From what Physics (and some logic/researching) have taught me:

- Chainmail works great against slashing attacks (a similar occurance would be how skis dissipate your weight onto a larger surface area), but isn't all that effective against stabbing attacks and arrows (as stated above, due to the rings breaking). Crushing attacks completely ignore chainmail due to it's flexibility.

- Platemail works very well against slashing, stabbing and projectiles, however it suffers against crushing attacks, as you are litterally in a 'tin can'. The offset is that platemail is bulky, heavy and thus movement impedant - not to mention expensive (compared to chainmail). Crossbows were invented to counter platemail, as the high velocity bolt would overcome the deflective plating (the tip was also round like a pencil, instead of a blade).

- Leather and other hides are most effective against blunt attacks from maces, as the rough leather will dissipate the otherwise crushing blow over a much larger area. However, any bladed attack (or arrows) will make short work of the fibers. In a magical context, hide is less conductive whereas metal armors are more prone to amplifying the magical dammage (imagine the platemail armor as a boiler and the magic as a stove, ouch).

- Silver, while a soft metal on it's own can be combined into aloys with other stronger metals (usually steel due to purity reasons over iron). Witchhunter blades had an edge of steel and the sides were plated with a layer of 'blessed' silver - supposedly, as long as the silver makes contact with the creature, the wound would bear it's effect (something about the silver hampering the 'demon' from sealing the wound...).

- Obsidian (or glass) would normally work well for bladed weapons (in terms of offensive abilities), but it happens to be relatively brittle if it is not thick enough, and a strong blunt attack at the wrong angle can break a hypothetical sword made from such a material. A blunt weapon from obsidian would be rather pointless due to it's inherent light weight. As an armor, it would be relatively weak except maybe against arrows and magical attacks, which would probably deflect and be rendered useless. Melee attacks on the other hand...

Just my 2 cents. :cookie:

Another edit:
- This thread touches on a good idea, but for the base elements of Skyrim, sticking to the archetypical materials with better defence than lower tier seems to be the best way to go.
But I would definately see this concept become a successful mod for many.

Indeed. Huzzah for choices!

Not really related to the topic,but I also fell in love with an idea saying weapons' stats wouldn't be shown,and the player would have to test it out to determine its power.
This way,it'd be even more necessary to research weapon materials about their weaknesses and strengths.

At some point in the game it explains that "silver" weapons are actually steel, just having silver etchings or alloyed into the metal. The reason it's better than regular steel against non-supernatural foes is that it is of a higher craftsmanship. However, it would be more interesting if it were in fact weaker than steel, and thus mainly only useful against supernatural creatures.

And chainmail - not good against arrows. The point of the arrow slips inside the ring, and then breaks it apart. If you wear a padded shirt beneath, the links may have slowed it down enough that the arrow will stop in the pad and not harm you. But plate is better in general, although if poorly made or weakened, or shot at close range, or at a 90 degree angle, it may still be penetrated. But it is also usually combined with it's own padded shirt, if not a layer of chain as well.