Viable for leather classes to wear cloth? Or plate classes to wear mail?

[Loreleie 0]

I've come across a discussion of the topic mentioned above, and I would love to hear some opinions - and maybe find out if there's a unanimous conclusion to be drawn.

 

The question is: at WoD raid level, is it at any point beneficial for e.g. a holy paladin to wear a piece of mail armor, or a druid to wear cloth armor? 

 

One point of view is that yes, it can be viable, if the item in question is a big enough upgrade (pulling out an example here, if you're wearing a 544 green plate item, and a 655 mail item drops, with no mail users in the raid group).

 

Another point of view is that it's never worth wearing another type of armor than the one designated for your class (mail for shamans, leather for druids etc.), because of the armor specialization buff of 5 % to your main stat (int/strength/agility) when wearing that kind of armor only. 

 

What are your thoughts? 

 

 

[Orthios 271]

I've come across a discussion of the topic mentioned above, and I would love to hear some opinions - and maybe find out if there's a unanimous conclusion to be drawn.

 

The question is: at WoD raid level, is it at any point beneficial for e.g. a holy paladin to wear a piece of mail armor, or a druid to wear cloth armor? 

 

One point of view is that yes, it can be viable, if the item in question is a big enough upgrade (pulling out an example here, if you're wearing a 544 green plate item, and a 655 mail item drops, with no mail users in the raid group).

 

Another point of view is that it's never worth wearing another type of armor than the one designated for your class (mail for shamans, leather for druids etc.), because of the armor specialization buff of 5 % to your main stat (int/strength/agility) when wearing that kind of armor only. 

 

What are your thoughts? 

First, if you're still wearing a 544 green item and you're in a normal HM group, you've done something terribly wrong.  Everything should be at least 610-620 by the time you are doing normals, which is quest level gear and higher.  Second, outside of your unrealistic situation, no, it is not worth it to go down a gear level (plate > mail > leather > cloth) for the ilvl increase.  I calculated this out for a hunter awhile ago who had gotten a 670 leather hands since they had no leather wearers, and had on a 630 mail hands at the time.  Equipping the leather gloves COST him 60 Agi because of the mail specialization.

[Archimage 98]

The main reasons Holy Paladin should where Plate, and Druids use Leather, etc:

Leather Specialization

Plate Specialization

Mail Specialization

 

 

If the 5% gain is less than the profit for wearing something not in your specialization, then its worth it.

[Loreleie 0]

Thank you Orthios and Archmage, you're making absolute sense. :) I had a hunch it'd not make sense, but nice to get a sanity check on it. :) Thanks again for taking the time to reply! :)

[Shine 144]

i woud say that it might be worth it to wear an item below your armor speciaisation if it is indeed better statwise however you could never hold on to an item like that in progression raiding so you would have to replace it soon anyway. 

 

I wouldnt do it simply because of that reason. 

no point in wearing a piece of armor for a minor increase if you have to drop it soon after.