Looking for a book on armor.

[Terraism]

I'm trying to come up with nonmagical enhancements to armor other than mithral or adamantine. I know I've seen books with other materials before, which would be helpful - but what I'd really like to find is something akin to "alternate masterwork" qualities, some of which might even stack. Has anyone seen anything like this? I've been looking all evening, with the worst luck. Thanks in advance.

 

[Aus_Snow]

For materials, there's the Advanced Gamemaster's Guide - by Green Ronin (an excellent book overall, too), and Arms & Armor - by Bastion Press (also very good). That's from the books I own, and is only what I can recall right now.

'Alternate Masterwork' though? I've not come across that kind of thing in published works, that I can remember at the moment anyway. I wrote some house rules for that very thing though, about a year or two ago. For certain types of setting, I use them a lot.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help. Hopefully someone else will know of a book with the right stuff in it.

 

[Kris]

Hello

I've been using a free e-book from the 'community3e' website...

It's got a pretty comprehensive list for a lot of special raw materials, and also additional rules for creating things like 'serrated blades' etc...

...and did I mention it was free.


It might not be exactly what you're looking for, (and I can't vouch for how 'balanced' all of the rules are)... but I kinda like it, and it may be worth taking a look at (if you haven't already)

It's written by a guy named Rob and can be found on the following page (it's the one called 'Gryphon´s Book of Weapons and Armour').

http://www.community3e.com/equip.html

 

[Steverooo]

1e

Here's an old idea, from 1e AD&D.

Non-magical +1 Weapons: Made of fine steel, or other ordinary materials. 2x the normal price (in 3.5e, that would pro'ly have to be the MW price).

Non-magical +2 Weapons: Made of even finer steel, perhaps alloyed with exotic materials, or other, finer, ordinary materials. 5x the normal (MW) price.

Non-magical +3 Weapons: Made of Meteoric Iron, or Mithril-Alloyed Steel. 10x the normal (MW) price.

Non-magical +4 Weapons: Made of pure Mithril, or Adamantine-Alloyed Steel. 25x the normal (MW) price.

Non-magical +5 Weapons: Made of pure Adamantine. 50x the normal (MW) price.

All are MW, and suitable for enchantment. All provide the plusses To-Hit, as well as to damage. Craft DC:25+ plusses. Note that this defies the usual MW and Materials costs, in the DMG. These would be relatively easy to make, and as available as the materials required to make them. Thus, +1/+2 weapons should be common.

 

[Sledge]

Some of the Complete Books also have some new materials.

 

[philreed]

I'm trying to come up with nonmagical enhancements to armor other than mithral or adamantine. I know I've seen books with other materials before, which would be helpful - but what I'd really like to find is something akin to "alternate masterwork" qualities, some of which might even stack. Has anyone seen anything like this? I've been looking all evening, with the worst luck. Thanks in advance.

You might want to take a peek at A Dozen Unusual Materials and A Dozen Unusual Armors.

 

[Soel]

Dark Legacies Players Guide has some nonmagical weapon qualities you can add for an additional cost to masterworking. I think the Dungeon Master's Guide 2 does as well...

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

The Black Company Setting, due to rarity of normal magic items, has a very indepth masterwork system, with 6 levels of masterwork and various bennies you can add to a weapon.
Things like Threatening.. grants you a bonus to Intimidate checks, along with all the usual suspects of better crit ranges, etc.

I like it. Only haven't figured out the best conversion from the SP based economy in BCS to the GP economy and higher magic level in ECS. :\

 

[smilinggm]

I'm trying to come up with nonmagical enhancements to armor other than mithral or adamantine. I know I've seen books with other materials before, which would be helpful - but what I'd really like to find is something akin to "alternate masterwork" qualities, some of which might even stack. Has anyone seen anything like this? I've been looking all evening, with the worst luck. Thanks in advance.

Check out Paradigm Concept's "Forged In Magic"
The Master Smith PrC has rules for creating nonmagical Items above masterwork all the way up to legendary craftmanship items. Forged in Magic also has a slew of new special materials to work with. The rules for the special materials have been updated to 3.5 in the Living Arcanis Rules Compilation (LARC for short).

For More info about Arcanis Check out my Sig.

Enjoy

 

[knight_isa]

The Heroes of High Favor series (Dwarves, Elves, and Half-Orcs) from Bad Axe Games has some.

The Enchiridon of Treasures and Objects d'Art from ST Cooley Publishing (PDF available at RPGNow) has some, too, including many (perhaps all? I haven't checked) from the Heroes of High Favor series.

I like the masterwork components a lot, and use them in my current game.