Armor (Origins)

Armor is protective wear. Armor mitigates physical damage; it does not make you harder to hit. Shields are an exception, they make you harder to hit and offer additional protection against missile hits. Armor in Dragon Age: Origins does not degrade.

There are four types of armor: massive armor,  heavy armor, medium armor, and light armor. To use armor, a character must meet a minimum strength requirement. Armor is not limited by race or class, but some special armors are only usable by specific specializations. Kaddis is an upgrade slot for the dog follower that has armor-like properties.

Armor comes in the form of body armor, boots, gloves, helmets, and shields.

Resources
Developer Post

Official Wiki: Armor