Equipment is a crucial element in By Gods and Kings and can be divided into four components: Armor, which consists of two pieces, Weapons, Shards, of which three can be equipped at one time, and medicine.
Weapons are the equipment that is most responsible for damage with basic attacks. Weapons provide a characters Speed, with some weapons being much faster than others. One-handed weapons are faster than two-handed weapons. Weapons also provide the bulk of a players physical and magical bonuses, making the weapon selection incredibly important to how a character is to be played.
Axes, Greatswords, Bows, and Staffs are all two-handed weapons. Axes and Staffs provide the largest physical and magical bonus in the game, but are incredibly slow weapons. Bow is one of the two hybrid weapons and allows players a boost to both of their physical and magical bonus, while also having abilities that are unique to it.
Swords, Spears, Daggers, and Clubs are all one-handed weapons and will allow players to equip a shield to boost their stats. If a player has a shard equipped that allows dual-wielding, that is, they can equip two one-handed weapons, the SPD modifier is not applied on the second weapon.
Armor is responsible for the bulk of the stats a player has. Armor reduces the Speed of a character, with heavier armor that provides a great deal of hit points and defense weighing a character down more than a piece of armor that doesn’t provide much in terms of protection. Armor also provides physical and magical bonuses, with each piece of gear being unique.
Armor is divided into three pieces, with two worn at all times and the third, a shield, used optionally and when a player is using a one-handed weapon. Body pieces are a full outfit while a Head piece is unique, thus giving the players the opportunity to wear stylish hats (or customize their characters further).
If a player is using a one-handed weapon, they have an opportunity to use a shield. A shield will lower a player’s speed, as it is armor, but will also provide additional stats.
Shards are the focal point in By Gods and Kings, and give players their abilities. Shards are the piece that level up, and as the shard gets stronger, the player gets stronger. Only 3 Shards can be equipped at one time, but a player can hold as many as they choose, but only the 3 equipped will gain shard experience upon the completion of a scenario. Once a Shard hits level 2, and subsequently, level 3, the player will gain an increase in their stats that is unique to each Shard.
Medicine is a tool in By Gods and Kings that can heal wounds, raise the fallen, and cure ailments that plague you. Medicine can be purchased while outside of a Scenario and can be used once inside a Scenario. Medicine cannot be purchased on an as-needed basis when inside the Scenario. The player must leave and restart the Scenario if medicine is required.