"It had no effect at all. I tested it in the sea, and I could move freely. Compared with being on land, the only difference was the buoyancy in the water. On my first attempt using the armor, I could bring out about seventy percent of my strength." Osborne explained at length, then added one final remark. "But I have a feeling that eighty percent is the most I can manage underwater."
The faint delight that had appeared on Rex's face vanished in an instant. He frowned and asked Osborne, "Was that a problem with the armor, or was it because you weren't used to it on your first attempt?"
Being able to use only eighty percent of his strength was far, far better than retaining a mere forty or fifty percent after entering the sea, but Rex was still dissatisfied. Without being able to fight at full strength, they could easily find themselves at a disadvantage against the Tidehunter. Moreover, in his future war against the murlocs, that loss of strength would become a constraint, robbing them of their overwhelming advantage.
The Kingdom of Gilneas had an enormous advantage over both the gnolls and the murlocs. That advantage lay in its civilization. Its people had a civilization of their own, with high standards in forging and other fields alike.
A warrior's strength, if calculated in detail, involved many factors. It was not just the warrior's own abilities that counted, but also their weapons and equipment.
The Kingdom of Gilneas had excellent weapons and complete equipment, which in itself enhanced its strength. Thus, when their innate strength was equal, Gilneas's forces could crush the murlocs, sweeping away every murloc force along the coast. But if they could only use eighty percent of their strength afterward, that would become a restriction.