The Fable series has evolved many times over the years with different changes to keep things interesting. While change can be good, not all alterations improved the game, and some good ideas, like Armor Rating, were left behind.

Armor Rating, present in the original game, has not been seen in the series since. The decision to remove Armor from the game made sense as the series moved away from its original medieval fantasy setting, granting players more freedom to customize their character's appearance without worrying about stats optimization. However, with Playground Game's Fable reboot coming next year, it might be the right time for Armor to make a comeback.

Reasons for Bringing Back Armor Rating in Fable 4

The original Fable's armor system was relatively simple compared to other RPGs. Some outfits had additional strengths and weaknesses, such as metal Armors having a slight vulnerability to Lightning damage. Most outfits had secondary effects, with Plate being better than Chainmail, which in turn was better than Leather, and regular clothing being the least protective. There was no encumbrance system, and Strength requirements only applied to weapons, leaving little reason for players to wear light Armor late in the game.

While some may criticize Fable for this, the linear equipment progression had its merits. It clearly indicated the player's progress through the game and reduced the issue of players finding Armor they couldn't use.

However, it was limiting from an RPG customization perspective. Fable had Light and Dark variants of most clothing items, but they were mainly palette swaps with a few modifiers. The magical resistance from the Will User outfit variants and stealth bonus from the Assassin outfits were too situational to make them viable alternatives to heavy Armor. It's unclear if these factors influenced Lionhead's decision to abandon Armor in Fable 2, but the studio never looked back.

The Return of Armor in Playground Game's Fable

Bringing back Armor Ratings in Playground Game's Fable 4 does not mean recreating the system as in the first game. Improving the first game's Armor could involve creating parallel equipment progression for different builds. With the three branches of Strength, Skill, and Will being constants across the Fable trilogy, it would make sense for the new game to have Armor categories for each, with multiple tiers.

Armor sets in the next Fable game could emphasize the strengths of each category. For example, Strength Armors could give a damage bonus, while Skill Armors increase attack speed. Playground Games could also create Armor progression paths for each combination of two aspects and one for heroes who engage in all three equally.

Additionally, the game could feature cosmetic options as a side grade to the main Armor sets, offering players some freedom while maintaining a clear sense of progression. Alternatively, if customization is the priority, Playground Games could allow players to apply outfits as skins to other items, as seen in games like Diablo 4 and Cyberpunk 2077.