superior Orsimer have taken to using this material as it represents their rough enduring nature. Only the most talented of orcish blacksmiths are capable of the intricately etched weapons and armor they are renowned.


Moonstone: A rare marble like metal is favored by the Altmer due to it's magicka absorbing properties which make it easy to enchant. A soft malleable material that easily fashioned into the intricate and aesthetic designs that the Altmer favor. It is often used with other materials such as glass due to it not being very durable.


Glass: A volcanic crystalline metal primarily from the Morrowind. Extremely durable for it's light weight and it enchants really due to it's structure being similar to that of soulgems. It is extremely rare, difficult to forge and expensive.


Ebony: Another hard & expensive volcanic ore primarily from Morrowind. Only experts craftsmen risk fashioning the material due to density and heft. A well crafted ebony weapon is said to cut through flesh as though gliding through air. Armor fashioned by ebony though heavy is said to be very comfortable if properly fitted.


Dragon Scale: The scales of the dragons are naturally resistant to magicka and durable. The problem is getting the scales and very few people know how to fashion it into armor.


Dragon Bone: Like dragon scales are naturally resistant to magicka but are much more durable at the cost of increased weight. Again getting the bones is extremely difficult to get and few people know how to fashion it into weapons or armor.


Daedric: Are ebony weapons & armored forged in Oblivion. Impossible to forge normally (Only at the Daedric Forge). Most durable material with life draining properties.



On top of that there should be specific NPC's that are masters at crafting particular materials.

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