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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Deodanth" data-source="post: 4342177" data-attributes="member: 69243">Hey, try some Ringmail on for size and let me know what you think! Concept:[sblock="Concept"]Armor choices, as with other equipment, have been vastly simplified in 4e. We've come from nine basic armor types in 1e, to twelve in 3e, down to only six in 4e. There are now only two armor categories, Light and Heavy. Between hide (+3 AC) and chainmail (+6 AC) is a gap left by the removal of "medium armor" from the system. Until masterwork armor becomes available at higher levels, there is nothing to fill this gap, unless you consider Dex or Int bonuses with light armors.[/sblock]Proposal:[sblock="Proposal"]A seventh type of armor can fill the gap. Since it's a step between hide and chainmail, I call this armor Ringmail (a nod to older editions of D&D... as well as a beloved Tolkien short story). For protection, ringmail is one step better than hide armor, but like leather it has no check or speed penalties. The drawback is that ringmail only adds 1/2 your Dex or Int bonus, as opposed to your full bonus, when wearing it.  As a result, characters with high Dex or Int will still tend to favor leather or hide armor, and characters with neither will gravitate toward any heavy armors they are trained in. Ringmail will still be an attractive option for a minor subset of PCs and NPCs. Therefore the item adds flavor to the game without unbalancing it.[/sblock]RINGMAIL  (Add to PHB Chapter 7, p. 213)Ringmail: Consisting of a sparse layer of metal rings sewn to a leather armor backing, ringmail is similar to chainmail in design, but is lighter and less restrictive. It affords nearly as much mobility as leather armor. Forgering and spritring are masterwork designs similar to their chainmail counterparts. Ringmail (Light)Armor Bonus: +4Check: --Speed: --Price: 35 gpWeight: 30 lb. Note: A character wearing ringmail adds only one-half his Dexterity or one-half his Intelligence bonus (whichever is higher) to his Armor Class, and only if he is proficient with ringmail. Masterwork types: Forgering (+6 to AC), Spiritring (+8 to AC)[sblock="Magic Ringmail"]ForgeringArmor Bonus: +6Minimum Enhancement Bonus: +4Check: --Speed: --Price: SpecialWeight: 30 lb. SpiritringArmor Bonus: +8Minimum Enhancement Bonus: +6Check: --Speed: --Price: SpecialWeight: 30 lb. MAGIC ARMOR: Most magical armors with the chainmail category may also include a ringmail option (ex. Eladrin Armor, Tombforged Armor).[/sblock]NEW FEATS  (Add to PHB Chapter 6) Heroic Feat: Armor Proficiency (Ringmail)Prerequisites: Str 13, Con 13, training with leather or hide armorBenefit: You gain training with ringmail. Paragon Feat: Armor Specialization (Ringmail)Prerequisites: Dex 15, training with ringmailBenefit: You gain a +1 feat bonus to AC while wearing ringmail. NOTE: All character classes that have proficiency in chainmail get proficiency in ringmail as well. Number crunching to follow...</blockquote>

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