2

When you get up to level 50+ or Hell mode (or both), you start seeing a lot of gear with the name "Balor" on it (like this).

What in the world does "Balor" mean in this context? (Both lore-wise and gameplay-wise, if there's any gameplay effect).

Improve this question
2
  • Balor looks like it just means various things to various RPGs from the past, who knows which context was picked for this name. Prefixes on base items mean nothing, it is just the name of the item (like "Leather Gloves").
    – Resorath
    Jun 4, 2012 at 19:19
  • Yeah, apparently - just weird, because everybody knows Leather or Chain but when this started popping up I was like "that word is everywhere and I don't know what it means"
    – lilserf
    Jun 4, 2012 at 21:02

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
6

"Balor" is just the name for a particular class of item, and doesn't provide any special benefits. Each class of gear has its own adjective, and it's just there for flavor.

It's origins are likely from Dungeons and Dragons, where Balor is a type of demon:

In the original Dungeons & Dragons pamphlets, this breed of demon was known as "balrog", but the name was revised in subsequent supplements to simply "type VI demon" so as not to infringe on J. R. R. Tolkien's copyright. In second edition AD&D, the name "type VI demon" was revised to "balor," taking the name of the greatest individual of their rank as the name for the entire breed. Also in second edition, balors now had vorpal swords.

So, you might think of these as "Demonic Gauntlets" or somesuch.

Balor is also a god from Celtic mythology, although the D&D Balor doesn't have much in the way of relation to this.

Improve this answer
0

I believe that it is referring to the tier of the armor. Balor armor, for example, refers to a tier around the levels 53-54.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .