Help me find balance

[Beholder Bob]

This thread is exactly why I simply disallow mithral.

Uh, okay. No, really - ok. Just relax, breath, take a pill.

Mithral costs:
Medium armor +4,000 gp
Heavy armor +9,000 gp

A +9000 modifier to armor makes heavy armor 1 step lighter. This is your problem?

And how is this thread a mithral one - except for a single question and answer about mithral plate being medium armor - per the core book! Yep - it's in their!

Ach. If you disagree with the armor/mithral issue or not - this thread is about the class. Pretend no one asked about armor.

BB

 

[domino]

While we're talking about it, though, mithril heavy armor is still technically heavy armor for those various special abilities, like armor proficiency. A class proficient in medium armor is not proficient in mithril plate.

Likewise, a class that can cast spells without failure in medium armor should not be able to cast spells without failure chance in mithril heavy armor.

I think.

 

[Beholder Bob]

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.
Mithral Item.....Cost Modifier
Light armor......+1,000 gp
Medium armor..+4,000 gp
Heavy armor...+9,000 gp
Shield............+1,000 gp
Other items....+500 gp/lb.

Well, I'd say it's clear from the above underlined section, mithral plate armor requires heavy armor proficiency. The 2nd part, and other limitations, leaves things open, but not enough that I'd allow a bard to wear full mithral plate and still cast. So, there it is.

BB

 

[domino]

Huh. I forgot about that "And other limitations" part.