Armor

Six armor types are catalogued in the BG:EE Mastering Melee & Magic manual, listed below from heaviest (lowest AC) to lightest.

For how AC interacts with combat see Armor Class.

Full Plate

The best — and heaviest — armor a warrior can buy, both in appearance and protection. The perfectly fitted interlocking plates are specially angled to deflect arrows and blows, and the entire suit is carefully adorned with rich engraving and embossed detail.

Plate Mail

A combination of chain armor with metal plates covering the vital areas: chest, abdomen, and groin. The weight is distributed over the whole body, the whole thing held together with buckles and straps.

Splint Mail

A variant of banded mail in which the metal strips are applied vertically (rather than horizontally as with banded mail) to a backing of chain, leather, or cloth. Since a person's body does not normally swivel mid-torso as much as it flexes back to front, splint mail is more restrictive in battle.

Chain Mail

Made of interlocking metal rings. Always worn over a layer of padded fabric or soft leather to prevent chafing and lessen the impact of blows.

Studded Leather

Unhardened leather reinforced with close-set metal rivets.

Leather

Leather hardened in boiling oil and then shaped into breastplate and spaulders. The remainder of the suit is fashioned from more flexible, somewhat softer materials.

Class restrictions on armor

Different classes can wear only certain armor types — Mages and Sorcerers cannot wear armor at all; Druids and Thieves cap at Studded Leather; Bards cap at Chain Mail; Barbarians cap at Splint Mail; Fighters, Paladins, and Rangers may wear anything. See each class page for specifics.

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Source: bgee/original_manuals/baldurs_gate_1_ee_mastering_melee_and_magic.pdf — "Equipment" → "Armor".