Rift_0f_Bladz
Wait, Full + Armor Value? So the normal, non-accessories Armor Value counts against encumbrance too? Meaning, if you're a strength 6 human wearing Full Body Armor with helmet (+3 AV) at AV 15+3=18, you take a whopping ((18-6=12)/2=6) -6 penalty to Reaction and Agility?
Or did you mean just the Armor Value of accessories, on it's own?
Namikaze
I could see the first rule being something that was playtested and forgotten about. As written, those two sentences really doesn't make sense because the second clause will never apply because of the first. I do agree that wearing unlimited amounts of armor just because STR is limiting how much armor you can get seems silly, though.
That being said, I think it's perfectly plausible in many cases to wear multiple pieces of armor without it slowing you down like the 4th Edition rules seemed to do. A character wearing an Actioneer Business Suit and a Lined Coat isn't exactly being weighed down much more than if he was wearing Armored Clothes or just plain old clothing under his Lined Coat. In all cases, his armor is limited to the highest value, in this case 9. I've heard the stories that you and others have mentioned, but at least in my case I've never actually encountered a player who thought wearing two armored jackets was even remotely plausible. Maybe I've just been lucky...