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<blockquote data-quote="KidSnide" data-source="post: 5938179" data-attributes="member: 54710">I agree with your overall analysis, but disagree with this particular point.&nbsp; Medium armor doesn't have to work differently than heavy armor.&nbsp; The conceptual space for medium armor is &quot;like heavy armor, but not as good.&quot;&nbsp; The purpose of medium armor is to create classes (like the cleric) that need better protection than can be found in light armor, while still providing classes (like the fighter) that have even better protection.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; -&nbsp;&nbsp; -&nbsp;&nbsp; -I would also like to see all armor types have a &quot;prestige&quot; form of mundane armor that is (a) better than the other armor of that weight class and (b) sufficiently more expensive that it's not available to most 1st or 2nd level characters.&nbsp; This usually exists as &quot;full plate&quot; for heavy armor, but light and medium armor should also have &quot;elven chain&quot; and &quot;mithral breastplate / dragon scale&quot; to allow those characters to likewise strive for better equipment.There may also be room for &quot;tradeoff&quot; armor that provides marginally better protection but with some kind of detriment.&nbsp; Platemail sometimes fills this function for heavy armor (e.g. by providing no dex bonus).&nbsp; I'm not sure what an appropriate penalty would be for light armor.And, of course, each armor weight class should include &quot;crap&quot; armor that is for use by the impoverished, technologically under-advanced or otherwise underequipped.&nbsp; PCs aren't expected to use this armor (except for characters starting as peasants or after suffering a serious financial misfortune), but it's important to have in the world so players can recognize under-equipped NPCs (like many humanoid monsters) when they see them.&nbsp; It also lets DMs equip their NPCs realistically without providing a ton of valuable armor and weapons for PCs to loot.-KS</blockquote>

[QUOTE="KidSnide, post: 5938179, member: 54710"] I agree with your overall analysis, but disagree with this particular point. Medium armor doesn't have to work differently than heavy armor. The conceptual space for medium armor is "like heavy armor, but not as good." The purpose of medium armor is to create classes (like the cleric) that need better protection than can be found in light armor, while still providing classes (like the fighter) that have even better protection. - - - I would also like to see all armor types have a "prestige" form of mundane armor that is (a) better than the other armor of that weight class and (b) sufficiently more expensive that it's not available to most 1st or 2nd level characters. This usually exists as "full plate" for heavy armor, but light and medium armor should also have "elven chain" and "mithral breastplate / dragon scale" to allow those characters to likewise strive for better equipment. There may also be room for "tradeoff" armor that provides marginally better protection but with some kind of detriment. Platemail sometimes fills this function for heavy armor (e.g. by providing no dex bonus). I'm not sure what an appropriate penalty would be for light armor. And, of course, each armor weight class should include "crap" armor that is for use by the impoverished, technologically under-advanced or otherwise underequipped. PCs aren't expected to use this armor (except for characters starting as peasants or after suffering a serious financial misfortune), but it's important to have in the world so players can recognize under-equipped NPCs (like many humanoid monsters) when they see them. It also lets DMs equip their NPCs realistically without providing a ton of valuable armor and weapons for PCs to loot. -KS [/QUOTE]

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