Dragonhide plate armor too cheap?

[Liminal Syzygy]

What are the thoughts of other DMs on Dragonhide Plate?

It's only 3,300gp for a set of masterwork full plate that druids can wear (sure they need a feat, but still).

When I first saw it I thought, wow, that's a nice hidden boost for druids in 3.5, but now seeing it in action I'm starting to think it is vastly underpriced and is having a huge impact on the game:

1) Previously Ironwood plate (from MotW) was the only way this could be done, and it was much more expensive. I don't have MotW but I think it was in the 50 to 100K range.

2) According to the hide armor entry, you would need to kill a dragon four size categories larger than medium to make a suit of dragonhide plate. That's a pretty large and old dragon, for not much of a change in the price of masterwork plate.

3) The ability of druids to pump out huge amounts of damage in 3.0 was roughly balanced with their low AC, but with Wild enchanted Dragonhide Plate, and with Barkskin now stacking with inherent natural armor (another nice hidden enhancement for Druids), the druid in my group is equalling fighter in AC.

 

[Nightfall]

Cord,

If it's underpriced, fix it by saying "Okay dragon armor of ANY kind cost x3 it's normal market cost to make" That will help some.

 

[Felon]

Seems like a lot of it's a matter of perception IMO. People readily accept that a cleric can tank as well as a fighter, and with spells like Divine Favor, Divine Power, and Righteous Might they can buff themselves into massive damage machines as well (I have an 11th-level cleric in a campaign that can testify to this).

A lot of folks are of the opinion that full plate isn't much better than a chain shirt (in some ways worse), and I certainly see many characters with heavy armor proficiency opting to stick with light. Add to that the oft-expressed sentiment that the druids weapon & armor prohibitions are on the whole an arbitrary crock of poo without much rhyme or reason (e.g. scimitar OK, longsword DENIED; spear OK, longspear DENIED) and I don't think this one of things about druids that there's likely to be a strong protest against.

Now, that big bear they turn into 3 times a day at eigth level...well, that is a different matter.

 

[Kodam]

The other players

Hi!

I don't know about your group, but we would ALL like to have this dragonhide plate. Fighters, Paladins and Clerics at least. So if the druid wants to have this Armor, he'd have to compensate us substantly!

Kodam

 

[Liminal Syzygy]

Now, that big bear they turn into 3 times a day at eigth level...well, that is a different matter.

Well yes, but the proper enchantment on this armor makes that bear much more powerful than it was in 3.0 (compounded with the Barkskin change).

 

[Liminal Syzygy]

Also the duration of animal growth is quite long and can last through several combats, making that huge polar bear even nastier.

 

[Calico_Jack73]

Have the armorsmith charge 3,300 but make the druid (or any other PC in question) provide the dragon hide. That seems more in tune with what was intended.

 

[Liminal Syzygy]

Yeah? Cost of materials is generally 1/4th of a magic items value and is normally included. So wow only 825gp for the hide of a GARGANTUAN dragon.

 

[Oni]

Very simply dragons are creatures that are not prone to easily parting with their hides. Rare enough I'd say you'd most likely have to get it the hardway rather than walk into the corner Magical Geehaws R Us and purchase it. If you get it the hard way you probably earned it.

 

[SylverFlame]

Actually, the hide is more expensive than the simple 825gp. That is merely the cost of the scales. However, the expense of the spells, potions, and other items necessary to battle the dragon must be accounted for. If you look at what a party is likely to spend on a dragon battle (include the price of the spells any wizards cast as mercs would charge for them, it doesn't matter that the party gets them "for free"), and you will find the true "market" cost of dragon hide.

Now then, this all falls apart when one looks at the loot a party will drag away from the dragon's horde. That completely offsets their costs. However, sneaky DM's can get around this. For instance, one dragon, not wishing to battle another makes it so an item ends up in the horde of its nemesis. A contingency mass teleport (or other appropriate spell) is cast and maintained (further castings if necessary) so that should the dragon die its horde will be teleported to the other dragon's home. The item works as the link here by having various magical spells on it to cover its real purpose. See, sneaky DM's can make the party work for the dragon hide armour and not get any rewards beyond the armour itself.