Hmmm...seens like we are having a misunderstanding here. Removal of heavy armor and removal of current tank role are different things.

The thing is that people just prefer hauby to save inventory slot since it can be used at both DD and tank roles, but still it doesn't fit the class at all. Keep in mind that when i talk about armor, i'm talking about context, not role. Its like i say at OP, i'm not asking to just remove the hauby...i'd like it replaced for non-heavy armor to fit the class context. I'll use the same example again...we have the skirts and trousers, that aren't heavy armor but have stats of such, being perfectly usable during tanking. Its just this what i'm suggesting...to have leather/cloth armor for MRD instead of chain/plate armors because, in a ship, heavy armor often means death.

They can just make a leather hauby or a jawshan or a leather chest/arm protector like those used by gladiators (real gladiators, not the class...at least not until they add AF =P)

@MerlinOmniking: Yes, just like all cloth armors, tunic only has elemental damage cut. But leather armors does have physical damage cut.

About the axes, yep, you're correct....but bills are an exception stat-wise just like bardiches are an exception damage type-wise. What was suggested by Rentahamnster and that i agree is that they should have more explicit differences between axes, and covering all ranks, like having steel labrys r40 and spiked steel labrys r50 for balanced performance or a brass bhuj rank28 and a bronze bhuj r18 for DD'ing.

The idea was having an axe type that excels in accuracy, one for damage, one for parrying, etc.