Where to obtain Armour:
While smiths are the most 'popular' option, almost half of the armours around do not come from smiths. Other includes 'gifts', so they're just there for completness - but do not push the trend towards a particular direction.Armours from Smiths 9
Armours from Maps 4
Armours from Loot 7
Other 7
Most worryingly however was this-
Time with armour:
Note that 'less than 1 month' can also mean that a cheaper armour was purchased, and is not in use - or a fighter has not been around for long enough.Less than 1 month 4
1-3 months 7
3-6 months 6
6 or more 5
Unestimatable 5
The fact that armour can last for 6 or more months - is a very problematic statistic. Smiths earn most of their money selling armour - which takes the majority of their resources and is the basis of most of their 'training productions'.
Fighters bring in the most money into the economy - and if their only purchase is a 20 silver armour every 6 real life months, then it results in a lot of hoarding, and newer smiths not finding any work - nor will money travel downwards in the system (Fighter > Smith > Miner)
Therefore, I propose the following:
1. Armour should not last so much anymore. An armour replacement every real life month is reasonable.
2. Armour found from monster/map drops should not serve more than 'practice' disposable armour. If a single map gives the fighter a bunch of cash, and no need to spend it anywhere (since you also get magical weapons and armour which will last 6 months) - all you get is richer fighters, poorer everyone else.
Disssscus.