How much trouble would this feat save?

[Grimstaff]

Armored Casting

Prerequisite: Able to cast arcane spells. Proficient with light armor.

Benefit: The character can cast arcane spells while wearing light armor with no chance of arcane spell failure.

Normal: A character normally suffers a percentage chance for arcane spell failure when wearing armor.


Wouldn't this feat eliminate the need for about a zillion PRCs and class variants, all designed to find some fair way of letting an arcane spell caster put on a suit of armor?

 

[Nifft]

I allowed a PC to take (basically) that feat. The pre-reqs were light armor proficiency and one level of Eldritch Knight.

Level 16. No problems so far. He likes his mithral chain shirt.

Cheers, -- N

 

[hong]

Heck, you could go all the way and let them cast in heavy armour. Precious few people use anything other than light IME.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Since we are talking house rules, why not go all the way and say

You can cast any spells without spell failure in armour that you are proficient with.

Thus we see that by default wizards and sorcerers are not proficient in any armour, thus they have spell failure in all of them. Bards are proficient in light armour and don't have spell failure in light armour. Clerics are proficient in light, medium and heavy armour and don't have spell failure in any of them.

This is such an easy way to handle it, plus makes fighter/mage types a little less behind the curve.

 

[the Jester]

Nice idea!

*swipe*

 

[Roger]

Wouldn't this feat eliminate the need for about a zillion PRCs and class variants?

Which PrCs and class variants in particular did you have in mind?

 

[Ilium]

Since we are talking house rules, why not go all the way and say

You can cast any spells without spell failure in armour that you are proficient with.

Thus we see that by default wizards and sorcerers are not proficient in any armour, thus they have spell failure in all of them. Bards are proficient in light armour and don't have spell failure in light armour. Clerics are proficient in light, medium and heavy armour and don't have spell failure in any of them.

This is such an easy way to handle it, plus makes fighter/mage types a little less behind the curve.

And a wizard 9/ftr 1 can cast 5th level spells in plate armor with impunity. If that's OK with you, that's cool. Just keep it in mind.

 

[FreeXenon]

I make this feat available in a gestalt game and it is really, really rough:

Armored Specialist (class - armor type) [Fighter, General]:
Requisites: proficiency with the appropriate armor and a class whose features are limited by wearing armor; for Light Armor and Shields: BAB +1; Medium Armor: BAB +3; Heavy Armor: BAB +6; Exotic Armors and Shields: BAB +10;

Benefit: Choose a class that has class features that are limited when wearing armor when you select this feat. This class may now use those limited class features in armor of the lowest type that you are currently limited by.

Special: This feat may be taken multiple times. Each time it applies to a class whose features are currently limited by armor use, and each applies to the lowest level of armor that limits the class abilities

Example: A fighter/wizard could take Armored Specialist (Wizard - Light & Shields) to be able to cast spells in light armor.

A cleric/ranger could take Armored Specialist (Ranger - Medium) to wear medium armor and use their ranger abilities.

 

[Technik4]

Armored Specialist (class - armor type) [Fighter, General]:
Requisites: proficiency with the appropriate armor and a class whose features are limited by wearing armor; for Light Armor and Shields: BAB +1; Medium Armor: BAB +3; Heavy Armor: BAB +6; Exotic Armors and Shields: BAB +10;

Benefit: Choose a class that has class features that are limited when wearing armor when you select this feat. This class may now use those limited class features in armor of the lowest type that you are currently limited by.

Special: This feat may be taken multiple times. Each time it applies to a class whose features are currently limited by armor use, and each applies to the lowest level of armor that limits the class abilities

Could be fun with monks

 

[Destil]

Here's what I offer in my game:

Spellsword
You are trained in the art of combining magic and swordplay.
Prerequisites:Proficient with weapon, Concentration (4 ranks), Dex 13+
Benefit: You can replace the normal somatic components of an arcane spell with motions of a weapon you're proficient with, tracing the arcane sigls of the magic through the air with the tip of your blade, this allows you to cast arcane spells while wielding a weapon in the same hand. Your total arcane spell failure is reduced by 15%.

Armor Focus
Prerequisite: Armor Proficiency, Base Fortitude Save +2
You armor is like a second skin.
Benefit: Choose one type of armor (not including shields), such as a Chain Shirt or Full Plate. You gain a +1 armor bonus when wearing it. Also your armor check penelity with this type of armor is reduced by -1 and your arcane spell failure is reduced by 10% (minimum of 0 for both).

Because the increased armor bonus is the result of you knowing how to actively move in the armor to deflect blows that would otherwise land, it does not apply if you are flat footed.
Special: You may choose this feat more than once, selecting a new type of armor each time.