New spell - Greater Mage Armor

[der_kluge]

Greater Mage Armor
Conjuration (Creation) [Force]
Level: Sor/Wiz 3
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature touched
Duration: 1 hour/level (D)
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: No
Like mage armor, an invisible but tangible field of force surrounds the subject of a greater mage armor spell, but provides a +4 armor bonus to AC plus 1 every two caster levels above 6th, up to a bonus of +10. For example, a 6th level spellcaster would confer a +5 bonus, and an 8th level spellcater would confer a +6 armor bonus, a 10th level caster a +8, and so on.
Unlike mundane armor, mage armor entails no armor check penalty, arcane spell failure chance, or speed reduction. Since mage armor is made of force, incorporeal creatures can’t bypass it the way they do normal armor.


Thoughts, comments, critiques?

 

[Derrick Reeves]

I think it might be a little overpowered at high levels. Let's not forget what happened to the Buffs when they started edging out permanent items - don't you think this will do the same to Bracers of Armour?

I'd suggest making the formula 4 + (L-6)/3 (round down) - 9th is +5, 12th is +6, 15th is +7 and 18th is +8. This is *still* going to be as good as Bracers of Armour, though.

Maybe you could keep your old formulation of the AC bonus and drop the duration to 1 minute/level?

 

[Spatzimaus]

+10 is already in the game. It's the psionic power "Ectoplasmic Armor". 5th level power (for both Psions and Psychic Warriors), +10 Armor AC, 1 hour per level. It even blocks incorporeal creatures just like a force effect. The only downside is that you can't wear other armor at the same time, even if you wanted to.

So no, I wouldn't allow a 3rd-level spell to make a bonus that big. If you want a 3rd-level version, it shouldn't give more than maybe 7 AC, unless you add in some more drawbacks (like a 1 min/level duration)

 

[Technik4]

My version:

Greater Mage Armor
Conjuration (Creation) [Force]
Level: Sor/Wiz 5
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature touched
Duration: 1 hour/level (D)
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: No

As Mage Armor except Armor Bonus is +6. This bonus is +7 if you are 12th level, +8 if you are 16th level, or +9 if you are 20th level.


If you want to rely on a spell vs bracers thats fine. The spell is 5th level (which ironically is the same level Archmages begin giving up spell levels for power) and dispellable. Nice on animals on monks, perhaps too powerful?

Technik

 

[der_kluge]

Here is the Ectoplasmic Armor spell from the SRD:

Ectoplasmic Armor
Metacreativity (Int)
Level: Psion 5/Psychic Warrior 5
Display: Vi (see text)
Manifestation Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature touched
Duration: 1 hour/level (D)
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Power Resistance: Yes (harmless)
Power Points: 9

The subject is covered in ectoplasmic armor that provides a +10 armor bonus to AC. Other armor cannot be worn at the same time as ectoplasmic armor. If the subject takes off the ectoplasmic armor, it immediately dissipates. Treat ectoplasmic armor as leather armor for purposes of armor check penalty or speed reduction. Because the armor is composed of astral ectoplasm (emulating force for the purposes of this power), incorporeal creatures can’t bypass it the way they do normal armor.


Apparently, WoTC felt like it was balanced to have +10 to your AC for hours at a time. I agree with some of the other concerns here. I don't know much about Psionics, but I'm assuming that as a 5th level power, this can be gained at 9th level. So, you've got a +10 AC on the Monk, and on the wizard or sorcerer for 9 hours a day. That is pretty significant. Heck, it would make sense for the entire party to just not even wear armor if the psion could cast the spell often enough, this armor would be far superior to most things they could even wear. Clerics and fighters might have better armor, but it'd certainly weigh a ton more, and probably wouldn't block attacks from ethereal creatures (unless it was ghost-touch armor). At 20th level, this lasts effectively all day.

How about this version:

Greater Mage Armor
Conjuration (Creation) [Force]
Level: Sor/Wiz 4
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature touched
Duration: 10 minutes/level (D)
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: No

As Mage Armor except Armor Bonus is +4 +1 every 3 caster levels. So, +7 at 9th level, +8 at 12th, +9 at 15th, and +10 at 18th.