Bracers of Armor obsolete?

[kerbarian]

A mithral chain shirt with the Twilight property (-10% ASF, from BoED and reprinted in PHBII) would have 0% ASF, right? So for 5.25k (+1 mithral Twilight chain shirt), you have an item that grants a +5 armor bonus and can be freely worn by arcane casters. That's the equivalent of bracers of armor that cost 25k.

Am I missing something, or should every arcane caster be wearing a chain shirt rather than bracers of armor?

 

[domino]

You'd still get the ACP applied to everything though.

Which I now see is 0. So never mind.

 

[Legildur]

Except that the bracers also apply to incorporeal attacks and are not as prone to item damaging attacks, such as those from a Rust Monster.

And the armor also competes for the robe slot.

 

[Patlin]

Some class features (such as for the monk) don't work in armor, twilight or no. Bracers also never interfere with Dex bonus to AC, no matter how insane it gets.

 

[Herremann the Wise]

Are wizards normally proficient in wearing chain (light) armor?

Edit: Ditto Domino.
Sometimes I should check things before I type things.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

 

[Menexenus]

Are wizards normally proficient in wearing chain (light) armor?

Not as far as I know, but isn't the penalty for wearing armor with which you are not proficient a penalty to attacks? I believe the penalty to attacks is the armor's Armor Check Penalty. And since that is zero in this case, it wouldn't matter. (Please correct me if I'm wrong on this.)

However, there is still the weight issue. Although mithral *items* only weigh half normal, mithral armor and shields are still full weight. So that's 25 lbs of weight for the mithral chain shirt vs. 1 lb for the bracers. If you're running a Wizard who used STR as his dump-stat (as many wizards do), that could easily be the difference between moving 30 ft. per round and moving 20 ft. per round.

 

[starwed]

It doesn't matter if they're proficient, if the ACP is 0.

 

[KarinsDad]

Not as far as I know... Plus there's the weight issue. Although mithral items only weigh half normal, mithral armor and shields are still full weight. So that's 25 lbs of weight for the chain shirt vs. 1 lb for the bracers. If you're running a Wizard who used STR as his dump-stat, that's a *big* difference.

Where is the rule that mithral armor and shields are not half weight? The only rule I could find is:

An item made from mithral weighs half as much as the same item made from other metals. In the case of weapons, this lighter weight does not change a weapon’s size category or the ease with which it can be wielded (whether it is light, one-handed, or two-handed).

This directly states that items (including weapons) are half weight. Armors and Shields are items, are they not? Unless there is a rule to the contrary, this rule would seem to take precedence.

 

[Andras]

However, there is still the weight issue. Although mithral *items* only weigh half normal, mithral armor and shields are still full weight. So that's 25 lbs of weight for the mithral chain shirt vs. 1 lb for the bracers. If you're running a Wizard who used STR as his dump-stat (as many wizards do), that could easily be the difference between moving 30 ft. per round and moving 20 ft. per round.

Ahh, the DMG specifically lists the Mithral Chain Shirt as being 10 pounds. And I have never read an exemption for armor or shields in the weight saving property of Mithral, would you care to quote where it says otherwise?

Edit- KarinsDads post wasn't there when I started mine

 

[Rath the Brown]

However, there is still the weight issue. Although mithral *items* only weigh half normal, mithral armor and shields are still full weight. So that's 25 lbs of weight for the mithral chain shirt vs. 1 lb for the bracers. If you're running a Wizard who used STR as his dump-stat (as many wizards do), that could easily be the difference between moving 30 ft. per round and moving 20 ft. per round.

Although the description of mithral as a special material does not state specifically that armor and shields made from mithral weigh half as much, it does state that such armor and shields are lighter than normal (thus, counting as one category lighter). Also, the mithral shirt and shield provided in the magic armor and shields section are listed as being lighter than normal (more than half of the normal weight, but I suspect that the weights were just rounded down for some reason).

Mithral: Mithral is a very rare silvery, glistening metal that is lighter than iron but just as hard. When worked like steel, it becomes a wonderful material from which to create armor and is occasionally used for other items as well. Most mithral armors are one category lighter than normal for purposes of movement and other limitations. Heavy armors are treated as medium, and medium armors are treated as light, but light armors are still treated as light. Spell failure chances for armors and shields made from mithral are decreased by 10%, maximum Dexterity bonus is increased by 2, and armor check penalties are lessened by 3 (to a minimum of 0).
An item made from mithral weighs half as much as the same item made from other metals. In the case of weapons, this lighter weight does not change a weapon’s size category or the ease with which it can be wielded (whether it is light, one-handed, or two-handed). Items not primarily of metal are not meaningfully affected by being partially made of mithral. (A longsword can be a mithral weapon, while a scythe cannot be.)
Weapons or armors fashioned from mithral are always masterwork items as well; the masterwork cost is included in the prices given below.
Mithral has 30 hit points per inch of thickness and hardness 15.

Chain shirt...25 lb.

Mithral Shirt: This extremely light chain shirt is made of very fine mithral links. Speed while wearing a mithral shirt is 30 feet for Medium creatures, or 20 feet for Small. The armor has an arcane spell failure chance of 10%, a maximum Dexterity bonus of +6, and no armor check penalty. It is considered light armor and weighs 10 pounds.
No aura (nonmagical); Price 1,100 gp.

Shield, heavy steel...15 lb.

Mithral Heavy Shield: This heavy shield is made of mithral and thus is much lighter than a standard steel shield. It has a 5% arcane spell failure chance and no armor check penalty. It weighs 5 pounds.
No aura (nonmagical); Price 1,020 gp.

Edit...That's what I get for including the quotes; beaten by not just one post, but two!