Garfor

I have not read the entire thread, but... CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING: Armor does not provide a speed penalty, and if it does it's fairly minor. What armor does, is drastically increase the amount of stamina drained by fighting. Heavier armor drains stamina faster, causing exhaustion more often and forcing you to rest more often (or live with the penalties of being exhausted). Naturally, athletics would help lessen the stamina drain of heavy armor.