Let's Hear it for Wizard in Armor!

[mmadsen]

Armor for wizards is a really puzzling development. It really muddies the iconic nature of the wizard class as a non-martial hero who uses arcane rather than physical means of defense.

I don't think anyone has suggested making wizards proficient with heavy armor for free. (In fact, I don't see why clerics are proficient with heavy armor for free under the current rules.) The idea is to remove an arbitrary rule.

 

[Imaro]

Okay, so wizard who uses crossbow when out of spells...not wizardy enough.

But, wizard in plate mail...all to the good.

 

[Goobermunch]

Okay, so wizard who uses crossbow when out of spells...not wizardy enough.

But, wizard in plate mail...all to the good.

Pretty much.

The key here is that not all wizards will be in platemail. Some (probably few) wizards will choose to invest feats into being able to wear armor. Others (probably many) will choose to invest those same feat slots into being able to alter the fabric of reality with their willpower.

This lines up nicely with the fact that most fantasy depictions of wizards deal with wizards who wear robes and bend reality with their wills, while some fantasy depictions deal with wizards who wear armor. That's some nice parallelism.

--G

 

[JoeGKushner]

My problem with the armor ban for wizards was that it *wasn't* representing the wizards in my favorite fantasy literature, such as the one in Moorcock's Elric books or Glen Cook's Black Company stuff, both of which often featured powerful wizards wearing ornate armor and swinging blades when necessary.

That's an interesting point but Elric rarely actually did any magic.

Most of his mojo was summoning things.

No fireballs from the old albino.

And Black Company... while the Taken, including the Lady, wore armor all the time, I can't recall the "PC" types wearing too much of it.

 

[Scholar & Brutalman]

That's an interesting point but Elric rarely actually did any magic.

Most of his mojo was summoning things.

But he did shout "Blood and souls for my lord Arioch!" a lot. Perhaps he's more a 4e warlock than wizard?

 

[JoeGKushner]

But he did shout "Blood and souls for my lord Arioch!" a lot. Perhaps he's more a 4e warlock than wizard?

In dealing with unique characters like Elric, it's always best to treat 'em as monsters. They resemble characters but aren't.

Or play a real game system like Hero.

 

[Cam Banks]

He's an outsider.

They get proficiency with martial weapons as a racial feature (at least until June ) .

He's an aasimar paladin. Obviously. Did he cast any spells that a paladin couldn't? I mean, sheesh.

Cheers,
Cam

 

[Stalker0]

I think this is a sad way to go.
Ok, a mage or cleric has the ability to warp reality or request miracles and they 'need' to strap on some hunk of metal?? Please, they should be able to protect themselves with their magic or faith.

To say that they must strap on a hunk of metal to be safe is to say they have magical talent of a rock or the faith of a worm.

These classes should be able to automatically summon/create/transform in someway their surroundings to give them protection without resorting to some blacksmith's efforts.

As far as I'm concerned, this should be an option, not a restriction.

This was one thing that killed me about 3.5, they gave the bard spellcasting in light armor, and then took MAGE ARMOR off their list!!

If a mage wants to use spells and magical energy to have armor, great!! It protects from ghosts as well. If they want to be wrapped in iron and suffer the armor check penalties and speed reduction, sure go for it.

I don't know why it needs to be one way or the other. Allow for armor, allow for magical means of protection, and let the player decide how his character will protect himself.

 

[JRRNeiklot]

You know, if they want to make it possible for wizards to wear armor, for the few who think it's an iconic image, all it would take is one sentence in the PHB: "If you want your wizard to look like an idiot, stumbling around in armor, your dm is free to allow it if he wishes."

 

[Smerg]

As far as I'm concerned, this should be an option, not a restriction.

This was one thing that killed me about 3.5, they gave the bard spellcasting in light armor, and then took MAGE ARMOR off their list!!

If a mage wants to use spells and magical energy to have armor, great!! It protects from ghosts as well. If they want to be wrapped in iron and suffer the armor check penalties and speed reduction, sure go for it.

I don't know why it needs to be one way or the other. Allow for armor, allow for magical means of protection, and let the player decide how his character will protect himself.

I would be fine with that.

I also like the stumbling around part of JRR's post.