Armor Effects for Non-Armored Characters

[HeapThaumaturgist]

Can you enchant regular clothing like armor so that it can accept armor special qualities? Like a +1 Shirt of Etherealness or Robe of Light Fortification?

--fje

 

[starwed]

I'm not sure there's an explicit ruling on this anywhere, but I'd go ahead and houserule that you could.

After all, you can cast magic vestment on clothing. And bracers of armor cost exactly the same as an enhancement bonus on regular armor, so it's not like you're getting the AC bonus any cheaper.

Ignoring the RAW, the question pretty much becomes: Is it unbalancing to allow monks/ninjas/etc to benefit from special armor enhancements? I can't see any reason why it would be; no ones going around screaming that monks are overpowered. ^_^

 

[MarkB]

Can you enchant regular clothing like armor so that it can accept armor special qualities? Like a +1 Shirt of Etherealness or Robe of Light Fortification?

--fje

By the RAW, no, armour bonuses can be added to armour and that's it.

If someone insisted on doing so, I might allow it, but the item that was the subject of such enhancements would thereafter be treated as light armour for the purposes of feats and abilities restricted by armour.

 

[DJCupboard]

Officially, the rules are silent (which I would take as an official no), but I don't think there would be anything game-breaking in enchanting masterwork clothing using the Craft magic Arms and Armor feat, as long as you followed the pricing guides for creation and market cost.

DJC

 

[Infiniti2000]

No. As MarkB points out, it's not armor, so you can't using the armor rules on it (there's no loophole in the armor-enhancing rules that allow it). Moreover, there's no rule allowing for masterwork clothing, as I certainly wouldn't consider clothing to be a "tool".

 

[frankthedm]

Well a wotc splatbook detailed how to do this with the Bracers of armor. I liked that a lot less than allowing clothing to be enchanted with armor properties.

I allow clothing to be enhancement bonuses as armor, though I do keep a tighter grip on item creation in general.

IIRC i have given out...
+3 spider silk robe.
+2 burial shroud x2.

But It is not a bad idea to discourage getting a shirt with only a plus 1 and a bunch of other mods then mage armor for the rest of the bonus.

 

[Darmanicus]

No. As MarkB points out, it's not armor, so you can't using the armor rules on it (there's no loophole in the armor-enhancing rules that allow it). Moreover, there's no rule allowing for masterwork clothing, as I certainly wouldn't consider clothing to be a "tool".

tool  /tul/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[tool] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation,

–noun 1. an implement, esp. one held in the hand, as a hammer, saw, or file, for performing or facilitating mechanical operations.
2. any instrument of manual operation.
3. the cutting or machining part of a lathe, planer, drill, or similar machine.
4. the machine itself; a machine tool.
5. anything used as a means of accomplishing a task or purpose: Education is a tool for success.
6. a person manipulated by another for the latter's own ends; cat's-paw.
7. the design or ornament impressed upon the cover of a book.
8. Underworld Slang. a. a pistol or gun.
b. a pickpocket.

9. Slang (vulgar). penis.
–verb (used with object) 10. to work or shape with a tool.
11. to work decoratively with a hand tool.
12. to ornament (the cover of a book) with a bookbinder's tool.
13. to drive (a vehicle): He tooled the car along the treacherous path.
14. to equip with tools or machinery.
–verb (used without object) 15. to work with a tool.
16. to drive or ride in a vehicle: tooling along the freeway.
—Verb phrase17. tool up, to install machinery designed for performing a particular job: manufacturers tooling up for production.

So I'd have to disagree, clothing is a tool for warmth and coverage of the body. I'd allow clothing to be enchanted. Also take a look at robes of the Archmagi, I do believe they provide an AC bonus?

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

Can you enchant regular clothing like armor so that it can accept armor special qualities? Like a +1 Shirt of Etherealness or Robe of Light Fortification?

--fje

I think the telling question is, does a shirt or robe have an armour bonus of +0? If it does, it's armour and can be enchanted. If it doesn't, it's not, and can't be.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

So I'd have to disagree, clothing is a tool for warmth and coverage of the body. I'd allow clothing to be enchanted. Also take a look at robes of the Archmagi, I do believe they provide an AC bonus?

So do bracers of armour, and they're wondrous items, not armour. You can't make light fortification bracers of armour.

 

[starwed]

Magic Vestment states that:

An outfit of regular clothing counts as armor that grants no AC bonus for the purpose of this spell.

Which kind of implies that for normal purposes, clothing doesn't count as armor. As far as I know, there's no other place which states that clothing counts as armor, so RAW there's no way it can be used with Craft Magic arms and armor.

But like I already mentioned, I don't see any balance reasons why not to allow it.