# \[Dev blog\]Alpha 8 released!

**URL:** <https://discourse.stonehearth.net/t/dev-blog-alpha-8-released/10067>\
**Category:** Development\
**Created:** [February 3, 2015, 8:26pm UTC](https://discourse.stonehearth.net/t/dev-blog-alpha-8-released/10067 "2015-02-03T20:26:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 18

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**Author:** ![8BitCrab](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/discourse.stonehearth.net/8bitcrab/32/48512_2.png) [@8BitCrab](https://discourse.stonehearth.net/u/8BitCrab)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://discourse.stonehearth.net/t/dev-blog-alpha-8-released/10067/18 "2015-02-07T18:26:05Z")

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> [@Andrew91](#):
>
> A similar idea on top of that is to make armor level-based, so a lower-leveled footman would need to improve and level up before they would be able to equip more than just basic leather armor.

here is a topic that dealt with that thought,

> [@Make Armor level bound and heavy armor slow you down](http://discourse.stonehearth.net/t/make-armor-level-bound-and-heavy-armor-slow-you-down/9643):
>
> I dont know if this has been suggested but with the black smith in development why not make it that the footman has to be a certain level until it could wear better armor? This prevents that other armors become obsolete and it would make sense. An untrained rookie wouldnt go in full heavy armor when it just learned how to swing a sword. Also if you give heavy armor a speed penalty, you get more depth in combat. Do I go for a faster defence or a more durable one? What Do you guys think?

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