Armor Weight Effect on Running Speed and Endurance

[paradoxnt]

I'd did some extensive testing concerning running speed and endurance consumption while sprinting while wearing Heavy Armor, Light Armor, Very Light Armor and Loincloth only.........that's to say, my Skyrim character performed the tests while I watched (there was no running while in a Loincloth on my part!). Anyway, I did these tests for myself, but I thought some of you would appreciate me sharing the results.

 

 

Loincloth Only Results

 

Using Loincloth speed and stamina consumption as the baseline (100%). It took me 48 seconds to run (no sprint) from point A-B (100%). I was able to Sprint for 18 seconds (100%).

 

When I equipped a Mace (sheathed), it took me 49 seconds to run from point A-B (102.08%). I was able to Sprint for 14 seconds (77.77%).

 

When I equipped a shield & Mace (both were visible in 3rd person view, but were still sheathed), it took me 50 seconds to run from point A-B (104.16%). I was able to Sprint for 12 seconds (66.66%).

 

 

Hide Armor Results

 

It took me 49 seconds to run from point A-B (102.08%). I was able to Sprint for 16 seconds (88.88%).

 

When I equipped the Mace (sheathed), it took me 50 seconds to run from point A-B (104.16%). I was able to Sprint for 13 seconds (72.22%).

 

When I equipped the Mace and Shield (both sheathed), it took me 51 seconds to run from point A-B (106.25%). I was able to Sprint for 11 seconds (61.11%).

 

 

Leather Armor Results

 

Running Speed is identical to wearing Hide Armor!

 

I was able to Sprint for 14 seconds (77.77%)

 

When I equipped the Mace (sheathed), I was able to Sprint for 11 seconds (61.11%)

 

When I equippped both Shield and Mace (both sheathed), I was able to Sprint for 10 seconds (55.55%)

 

 

Heavy Armor (Orcish/Iron) Results

 

*Damnit!!!! I lost the running speed results with Heavy Armor....it was a few seconds (~3 seconds) slower than Leather/Hide, but not by much.

 

I was able to Sprint for 9 seconds (50%).

 

When I equipped the Mace (sheathed), I was able to Sprint for 8 seconds (44.44%).

 

When I equipped both the Mace and Shield (both sheathed), I was able to Sprint for 7 seconds (38.88%).

 

 

Thoughts/Findings:

 

The most intersting discovery is that even having weapons/shields selected (but not drawn) slows your movement speed and lowers your endurance. So when you need to Sprint, hitting the hotkeys to deselect your weapon/shield = you'll get more out of your endurance!

 

Also, Heavy Armor isn't that much slower than Light Armor when running, but it consumes far more endurance when Sprinting.....so if you are using a combination of running and sprinting to travel = Heavy Armor really is much slower than Light Armor/Clothing.

Edited July 24, 2012 by paradoxnt

[gryph72]

The most intersting discovery is that even having weapons/shields selected (but not drawn) slows your movement speed and lowers your endurance.

 

I think this is to be expected. When you select your weapon/shield, you may not have them drawn but you're still wearing them (shield on your arm, sword in its scabbard at your hip, two-handers on your back etc), so it seems logical for your movement to still be hampered by them in some fashion.

[xlcr]

@paradoxnt, thanks for sharing the results of your tests, just wanted to mention Skyrim's perk system includes these:

Light Armor: Unhindered - Light Armor weighs nothing and doesn't slow you down when worn.

Heavy Armor: Conditioning - Heavy Armor weighs nothing and doesn't slow you down when worn.

 

You may find this mod interesting, the modder created a custom Fortify Speed enchantment.

i experimented with this and applied very lightly leveled Fortify Speed enchantment to rings that my followers

are equipped with to help them keep up better, my player is equipped with this only when i'm in a hurry lol.

Fortify speed enchant - Boots of Nimble Speed by jim - http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/mods/8160

[NoobusExtremus]

Not to add any spoilers, but there's a certain Standing Stone that negates weight penalties for armor, and increases your ability to carry more. Won't say which one or where it is...