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Build me a katana + trenchcoat guy
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<blockquote data-quote="jasin" data-source="post: 4254050" data-attributes="member: 7531"><p>The best light armour (hide) is +3, the worst heavy armour (chainmail) is +6 and the best (plate) is +8.</p><p></p><p>But each kind of armour also has two masterwork varieties. If I understand correctly, magic armour with a +4 and +5 bonus is automatically from the first masterwork variety, and that with a +6 bonus is from the second one ("The cost of masterwork armor is included in the cost of magic armor").</p><p></p><p>For light armour, the first variety gives another +1 to AC, the second one another +1 on top of that. So +6 hide armour gives +11 to AC.</p><p></p><p>For heavy armour, the first variety is +3, the second another +3. So +6 plate gives +20 to AC.</p><p></p><p>Even if you put your best standard array stat (16) in Dex (or Int!) you'll be a couple of points behind the heavy armour guy. Of course, that's just fine if there are other benefits. So what does the light armour guy gain in terms of mobility?</p><p></p><p>Comparing hide to plate, the skill penalty is -1 instead of -2 and the speed penalty is 0 rather than 1.</p><p></p><p>Is +1 to skills and speed 6 instead of 5 worth -2 to AC? How about -4?</p><p></p><p>At first glance, I don't think it is. I think even an agile, jumpy swordsman is probably best off going with plate and just jumping 2 ft. less. More anime, where wearing big chunks of metal doesn't stop you from being a ninja, than Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, where people who handle sharp sticks for a living wear only robes.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="jasin, post: 4254050, member: 7531"] The best light armour (hide) is +3, the worst heavy armour (chainmail) is +6 and the best (plate) is +8. But each kind of armour also has two masterwork varieties. If I understand correctly, magic armour with a +4 and +5 bonus is automatically from the first masterwork variety, and that with a +6 bonus is from the second one ("The cost of masterwork armor is included in the cost of magic armor"). For light armour, the first variety gives another +1 to AC, the second one another +1 on top of that. So +6 hide armour gives +11 to AC. For heavy armour, the first variety is +3, the second another +3. So +6 plate gives +20 to AC. Even if you put your best standard array stat (16) in Dex (or Int!) you'll be a couple of points behind the heavy armour guy. Of course, that's just fine if there are other benefits. So what does the light armour guy gain in terms of mobility? Comparing hide to plate, the skill penalty is -1 instead of -2 and the speed penalty is 0 rather than 1. Is +1 to skills and speed 6 instead of 5 worth -2 to AC? How about -4? At first glance, I don't think it is. I think even an agile, jumpy swordsman is probably best off going with plate and just jumping 2 ft. less. More anime, where wearing big chunks of metal doesn't stop you from being a ninja, than Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, where people who handle sharp sticks for a living wear only robes. [/QUOTE]
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