In what direction are armor, weapons, and other equipment heading in the future?

[Ashaylin]

Plate armors should be more efficient than a robe for a mage from an immersion point of view? o.O Talking about realism, isn't it reasonable that if someone spent his life studying and practicing spells he shouldn't have the strenght to put on an heavy armor, so he would feel uncomfortable and thus cast unefficient spells?

It was a hypothetical situation. Used as an example to explain his reasoning behind the changes.