Mithral armor costs for small characters

[nobodez]

Well, I think this has already been answered (and it is RAW).

On page 217 of the DUNGEON MASTER’s Guide, it states that “the cost of the masterwork quality and any magical enhancement remains the same” regardless of a creature’s unusual size or shape. Adamantine and mithral both state that items made from such material are masterwork quality and the masterwork cost is part of the material cost listed. How much would a set of mithral chainmail barding for my warhorse cost?

A strict reading of the rules indicates that in such a case the masterwork cost for armor should be subtracted from the special material price before applying the multiplier for any unusual size or shape of the intended wearer.
For example, according to the Armor for Unusual Creatures chart on page 123 of the Player’s Handbook, a set of chainmail barding for a warhorse (a Large nonhumanoid creature) would normally cost 600 gp (four times the normal cost of 150 gp). A set of mithral chainmail barding would cost 16,000 gp: 600 gp
for the chainmail barding plus 15,400 gp (the cost of mithral medium armor [4,000 gp], minus the masterwork cost for armor [150 gp], times 4).

 

[boolean]

I do understand your logic and going from medium to small or medium to large it makes a certain amount of sense and isn't terribly unbalancing.

However, it breaks down completely when I'm making a set of Mithral Full Plate for a Storm Giant...or a set of Mithral Full Plate for a tiny sprite like a Grig.

Going with the more extreme examples makes it very clear to me that this cost should be adjusted accordingly by weight.

The "Armor For Unusual Creatures" table on page 123 of the PHB includes cost modifiers for armor of different sizes. So, the system already does this.

For the original poster, I'll point out that small-sized normal full plate costs 1500 gp, the same as it does for medium. So there is precedent for a suit of mithral full plate costing the same for both small and medium. Sure, it uses less material, but it requires more intricate craftmanship etc.

 

[Cedric]

The "Armor For Unusual Creatures" table on page 123 of the PHB includes cost modifiers for armor of different sizes. So, the system already does this.

For the original poster, I'll point out that small-sized normal full plate costs 1500 gp, the same as it does for medium. So there is precedent for a suit of mithral full plate costing the same for both small and medium. Sure, it uses less material, but it requires more intricate craftmanship etc.

I'll buy that, missed that table. Good catch.

 

[ElectricDragon]

The FAQ is right except that the masterwork cost should be added back in after the multiplication for size and shape.

(Chainmail=150 gp times 4 = 600 gp) + (Mithral medium armor=4,000-150 for masterwork=3,850 gp times 4 = 15,400 gp + 150 masterwork=15,550 gp) = Total=16,150 gp

Ciao
Dave

 

[EyeontheMountain]

The prices are based on weight, so I adjust them accordingly.

No they are not. Teh yare based on armor type. If you do the math about the supposed value of mithril per pound, you will see the numbers do not add up at all.

 

[isoChron]

It's the effect you want, not the weight of mithril. So it doesn't matter how much you need. Just as an enhancement bonus its the same effect for all types of armor and should be priced according to effect, not mass.
Just my point of view...

 

[Cedric]

No they are not. Teh yare based on armor type. If you do the math about the supposed value of mithril per pound, you will see the numbers do not add up at all.

I agree that when making armor out of Mithral, you get a discount on cost per pound of Mithral. I view this as design. These are set costs, based on understood value derived from the relative weight of the armor of each class and based on long understood patterns.

Whereas, once you are talking about having a custom item made from Mithral without the benefit of that well understood pattern, it costs more per pound to do so.

At any rate though, if not weight, I can't imagine how else they would have decided that heavier armors cost more to make. It wouldn't be by difficulty of craftsmanship...after all, it's easier to make Scale Mail, than it is to make a Chain Shirt.

In all honesty, it seems like they just assigned a subjective value to each armor category. Light = 1, Medium = 2, Heavy = 3, then squared that category and multiplied by 1,000gp to get the adjusted value in Mithral.

Regardless how they did it though, as far as I am concerned...if it takes more mithral, it costs more money, and vice~versa.