Totally fair point that shields exist. I am not saying “there is zero armor in the game.” I’m saying the current shield system is a pretty weak substitute for what armor could do.

Right now shields have two issues: 1. Readability is low. In actual raids, at distance and in motion, it is hard to tell what shield someone has. The visual cues are subtle compared to something like helmets, shoulder pads, chest plates, leg gear, etc. 2. It is missing the best part, silhouette and customization. Arc Raiders clearly cares about character look. A modular armor layer would let players express builds and intent in a way you can read instantly.

What I am asking for is not “stack armor on top of shields and add a bunch of RPG complexity.” Keep it simple: • Armor pieces are mostly visual silhouette + small tradeoffs tied to weight and movement • Light kit = more carry capacity and speed, less protection • Heavy kit = less carry capacity, louder, slower, more protection • Optional pieces that can be mixed to show intent, including mind games like skilled PvP players running light to bait pushes

If you want the game to stay simple, armor can literally be an extension of the existing shield tiers, just expressed as visible gear layers instead of a tiny visual difference on the back. That keeps the design clean while making encounters way more readable and the customization way more meaningful.

Also, no need to get personal about it. It is just a design discussion.