Let me ask a more direct question then, should I be looking to max out my armor based on max weight I can carry? As a dex footie it does not seem right from a roleplaying stance that I should wear plate but if I can wear plate and still keep my max move, jump and swim speed then why not?
Also, I am confused about the different armor materials, they seem to be made of all different types of animals, scale, etc. I heard on YouTube that "reptile" armor is standard for PVP should I only look for armor called "reptile"?
Yes, usually you know what weight your usual armour is and you make sure you have enough armour weight for it ( second tab in your paper doll).
Take a steel/silk armour set for example. Depending on the type, it weighs around 24 to 25 kg. So, if you want to wear it, you need Armour training to 100, and some heavy armour training. Keep in mind that strength also effects armour weight, so the more strength you have the less heavy armour training you’ll need to wear that armour. But you will need some.
If you are only going to wear Pansar sets you’ll only need around 19 kg armour weight. And so on.
As long as you stay under your max armour weight you do not lose running speed. However your stamina regeneration will be less the heavier the armour.
So yes, you can wear steel and better as a Vheela and be just as fast as light sets. Jump as high too. You just need armour training and heavy armour training. Swimming requires Survival and all its secondaries.
For sure you’ll want the best armour you can afford and that will most likely be heavy armour, around 25kg. If you cant afford steel the next best thing currently is Pansar (anima material). Its decent for pvp.
Animal materials are considered low tier armours (mages often use them because they are light). Regular pvp for a melee fighter is usually steel. Tungsteel and Cronite are high tier. oghmium is God tier.
To get a really good idea of how armours are made, as well as weights and defence values, etc go to mortaldata.com/workbench
You will quickly see the differences between armours and all the mats you can use to make them.