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EQUIPMENT RATINGS

Detailed information on all items can also be found at Item Stats page of Avernum2 Annotated Maps.
Each armor has a set of protection numbers: A-B+X. The minimum damage blocked is A+X, the max is B+X. The average is therefore (A+B)/2 + X. Objects with a large A-B range aren't always as good as ones with smaller ranges, but a bigger X. So in comparing blessed studded armor (1-8+4) and steel chain mail (1-12+2) we see that the average damages blocked are equal (8.5). Similar calculations were done for weapons, although magical weapons are a bit more subjective with their extra damage to specific creatures. Some calculations with Jewelry were attempted by attacking a given enemy using various warrior rings, bracelets, and charms, although further calculations are necessary in order to determine exact bonuses.

ARMOR RATINGS

These are based firstly on damage protection, secondly on melee interference and weight. Other special effects were ignored for armor calculations.
BLOCKING NAME
1.5 Shirt
2Robe
2.5Poor leather armor
3 Spidersilk shirt
3.5 Poor studded armor
3.5 Leather armor
3.5 Robe of the Magi
4.5 Poor chain mail
4.5 Iron studded armor
4.5 Fine leather armor
4.5 Blessed robe
5.5 Drakeskin/magical/rogue leather armor
6.5 Bronze plate mail
6.5 Iron chain mail
6.5 Steel studded armor
8.5 Iron plate mail
8.5 Steel chain mail
8.5 Blessed studded armor
10.5 Steel plate mail
10.5 Mithral / Icy chain mail
13.5 Blessed plate mail

WEAPON RANKINGS

These are based on damage, and on number of hands required (fewer is better).
The following assumptions are made:
Icy and Flaming long swords do an average of 10 damage extra, but 30% of enemies are immune.
The Assassin's knife, Shielding spike, Jade halberd, Serendipity knife, Demonslayer, Ghoulbane, Giantslayer and Alien blade are all slightly more desirable due to their extra effects (denoted by *).
DAMAGE NAME
4.5 Stick
5 Kitchen knife
5.5 Hammer
6 Stone dagger
6.5 Staff
7 Iron dagger
8 Stone short sword
9 Steel dagger = Iron short sword
10 Stone long sword = Stone spear = Ceremonial dagger
11 Iron long sword = Blessed dagger = Steel short sword = Iron spear = Slith spear
11* Assassin's knife = Shielding spike
12 Stone great sword
12* Serendipity knife
13 Stone pike
13 Steel long sword = Blessed short sword = Steel spear = Waveblade
14 Iron great sword = Iron pike
15 Steel great sword = Stone halberd
15 Blessed long sword = Diamond dagger = Blessed (obsidian) spear = Fine waveblade
16 Steel Pike
16* Ghoulbane
17 Blessed great sword = Iron halberd
17 Fine slith spear
18 Steel halberd = Blessed pike
18* Giantslayer
18* Demonslayer
19* Alien blade
20 Blessed halberd
20* Flaming long sword = Icy long sword
20* Jade halberd
23* Bloodthirst spear

JEWELRY ANALYSIS

The shielding ring blocks ~1-3 points of damage. The armor ring blocks ~3-6 points of damage. The fletcher's ring adds 10% to your to hit. The archer's ring adds 10% and may increase damage by a point (though this was not seen during tests). The skill ring appears to add 8% to your to hit. The warrior's ring adds 16% to your to hit and increases damage by 1 or so. The ring of resistance increases your resistance. The immunity ring does the same, but to a greater extent. The ring of health restores 3 HP every 25 rounds. The ring of great health restores 5 HP every 15 rounds.

The bracelets of dexterity, intellect, luck and strength all give a +2 to their respective stats. This does not show up on the character info page, but it's true. The Mage bracelet increases you mage spell bonus, the same is respectively true of the priest bracelet. The warrior's bracelet may increase damage or assassination, but no increase in accuracy was observed.

The basic charm blocks against acid, chill against fire, crystal against petrification, freedom against paralysis and sleep magic, health against poison, and warmth against cold. Shielding raises your resistances, knowledge increases the bonus you get from arcane lore (so you have better rune reading and item lore), and war may increases you damage or assassination.

Of the rings, the ring of great health is my favorite. Immunity and warrior's rings are next. Generally, the second level of each ring is far superior to any first, and should probably be equipped (the exception is the archer ring- you may not have any archers). Of the bracelets, I like mage and priest best. I'd recommend warrior's, but I did not see a benefit for equipping it. Of necklaces, you can ignore basic, health, and warmth charms, (there aren't enough acidic monsters, nor ice-breathers, and safe travel voids the need for the health charm). Crystal charms are occasionally useful, but not excessively so, and knowledge charms are helpful, but not necessary. Freedom charms are quite nice, especially when fighting undead and fungoids. War charms were not seen to do anything. Chill charms are quite nice if your resistance is low.

MISCELLANEOUS ARMOR

 RANKING
Poor leather helm
Thinking cap
Bronze helm
Leather helm
Iron helm
Fine leather helm
Steel helm
Drakeskin helm
Blessed steel helm

Wooden buckler
Iron buckler
Wooden large shield
Wooden small shield
Steel buckler
Iron small shield
Blessed buckler
Iron large shield
Steel small shield
Steel large shield
Blessed/Crystal small shield
Blessed large shield

1 Cloak
1.5 Archer's cloak
2.5 Vahnatai/dragonskin cloak
3 Blessed cloak

OTHER MISCELLANEOUS WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE

 STAT ENHANCERS: Items like dexterity bracelets, strength bracelets, the Serendipity knife, the thinking cap, and the nimble boots all give a phantom +2 to their respective stats- that is, the stats don't show an increase except for internal calculations. For instance, the Intelligence bracelet gives you +2 to intelligence calculations (adds to the bonus), but does not give you the extra spell points.
The Gauntlets of might add 4 to damage, and 16%(?) to hit.
The Archer's cloak adds 10% to hit with bows, and a point of damage.