Okay just like in Baldurs Gate here's a way to get some cool armor but for a high price. Once your on chapter 6,way in the lower Dorn's Deep, theres a kind of lift thing in the north west corner of the map. To be more accurate your actually in wyrmstooth but you'll find it.go up the lift and you'll meet a deep gnome with an attitude. (and for a sub quest, you can go in the kitchen where you fight that one thief with the badge, youll find potatoes in a cupboard, by the fat guy) you can give these to the deep gnome.after a while he tells you the way to his camp.Explore the area until you are attacked by umber hulks (grab a rhinoceros beetle hyde on the way, this is essential) the umbers break three wholes in the wall(each leads to tha same place} go in and youll end up in the base. go see this guy his names dirty somin, anyway give him the shell and hell wawnt ten thousand bucks(thats the cheap part)then it takes ten days (id just sleep it through) come back and get your shield. it basically sucks but then you take it to the drow sorcerer across the way,resist the urge to murder him at first,hell enchant the shield for 40,000 tell him its ridiculous and hell throw in a knife for an additional 3 or 4 thou.its only like a +2 weapon but id take it.come back in ten days and hell give it to you its like a +3 shield that weighs 15 or 25 pounds. Also buy the armor from the dirty guy.its better then plate mail but not magical so you can wear a ring with it or whatever. The drow sorcerer has some nice spells, a +4 shield with magic protection, and a 60,000 dollar staff that casts resurrection (only usable by cleric).I dropped a pretty penny but I had 200,000 so its okay. E mail me if you have any questions.