When should I equip items? (in General)

I rented a pair of Alatar's Gloves because I thought they'd make me do more damage; however, I'm barely doing any damage when they were equipped. I think it has something to do with their net worth increasing my power too high, but I don't know. Any help?

If you look on the equip page, you should see a value called Encumbrance and one called Net worth.

Your net worth should pretty much always be below your Encumbrance.

If there net worth goes over your encumbrance than you shouldn't equip them yet. Equip them when your encumbrance is over the AGs net worth.

Ah, I see. Is there any way to prematurely return a rental if it's way too high encumbrance? :X

Nope, just keep the rental unequipped.

You do get the most Encumbrance by training HP or Strength, every other stat gives Enc at 1/4th the amount.

although Strength and Alatars usually don't mix ~_^

Dex contributes nothing towards encumbrance....but that's not a help to anybody running a mage team...