How does armor + shields work?

First of all, I did a search.

I read the armor guide, which states that 60 armor = you taking half damage as you would without armor. So, because of this I am lead to believe that all armor pieces are not added up for a cumulative AL (because 6 peices of 60 armor would mean you would get hit for about 0). Therefore, every armor piece has its own unique determination of damage taken if that area is hit?

For example-a hit on chest of armor 60 is half damage, a hit on legs of armor 30 takes 75% of the orignial damage. Am I correct in thinking this?

Also, when you toss in a shield, where does that come into play? Is it like chest 60 + 10 (shield) and likewise with every other piece, or does it in fact add to an armor cumulative total?

I'd like to know because it doesn't seem a 15 armor shield would be that great (needs 11 tactics) if it only lowers damage in some areas and not others. I would rather have +energy or -damage.

Edit: also is there a difference between shield armor level and artifact +armor?

Thanks.

they all add up and give you a % of dmg reduced..

Then what does 60 armor = half damage taken mean?

If they all add up you would take practically zero damage as a warrior.

Depending on where you get hit, the armor level that adjusts the damage you take is determined by just that piece of armor. I think that for every 60 more defense you have, you take half as much damage. (Or is it every 40? Now I'm second guessing myself...)

Also, if you get hit somewhere in the front then your shield will kick in and add its defense to the defense of the piece of armor that's hit.

Torso armor is the part that's hit the most often, and also spells that don't fly through the air and just appear on the enemy are usually auto set to hit the chest armor.

I remember reading that before. Thank you for the reply. Just to double check, say you have a chest piece that has 60 armor (half damage). The original hit would have been 10, now it is 5 (assuming you get hit in the chest). So, add a 15 sheild to that and you are getting hit in the front. 15 is 1/4 of 60, so that makes the hit only 3.75 instead?