Giving Clothes a Magical Armour Bonus...Is it wrong?

[Artoomis]

Long ago in one of the treads on Eric's old board this came up. One of the designers said something along these lines: that armor bonus on clothes does not stack with and with the bonus on armor because they are the same bonus. Remember an enhacement to bonus improves the armor bonus. This is the same argument that comes up with braces of armor and regular armor, only the higher of the two are used.

You misunderstood me - perhaps I was not clear. The issue of Armor bonuses stacking is very clear indeed - they don't.

What about other armor enchantments (special abilites)? You could, for example, get +10 worth of special ablilites - "+1" armor plus "+9" special abilities for 81,000 instead of 100,000 (+6 and +5 together - assuming one of the +1's is wasted on a duplicate +1 enhancment). You could also get up to +18 worth of special abilities when you could normally be maxed out at a possible +9 special abilities.

Do you see the problem now?

 

[MerakSpielman]

What about other armor enchantments (special abilites)? You could, for example, get +10 worth of special ablilites - "+1" armor plus "+9" special abilities for 81,000 instead of 100,000 (+6 and +5 together - assuming one of the +1's is wasted on a duplicate +1 enhancment). You could also get up to +18 worth of special abilities when you could normally be maxed out at a possible +9 special abilities.

Do you see the problem now?

Clothing of Armor can't have these special abilities any more than Bracers of Armor can. It is a wondrous item, not a suit of armor.

 

[Artoomis]

Clothing of Armor can't have these special abilities any more than Bracers of Armor can. It is a wondrous item, not a suit of armor.

In which case it is simply bracers in another form, which is just fine.

I think the larger issue is whether they can be treated as armor, to I say absolutely not.

Enchanted to give an armor bonus like bracers, sure. why not? A "shirt of armor +4," for example, is fine and should be priced like the bracers.

I would not allow "clothing of armor" - the system does not support that. Clothing is broken up into parts for enchantment purposes - boots, shirts, gloves, hats, etc.

 

[MerakSpielman]

In which case it is simply bracers in another form, which is just fine.

I think the larger issue is whether they can be treated as armor, to I say absolutely not.

Enchanted to give an armor bonus like bracers, sure. why not? A "shirt of armor +4," for example, is fine and should be priced like the bracers.

I would not allow "clothing of armor" - the system does not support that. Clothing is broken up into parts for enchantment purposes - boots, shirts, gloves, hats, etc.

Total agreement. "Clothing of Armor" would just be a name of a wondrous item like "Bracers of Armor." The clothing could be a set of pajamas, underwear, socks, a shirt, or whatever.

 

[Artoomis]

Total agreement. "Clothing of Armor" would just be a name of a wondrous item like "Bracers of Armor." The clothing could be a set of pajamas, underwear, socks, a shirt, or whatever.

Thong of armor. Double priced for not being an offical slot, but so cool!!

Or perhaps G-String? Or tassles (you know - the kind that talented ladies can make spin in a circle).

 

[MerakSpielman]

(not quite on topic, and not quite by the rules, but)

Cup of Protection: useable only by Medium sized male humanoids. Prevents critical hits from Small humanoids or Medium-sized females.

ok, ok, we're getting off topic...

 

[Garmorn]

You misunderstood me - perhaps I was not clear. The issue of Armor bonuses stacking is very clear indeed - they don't.

What about other armor enchantments (special abilites)? You could, for example, get +10 worth of special ablilites - "+1" armor plus "+9" special abilities for 81,000 instead of 100,000 (+6 and +5 together - assuming one of the +1's is wasted on a duplicate +1 enhancment). You could also get up to +18 worth of special abilities when you could normally be maxed out at a possible +9 special abilities.

Do you see the problem now?

Right, I did miss that part for some reason. The way I have seen it handled is simple. You get the special abilites form only the item with the highest enhancement; the vestment/shirt/ect are treated as wondours items like bracers of armor; or the clothes are assumed to take up the armor slot. This need clarification in the magic creation rules.

 

[MerakSpielman]

I repeat:

Clothing of Armor can't have these special abilities any more than Bracers of Armor can. It is a wondrous item, not a suit of armor.

 

[Antikinesis]

If you allow a Shirt of Armor, have it be just like a Bracers of Armor. A Shirt +3 and Bracers +2 would only give a +3, not +5, because thay are the same enchantment. Would this would do is allow more flexiblity in selecting magic items. Having a Shirt of Armor allows a caster or monk to have that item in the armor slot, thus freeing up the bracer slot for some other magic effect.

If it's in the armor slot, it's armor, and it's going to interfere with monk abilities, wizardly spellcasting, duelist abilities, etc.

-AK

 

[Antikinesis]

Magical clothing that provides ac bonuses, Sure i'd allow it otherwise ROBE OF THE ARCHMAGI couldn't exist.

[snipped description of aforementioned robe]

seems the rules already provide for cloths with 'armor bonuses' and even armor propertise

Irrelevant. You're confusing "clothing" with "robes". The RotAM fits in the robe slot, which has nothing to do clothing (which has no slot).

-AK