what determines the armor that can be worn when stealthing?

[Oncoming Storm]

as the subject states i was wondering what determines the amount or the kind of armor that can be worn when stealthing?

is it a factor of the total weight? the material? and probably your skill level.

just curious if anyone knows
-Storm

[Aghorra]

Back on OSI's shards, it had to be non-metal (leather, studded); and the lighter, the more successful.

[Gwendolyn]

it is by armor type only

at 120 you can wear full studid leather + a plate gorget without the message appearing "you can not possibly hope to move quietly in such armor"

etc

actually, i don't think it even displays that message here, it probably just fails automatically.

can't remmeber
have worn nothing but leather for about 15 months now.

[Devlin]

what gwen said; gear has an "armor penalty", which affects two things. 1. Meditation/mana regen 2. Stealth skill.
Studded, ringmail, bone armor, etc. will all contribute to the armor penalty. The only thing that is medable/stealthable is leather, or your birthday suit. Added Mage Armor apparently removes the armor penalty, but you may still have problems stealthing if youre below 100 and have, say, a Jackals Collar (with MA on it)