[Shangrila00]

They give -2 Encumbrance at half the cost of the armor that does the same. So there are niche uses of pushing something down to encumbrance 0. I like forging a few to get a little bonus research early, but mainly to give a few mages with crystal shields the equivalent of 4 points of reinvigoration. This can be useful if you have good sacreds, but only have holy 2 mage priests, like EA Tien Chi. Not so much an issue with Marignon, but I can see some fun with prophetizing a high inquisitor, and giving it a crystal shield plus owl quill for endless H5 banishment against say Ermor at construction 2.