Captain and Champion can get heavy armor at level 20. Th eonly diffence from the guardian is the Guardian is the only one that can have a heavy shield.
Keep in mind that armor is a part of the defense package in this game, not the whole. Armor helps but things that reduce 100% of damage (such as evade) are also huge, as are additional damage reductions from stats (physical mitigation). If you are looking to make a tough character, armor use is not the best question to ask, is the point I am making.
Draegon:
"stack all the morale you want but dont come on here wonderin why you aint hittin hard! "
Of the three heavy armor wearers, guardian is the most tough, by far. Both the captain and champion are substantially more vulnerable to defeat than the guardian, especially the champion, even if they are wearing the exact same heavy armor fighting the exact same monsters. As forusname stated, there's a lot more to toughness and surviveability than just armor, in this game.
And even though wardens wear medium armour, now that they fixed the class after the awful RoI breakage, we're well nigh unkillable on the landscape once more.
That's the heavy class that's not technically a heavy but...is nonetheless.
If you roll a cappie or a champ (and I love both of them) go with mitigation virtues, pocket items for mitigations, and for a champ after 18, always make sure your bow is loaded with physical mitigation. Champs used to be really squishy, not so much now, but if you don't have good mitigation they're still pretty vulnerable to spike damage. Trait them right and whilst they aren't as survivey as wardens they'll still be able to handle 6 orange mobs with ease from their late 40s onwards.
And even though wardens wear medium armour, now that they fixed the class after the awful RoI breakage, we're well nigh unkillable on the landscape once more.
That's the heavy class that's not technically a heavy but...is nonetheless.
Ah, here is the difference between "heavy" and "squishy"... Wardens aren't a "heavy" class but they're not "squishy". The job of the tank is "protect the squishies"... which doesn't necessarily track according to what class of armor they're wearing.
I'm hoping the OP is really asking that question because he/she is thinking of becoming a Metalsmith and wants to know what the customer base for that is.
Ah, here is the difference between "heavy" and "squishy"... Wardens aren't a "heavy" class but they're not "squishy". The job of the tank is "protect the squishies"... which doesn't necessarily track according to what class of armor they're wearing.
I'm hoping the OP is really asking that question because he/she is thinking of becoming a Metalsmith and wants to know what the customer base for that is.
The answer to that is rune-keepers if other servers are like mine - I'm the only metalsmith who seems to make and sell chisels and rifflers, and they are always in demand. True story. RKs wear light armour, though.
I was in a raid with my warden once, and the raid leader was really good, explaining things to all the first timers - but then he said - if you wear light or medium armour, you're a squishy, get over here.