create an items class, having the contstructor include, type, damage, etc.. all your properties.
then you can populate an 'ArrayList' with different instances of the class.
i.e.:
Public Class Item
Private itemName As String
Private Const itemStrength as int = 100
Property Line() As String
Get
Return itemName
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As String)
mstrLine = Value
End Set
End Property
ReadOnly Property strength() As Integer
Get
Return itemStrength
End Get
End Property
End Class
then populating the arraylist would be like:
inherits System.Collections;
...
dim ar as new Arraylist()
dim Itm as new Item()
itm.Type = "Armor"
itm.Damage = itm.itemStrength
ar.Add(itm);
and so on so then you'l have an arraylist which will hold all your items. google Arraylist for more