Difference between revisions of "Cataphract armor"

Latest revision as of 19:51, 13 December 2024

Cataphract armor is a type of power armor introduced by the Royalty DLC that can effectively block gunshots, cuts, blunt trauma, or burns at the expense of a penalty to move speed. It forms a full set of armor along with the Cataphract helmet.

Acquisition[edit]

Cataphract armor can be crafted at a fabrication bench once the cataphract armor research project has been completed. Note that this research requires two techprints. Each requires 150 Plasteel, 50 Uranium, 6 Advanced components, 75,000 ticks (20.83 mins) of work modified by the general labor speed of the crafter, and a crafting skill of 8.

Alternatively, the armor can be received as a quest reward, purchased from traders, or found on Imperial Cataphracts. Acquiring it through fighting the Empire is difficult due to their ubiquitious Death acidifier implants and the general difficulty of killing the pawns wearing this armor and carrying the empire's best weapons.

Summary[edit]

When equipped, a cataphract armor reduces the pawn's base move speed by −0.80 c/s. As offsets such as these apply before multiplicative effects such as from Moving capacity, the actual impact on move speed can be larger or smaller than this value. For example, a pawn with 125% Moving would have their speed decreased by −1 c/s, while a pawn with only 50% Moving would only have their speed decreased by −0.4 c/s. See Move Speed for details.

**Effects on melee damage**
**At poor quality**

**At normal quality**

Analysis[edit]

Cataphract armor is the strongest power armor in the game - but as expected, one of the most expensive. Like recon armor and marine armor, it covers the limbs and torso, for great overall protection. It provides roughly the same protection as a marine armor of one quality level above its own (e.g., a normal set of cataphract armor is roughly equal to a good set of marine armor), or of recon armor two quality levels above its own. Cataphract armor also allows a pawn to reach the cap of 200% sharp protection at Legendary quality, and offers the highest blunt armor available in the game.

The armor provides a significant Move Speed debuff of −0.80 c\s, double that of marine armor and over six times that of a flak vest, making the armor impractical for every day wear by some pawns. A moving factor of +125% is needed to counter this penalty. This can be achieved by installing 2 bionic legs or 1 archotech leg on the pawn.

Compared to flak vests with duster[edit]

In term or sharp protection, cataphract armor is comparable with a flak vest with hyperweave or thrumbofur duster, for areas covered by the vest. The vest combo tend to work better at high quality or low AP. For pawns with 2 arm replacements (which are technically considered shoulders and covered entirely by flak vests), the only places that aren't covered by the vest are the legs.

For heat damage, devilstrand and hyperweave dusters are vastly better than cataphract armors with same quality. For blunt damage, cataphract armors are better.

The weak protection for legs offered by this combo may not be as detrimental as it seems, because damage to the legs is non-lethal. And it tend to cause the pawn to be downed rather than leaving permanent injuries.

The high protective value of cataphract armor is offset by its extreme cost, length of time to craft, and the substantial move speed penalty of −.80 c/s. Flak vests and dusters are, by comparison, significantly cheaper and only incur a move speed penalty of −.12 c/s. The cataphract armor research project also requires 2 techprints to be purchased and applied before it can be unlocked.

**Sharp protection comparison**

The sharp armor of legendary cataphract armor is capped at 200%, making it worse than its legendary vest combo counterpart against almost all types of sharp attack.

Compared to phoenix armor[edit]

Phoenix armor is a sidegrade to cataphract armor, unlocked from the same research. Phoenix armor has −5% Sharp and −5% Blunt armor, but +15% Heat armor, before quality. This discrepancy increases at higher quality. However, at legendary quality, both phoenix and cataphract armor offer the maximum of 200% Sharp protection, the most common form of damage. Phoenix armor costs 75 steel, 4 components, and 75 more than marine. Steel, components, and chemfuel are likely easy to produce for a colony producing power armor, so the material cost is not terribly significant.

Phoenix armor's main defensive advantage is that it reduces a human's flammability to 2%. Fire is a large threat to colonists - not because of its damage, but because it causes them to run around wildly. Phoenix armor reduces the chance of ignition from 70% to 2% - a massive benefit. Enemies with flame damage aren't terribly common (especially without the Biotech DLC). But 5% armor doesn't make a big difference, either. An extra 5% armor would translate to 2.5% chance to halve damage, and 2.5% chance to prevent all damage at the most. Phoenix armor, by comparison, nearly eliminates a dangerous type of threat.

Phoenix armor also has an integrated flame launcher. It explodes into a 5x5 blast of fire, with each bolt costing 40 chemfuel.

Overall, the difference comes down to if you want to (nearly) prevent fire, or if you want some extra protection. This comparison should favor phoenix armor, especially at higher qualities.

At excellent or better, phoenix armor reaches the (100% + weapon AP%) Sharp threshold for all ranged weapons. This is enough to always halve incoming sharp damage. In turn, this prevents all one-shots that could be prevented by any amount of armor. Past this threshold, armor has a reduced impact on protection: it only reduces chance to prevent damage rather than both chance to halve damage and chance to prevent damage. See Apparel for more details.
At legendary quality, phoenix armor reaches the cap of 200% Sharp armor, making phoenix armor a no-brainer. While it still has less Blunt armor, blunt damage is comparatively rare. Blunt armor is never checked by any ranged weapon, only Sharp or Heat. Phoenix armor also has better Heat protection.

Stats table

Cataphract armor	Sharp	Blunt	Heat	HP	Insulation - Cold	Insulation - Heat	Market Value
Quality	Sharp	Blunt	Heat	HP	Insulation - Cold	Insulation - Heat	Market Value
Awful	72%	30%	36%	400	-28.8 °C (-51.8 °F)	+9.6 °C (17.3 °F)	1560
Poor	96%	40%	48%	400	-32.4 °C (-58.3 °F)	+10.8 °C (19.4 °F)	2340
Normal	120%	50%	60%	400	-36 °C (-64.8 °F)	+12 °C (21.6 °F)	3120
Good	138%	57.5%	69%	400	-39.6 °C (-71.3 °F)	+13.2 °C (23.8 °F)	3620
Excellent	156%	65%	78%	400	-43.2 °C (-77.8 °F)	+14.4 °C (25.9 °F)	4120
Masterwork	174%	72.5%	87%	400	-54 °C (-97.2 °F)	+18 °C (32.4 °F)	5120
Legendary	200%	90%	108%	400	-64.8 °C (-116.6 °F)	+21.6 °C (38.9 °F)	6120

^{For the full effects of qualities, see Quality.}

Trivia[edit]

Cataphracts were heavy armored cavalry used in ancient warfare by people in Eurasia, including the Byzantines that inspired the Empire.

Every set of cataphract armor found on an Imperial Cataphract will be white.

Version history[edit]

Royalty DLC release - Added.
1.1.2647 - No longer meets the clothing requirement of nobles, replaced in that role by prestige cataphract armor. Stellic Wardens and Defenders no longer spawn with a regular cataphract armor, and instead spawn with the prestige version.
1.2.2753 - Icons of spacer armor now display as off-white instead of dark gray.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Royalty}}{{infobox main
+{{Royalty}}
-|name = Cataphract armor
+{{Infobox main
-|image = CataphractArmor.png|Cataphract armor
+| name = Cataphract armor
-|description = A suit of heavy powered armor, built for maximum protection at the cost of mobility. Heavy layered plasteel-weave plates with solid ablative coatings stop all but the most well-aimed or powerful attacks. Neuro-memetic assistors prevent the suit's massive weight from immobilizing the wearer entirely, but the suit is still quite cumbersome. Armor like this is used by imperial cataphracts to break heavily fortified positions in frontal assaults when no other option is available.
+| image = CataphractArmor.png
-|type = Gear
+| description = A suit of heavy powered armor, built for maximum protection at the cost of mobility. Heavy layered plasteel-weave plates with solid ablative coatings stop all but the most well-aimed or powerful attacks. Neuro-memetic assistors prevent the suit's massive weight from immobilizing the wearer entirely, but the suit is still quite cumbersome. Armor like this is used by imperial cataphracts to break heavily fortified positions in frontal assaults when no other option is available.
-|type2 = Armor
+| type = Gear
-|hp = 400
+| type2 = Armor
-|work to make = 75000
+| tech level = Spacer
-|resource 1 = Plasteel
+| hp = 400
-|resource 1 amount = 150
+| production facility 1 = Fabrication bench
-|resource 2 = Uranium
+| research = Cataphract armor
-|resource 2 amount = 50
+| work to make = 75000
-|resource 3 = Advanced component
+| work speed stat = General Labor Speed
-|resource 3 amount = 6
+| resource 1 = Plasteel
-|marketvalue  = 3120
+| resource 1 amount = 150
-|armorblunt  = 50
+| resource 2 = Uranium
-|armorsharp  = 120
+| resource 2 amount = 50
-|armorheat  = 60
+| resource 3 = Advanced component
-|insulationcold = 20
+| resource 3 amount = 6
-|insulationheat = 6.7
+| skill 1 = Crafting
-|coverage = Torso, Neck, Left Shoulder, Left Arm, Right Shoulder, Right Arm, Left Leg, Right Leg
+| skill 1 level = 8
-|layer = Middle, Outer
+| marketvalue = 3120
-|mass base = 15
+| armorblunt = 50
+| armorsharp = 120
+| armorheat = 60
+| insulationcold = 36
+| insulationheat = 12
+| lifestage = Adult
+| clothing for nudity = True
+| coverage = Torso, Neck, Left Shoulder, Left Arm, Right Shoulder, Right Arm, Left Leg, Right Leg
+| layer = Middle, Outer
+| mass base = 15
+| has quality = true
+| thingCategories = ApparelArmor
+| tradeTags = HiTechArmor
+| defaultOutfitTags = Soldier
+| thingSetMakerTags = RewardStandardHighFreq
 }}
-'''Cataphract armor''' is a type of advanced [[apparel]] ([[armor]]) introduced by the [[Royalty DLC]] that can effectively block gunshots, cuts, blunt trauma, or burns. It forms a full set of armor along with the [[Cataphract helmet]].
+'''Cataphract armor''' is a type of [[power armor]] introduced by the [[Royalty DLC]] that can effectively block gunshots, cuts, blunt trauma, or burns at the expense of a penalty to [[move speed]]. It forms a full set of armor along with the [[Cataphract helmet]].
 == Acquisition ==
-As a complicated piece of technology, Cataphract Armor can only be made at the [[Fabrication bench]] and requires [[Research#Cataphract armor|Cataphract Armor]] to be researched in order to be constructed. Researching Cataphract Armor in turn requires the previous [[Research#Recon armor|power]] [[Research#Marine armor|armor]] projects to be researched as well as the use of two Cataphract Armor [[Techprint]]s to unlock. Crafting the armor requires {{icon|plasteel|150}} [[plasteel]] + {{icon|uranium|50}} [[uranium]] and {{icon|advcomponent|6}} [[advanced component]]s.
+{{Acquisition}}
-Alternatively, the armor can be received as a quest reward, purchased from traders, or found on [[Empire#Pawns|Imperial Cataphracts and Stellic Guards]].
+Alternatively, the armor can be received as a quest reward, purchased from traders, or found on [[Empire#Cataphract|Imperial Cataphracts]]. Acquiring it through fighting the Empire is difficult due to their ubiquitious [[Death acidifier]] implants and the general difficulty of killing the pawns wearing this armor and carrying the empire's best weapons.
+== Summary ==
+{{Apparel Move Speed Note|0.80}}
+{{Apparel Melee Damage}}
 == Analysis ==
-Cataphract armor provides the best protection of any armor in the game, especially against blunt, and can block heat damage. Like [[Recon armor]] and [[Marine armor]] it also covers the limbs in addition to the torso making for great overall protections. It provides roughly the same protection as a Marine Armor of one quality level above its own, or of Recon Armor two quality levels above its own. It also allows a pawn to reach the cap of 200% sharp protection at Legendary quality. Compared to a [[flak vest]] and [[duster]], Cataphract armor offers strictly superior protection to all body parts when all items are the same [[quality]], regardless of duster material. However, Cataphract armor is much more expensive, needs a long time to make and also needs the Cataphract Armor research before being available.
+Cataphract armor is the strongest [[power armor]] in the game - but as expected, one of the most expensive. Like [[recon armor]] and [[marine armor]], it covers the limbs and torso, for great overall protection. It provides roughly the same protection as a marine armor of one quality level above its own (e.g., a normal set of cataphract armor is roughly equal to a good set of marine armor), or of recon armor two quality levels above its own. Cataphract armor also allows a pawn to reach the cap of 200% sharp protection at Legendary quality, and offers the highest blunt armor available in the game.
+The armor provides a significant [[Move Speed]] debuff of {{--|0.80}} c\s, double that of [[marine armor]] and over six times that of a flak vest, making the armor impractical for every day wear by some pawns. A [[moving]] factor of {{+|125%}} is needed to counter this penalty. This can be achieved by installing 2 [[bionic leg]]s or 1 [[archotech leg]] on the pawn.
-Acquiring it through fighting the Empire is also difficult due to their ubiquitious [[Death acidifier]] implants and the general difficulty of killing the pawns wearing this armor and carrying the empires best weapons. The armor provides a significant [[Move Speed]] debuff of <nowiki>-0.80 c\s,</nowiki> double that of [[Marine armor]] and over six times that of a flak vest, making the armor impractical for every day wear by some pawns. The bionic legs may be used to offset this move speed penalty.
+=== Compared to flak vests with duster ===
+In term or sharp protection, cataphract armor is comparable with a flak vest with [[hyperweave]] or [[thrumbofur]] duster, for areas covered by the vest. The vest combo tend to work better at high quality or low AP. For pawns with 2 arm replacements (which are technically considered shoulders and covered entirely by flak vests), the only places that aren't covered by the vest are the legs.
-{{Apparel Quality Table}}
+For heat damage, devilstrand and hyperweave dusters are vastly better than cataphract armors with same quality. For blunt damage, cataphract armors are better.
+The weak protection for legs offered by this combo may not be as detrimental as it seems, because damage to the legs is non-lethal. And it tend to cause the pawn to be downed rather than leaving permanent injuries.
+The high protective value of cataphract armor is offset by its extreme cost, length of time to craft, and the substantial move speed penalty of {{--|.80}} c/s. Flak vests and dusters are, by comparison, significantly cheaper and only incur a move speed penalty of {{--|.12}} c/s. The cataphract armor research project also requires 2 [[techprint]]s to be purchased and applied before it can be unlocked.
+{|
+|+ '''Sharp protection comparison'''
+|-
+| {{Apparel Protection Compare Chart|set1name= Flak Vest and Thrumbofur Duster | set1armor1=62.4| set1armor2=100| set2name= Cataphract Armor | set2armor1= 120 | damageType=Sharp }}
+|}
+The sharp armor of legendary cataphract armor is capped at 200%, making it worse than its legendary vest combo counterpart against almost all types of sharp attack.
+=== Compared to phoenix armor ===
+[[Phoenix armor]]{{RoyaltyIcon}} is a sidegrade to cataphract armor, unlocked from the same research. Phoenix armor has {{--|5%}} Sharp and {{--|5%}} Blunt armor, but {{+|15%}} Heat armor, before [[quality]]. This discrepancy increases at higher quality. However, at legendary quality, both phoenix and cataphract armor offer the maximum of 200% Sharp protection, the most common form of damage. Phoenix armor costs {{Icon Small|Steel}} 75 [[steel]], {{Icon Small|Component}} 4 [[component]]s, and {{Icon Small|Chemfuel}} 75 more than marine. Steel, components, and chemfuel are likely easy to produce for a colony producing power armor, so the material cost is not terribly significant.
+Phoenix armor's main defensive advantage is that it reduces a human's [[flammability]] to 2%. [[Fire]] is a large threat to colonists - not because of its damage, but because it causes them to run around wildly. Phoenix armor reduces the chance of ignition from 70% to 2% - a massive benefit. Enemies with flame damage aren't terribly common (especially without the [[Biotech DLC]]). But 5% armor doesn't make a big difference, either. An extra 5% armor would translate to 2.5% chance to halve damage, and 2.5% chance to prevent all damage at the most. Phoenix armor, by comparison, nearly eliminates a dangerous type of threat.
+Phoenix armor also has an integrated flame launcher. It explodes into a 5x5 blast of fire, with each bolt costing {{Icon Small|Chemfuel}} 40 [[chemfuel]].
+Overall, the difference comes down to if you want to (nearly) prevent fire, or if you want some extra protection. This comparison should favor phoenix armor, especially at higher qualities.
+* At excellent or better, phoenix armor reaches the (100% + weapon {{AP}}%) Sharp threshold for all ranged weapons. This is enough to always halve incoming sharp damage. In turn, this prevents all one-shots that could be prevented by any amount of armor. Past this threshold, armor has a reduced impact on protection: it only reduces ''chance to prevent damage'' rather than both ''chance to halve damage'' and ''chance to prevent damage''. See [[Apparel#Protection|Apparel]] for more details.
+* At legendary quality, phoenix armor reaches the cap of 200% Sharp armor, making phoenix armor a no-brainer. While it still has less Blunt armor, blunt damage is comparatively rare. Blunt armor is never checked by any ranged weapon, only Sharp or Heat. Phoenix armor also has better Heat protection.
+{{Apparel Stats Table}}
 == Trivia ==
+Cataphracts were heavy armored cavalry used in ancient warfare by people in Eurasia, including the Byzantines that inspired the Empire.
-Cataphracts were heavy armored cavalry used in warfare by people in Europe.
+Every set of cataphract armor found on an [[Empire#Cataphract|Imperial Cataphract]] will be white.
-Every set of cataphract armor found on an Imperial Cataphract will be white, while every one found on a Stellic Guard (Warden or Defender) will be red and of Excellent quality.
 == Version history ==
-*[[Royalty DLC]] release - Added.
+* [[Royalty DLC]] release - Added.
-*[[Version/1.1.2647|1.1.2647]] - No longer meets the clothing requirement of nobles, replaced in that role by [[Prestige cataphract armor]]
+* [[Version/1.1.2647|1.1.2647]] - No longer meets the clothing requirement of nobles, replaced in that role by [[prestige cataphract armor]]. [[Empire#Stellic warden|Stellic Wardens]] and [[Empire#Stellic defender|Defenders]] no longer spawn with a regular cataphract armor, and instead spawn with the prestige version.
+* [[Version/1.2.2753|1.2.2753]] - Icons of spacer armor now display as off-white instead of dark gray.
-== See Also ==
+== See also ==
-*[[Phoenix armor]] - a variant of cataphract armor that is slightly more protective against heat and temperature but less protective otherwise, with an integrated incendiary launcher.
+* [[Phoenix armor]] - a variant of cataphract armor that is slightly more protective against heat and temperature but less protective otherwise, with an integrated incendiary launcher.
-*[[Prestige cataphract armor]] - a variant of cataphract armor that both pleases nobles and improves psychic ability.
+* [[Prestige cataphract armor]] - a variant of cataphract armor that both pleases nobles and improves psychic ability.
-{{nav|clothing|wide}}
+{{Nav|clothing|wide}}
 [[Category:Armor]]
-[[Category:Royalty]]