Rattan Armor

**Ability:**
While this is equipped, the wearer cannot be damaged by barbarians, hail of arrows, or non-elemental attacks. When receiving any fire damage however, the damage is increased by one.

**Clarification:**

* When receiving fire aligned damage, it can come from a variety of sources: *Fire Attacks*, *Blazes*, or through *Chains*.  Even if it was received through another players character ability, the source is irrelevant.  When any fire damage is received, the damage is increased.
* Elemental attacks can still be escaped.   Non-elemental attacks neither need to nor can be responded to by playing an *Escape*.  If hit with a *Lightning Attack*, the wearer receives only the standard damage.
* Abilities that take place upon the delivery of an attack still take place.  The *Gender Swords* can still be used against the *Rattan Armor* with a normal *Attack*.  After the *Gender Swords* ability, the attack is discarded since the target is then unaffected.

**Notable Combinations:**

* Zhuge Liang makes a good combination with the Rattan Armor.  This is especially true when using "Empty City".  Having no cards makes him immune to both *Fire Attacks* and *Blazes*.  The *Rattan Armor* also protects him from *Barbarians* and *Hail of Arrows*.  This keeps him safe from almost all the flack that flies around the battlefield.
* Defensive characters enjoy this armor so they can hunker down and disappear for a while.  Since the armor protects from *Barbarians* and *Hail of Arrows*, the defender will have to be singled out to be damaged.  If given enough time to prepare, no attack will be able to penetrate.  Lu Meng, Cao Ren
* Character that can easily cause fire damage will not be slowed down when going after someone with the *Rattan Armor*.  They will in fact be able to cause increased damage and get more bang for their buck.  It is not advisable to equip the Rattan Armor when these characters are opposing you.  Younger Zhuge Liang, Cheng Pu
* The characters that have armor as one of their abilities have a choice to make when they get the *Rattan Armor*.  It is important to judge the situation to see which is best, and act to circumstance.  Yu Jin, Younger Zhuge Liang

**Final Remarks:**

The Eight Trigrams is a wonderful armor to have in your possession.  It can save you from much grief and suffering   The problem with that though is the other team knows this just as well as you do.  This means that they won't be too happy when you get it.  You should expect the first chance they get, they are going to relieve you of your armor.  At the same time when you have it, you need to remember that you are not invincible with it.  All your defense is left up to chance.  As such, it is possible that it fails numerous times in a row.  The opposite is also true, but failing is much more noticeable   Know that this weapon is a great aid to keep you alive, but remember that it makes no promises.

**Final Remarks:**

The Rattan Armor is very useful for the people who like to sit back and not get involved in the fight.  This armor is great for that since it shields you from both *Barbarians* and *Hail of Arrows*, both possible sources for collateral damage.  Beware of fire however.  You will be the first target they think of when someone can use it.  Even if someone is not after you directly, most won't think twice of using *Chains* and you as the sacrifice.  Also watch out for the *Fire Fan*.  Make sure it doesn't stay in play.  After that, keep up the defensive for the odd *Fire Attack* or *Blaze* and watch everyone else get worn down.

**History:**

This is what Zhuge Liang had to face as he was fighting Meng Huo and the other Nanman leaders in the south. Wu Tu Gu is most remembered for leading an army fully equipped with this armor. His soldiers were impervious to swords, arrows, and spears. The men of Shu simply could not cut them down. The armor was also completely water resistant. the soldiers took off their armor and used them as rafts to float across the rivers. This strength comes at a cost however. The armor is very vulnerable to fire. In the wet southern climate, this is not much of a problem, but they are fighting someone as resourceful as Zhuge Liang. He lured the Nanman soldiers into a valley and sprung the trap on them. Every last soldier was engulfed in flame. This was the final piece in pacifying the south, but Zhuge Liang regretted that it came to this. The reason this armor is so strong is that it takes two years to make a set. Vines are soaked in oil and dried repeatedly for long amounts of time. Recently in Beijing, they compared this armor with cotton armor and chain mail. Surprisingly, the rattan armor actually outperformed both of its competitors.