Bracers of Armor + Armor Enhancement

[Centaur]

Here is an interesting question. I'm not quite sure if this belongs in the Rules or House Rules Section.

- Regular Armor provides between a +2 to +8 Armor Bonus.
- Bracers of Armor provides between a +1 to +8 Armor Bonus.

- Regular Armor costs upwards of 1500gp but imparts Arcane failure, armor check and max dex penalties, not to mention reduced movement.
- Bracers of Armor cost between 1000gp and 64,000gp but have no penelties of any kind.

- Regular Armor can have Magical Enhancements Put into it as per page 179 of the DMG.
- Is it resonable to assume that Bracers of Armor could also receive the same modifications? (Keeping in mind it is a second enchantment that works concurently so it would be at x2 base cost)

Could this be considered workable by the rules, if not would there be any serious Game Balance issues with allowing it as a House Rule?

What do others think?

 

[Artoomis]

By the (core) rules, no, you cannot put armor magical properties (Foritification, etc.) on Bracers.

The balance issue that arises is basically one of class seperation (not stealing another class' thunder, as it were). Special armor properties are available to those who physically wear armor and/or use shileds only.

 

[Dthamilaye]

Check Arms&Equipment guide. There are the rules for Bracers going up to +13 bonus (max 8 enchantment).

 

[two]

Of course everyone can use a mithril buckler, even those not proficient in them, without penalty. No wizard should be without one.

 

[Staffan]

Of course everyone can use a mithril buckler, even those not proficient in them, without penalty. No wizard should be without one.

Depends on what you mean by penalty. Monks can't use many of their special abilities while using one.

 

[Centaur]

The balance issue that arises is basically one of class seperation (not stealing another class' thunder, as it were). Special armor properties are avialable to those who physically wear armor and/or use shileds only.

True, although nothing stops a wizard from using a shield with the animated specail property. And for those that like to interpret, the Magical Vestment Spell consideres normal clothing to be like armor with +0 Armor Bonus.

No reason why this can't be applied in general to allow other classes to get some of the benefits of magical armor modifiers.

Either with the T-Shirt +5 or the Bracers, you would still be considered to be wearing one "Magic Armor" and in fact, Bracers are an integral part of some Armors.

 

[kreynolds]

A resounding "What Dthamilaye said.".

 

[Shard O'Glase]

I missed that in A&E, anyone want to flesh this out a bit? Are you saying you can get bracers of armor +5 or are you saying you can get bracers of armor with +5 of specials on it or are you saying both.

 

[Hypersmurf]

A&EG says that you can put Armor Special Abilities into Bracers of Armor.

The Bracers can have a maximum of a +8 Armor bonus, but up to +13 MPM in bonus + abilities.

What isn't clear is if you can have +1 Bracers with +12 MPM in special abilities, or if special abilities are limited to a max of +5...

-Hyp.

 

[Centaur]

I'll have access to a copy of A&EG tonight, I'll have to check that out. Anyone know what page that was on?