PCs and magical armor

[sjmiller]

I have had an interesting, and frankly baffling, situation occur in my D&D 3e game that I am at a loss to explain. It seems that I just can’t give away magical armor to my players. The group is fairly low level (4th just changing to 5th) so magical armor is a fairly new thing for the group. I’ve offered several different magical sets of armor, including a set of +2 partial plate armor, all of which have been shunned.

Some of the players are concerned about encumbrance and being weighed down by the bulkier armor. A couple have legitimate concerns regarding arcane spell failure. The third, and by far the greatest, concern is over losing their Dex modifier to AC.

I have been trying to come up with logical counters to all the concerns, but many of these players have years, or decades, of ingrained prejudices to overcome. Can anyone give me some help and advice on how to convince my players that the magical armor is a good thing?

 

[Crothian]

Have NPCs beat the crap out of them and then say "If only someone would wear magical armor that wouldn't have happened."

I know what you mean though I've seen it happen with weapons and armor. So, at early levels I like to throw in unusual magical items knowing that most people are so confined by their thinking they will never use it. It gives me joy.

 

[Bardsandsages]

I have had an interesting, and frankly baffling, situation occur in my D&D 3e game that I am at a loss to explain. It seems that I just can’t give away magical armor to my players. The group is fairly low level (4th just changing to 5th) so magical armor is a fairly new thing for the group. I’ve offered several different magical sets of armor, including a set of +2 partial plate armor, all of which have been shunned.

Some of the players are concerned about encumbrance and being weighed down by the bulkier armor. A couple have legitimate concerns regarding arcane spell failure. The third, and by far the greatest, concern is over losing their Dex modifier to AC.

I have been trying to come up with logical counters to all the concerns, but many of these players have years, or decades, of ingrained prejudices to overcome. Can anyone give me some help and advice on how to convince my players that the magical armor is a good thing?

If I'm a 4th level fighter and I get my hands on +2 half plate, I'm thanking the DM! Unless their dex modifier is a 3 or better, they aren't losing anything. They still get their dex modifier in armor. Heck, they could sell it or trade it for +2 leather for bracers of armor if they think it's that much of an issue.

This isn't your issue, it's theirs. If they can't figure out a way to turn magical armor to their advantage, then let them suffer the consequences!

 

[Reynard]

I have had an interesting, and frankly baffling, situation occur in my D&D 3e game that I am at a loss to explain. It seems that I just can’t give away magical armor to my players. The group is fairly low level (4th just changing to 5th) so magical armor is a fairly new thing for the group. I’ve offered several different magical sets of armor, including a set of +2 partial plate armor, all of which have been shunned.

Some of the players are concerned about encumbrance and being weighed down by the bulkier armor. A couple have legitimate concerns regarding arcane spell failure. The third, and by far the greatest, concern is over losing their Dex modifier to AC.

I have been trying to come up with logical counters to all the concerns, but many of these players have years, or decades, of ingrained prejudices to overcome. Can anyone give me some help and advice on how to convince my players that the magical armor is a good thing?

The other valid concern with heavy armor is speed. Dropping to 20 can be a real bear, especially if one is working their way toward spring attack.

That having been said, if I offered up a suit of magical armor and they didn't take it, even to sell it (for which they get 1/2 value, IMC), AFAIC it still goes into the pool of 'character wealth by level' -- I do not reward foolishness, nor do I give my PCs everything they want.

 

[cmanos]

sounds like you aren't having trouble giving away magic armor but rather trouble giving away certain types of magical armor. If all you are giving is heavy armor and your players are all dex based fighters and clerics or mages and rogues, of course they won't be taking it.

Try a +2 mithril chain shirt and see who wants it...

 

[sjmiller]

The +2 partial plate was just the most extreme example of armor offered to them. Let's see, there was the +1 scale mail, +1 chainmail, +1 (or was it +2) leather (which was used), I think that's it. I can understand the Rogue/Wizard not wanting the medium armor, and the Monk and Sorcerers not wanting any of it. The Cleric of Kord has pretty much rejected everything because of encumbrance penalties (as far as I can tell). The Ranger has rejected most of it because of his 19 Dex. The Fighter who has rejected it all, well, I am not sure why he won't take it.

I can understand if your class/character concept would prevent you from using them. Heck, I can even see, to a limited extent, why the high Dex characters would not want it. It's all the rest that confuse me.

 

[werk]

Have NPCs beat the crap out of them and then say "If only someone would wear magical armor that wouldn't have happened."
...
It gives me joy.

This gets my vote, just because they are meta/powergaming. They are saying that you are forcing them into a sub-optimal build...I say, too bad!

While half plate is not ideal, it is not entirely junk...assuming max dex allowed by armor:
Splint = 6
Hide, scale, chainmail, banded, half plate = 7
Leather, studded, chain shirt, breast plate = 8
Padded and full plate = 9

If they complain about half plate, you should give them nothing but padded armor from now on and let them choke on their dex bonus.

And to echo, they only lose their dex bonus to AC when wearing the armor, not to everything.

 

[Sir Brennen]

The Ranger has rejected most of it because of his 19 Dex. The Fighter who has rejected it all, well, I am not sure why he won't take it.

Well, a ranger in anything over Medium looses some class abilities, so that's understandable. A ranger probably wants to retain his mobility as well, sticking to light armor.

If they're already wearing medium or heavy armor, did you point out to them that Max Dex only applies to Dex bonus applied to AC? It doesn't affect skills, saving throws, etc. (though Armor Check penalty applies to skills.)

If their total AC would be lower or just equal in the magical armor (meaning Max Dex in new armor + new armor bonus + magic bonus <= Max Dex of old armor + old armor), then, yeah, I wouldn't take it either. Flat-footed AC would go up, but touch AC could go down with a reduced Dex bonus.

But I would still sell the armor.

 

[the Jester]

Sounds like you have a high-dex oriented party. I wouldn't expect them to take much armor heavier than a chain shirt.

 

[Haltherrion]

This gets my vote, just because they are meta/powergaming. They are saying that you are forcing them into a sub-optimal build...I say, too bad!

I wouldn't be so quick to knock the players. There are lots of reasons to turn the stuff down as already noted (loss of dex mods, loss of class features, loss of mobility/speed). There's also the 'it doesn't fit my idea of what a person wandering in the wild ought to wear.' Heavy armor is, well, heavy, uncomfortable, can interfere with hearing, hiding, etc beyond what the rules tend to capture. Some players may just want to keep their PC more lightly armored to fit their concept of what they might wear were the players themselves to be tromping through the woods. For days. And days.

Myself, unless I have a solid frontline fighter, I won't give up the extra move. It can save your life. My cleric doesn't wear the stuff. Running away is much better than a few points of AC.

I wouldn't sweat it myself. If you, as a ref, feel the heavy stuff is appropriate due to the setting, due to the luck of the dice or just because that's what you intend to give them, then they can do without the magic armor. Faced with this situation myself, I'd consider if the world as revealed to date might allow reasonably for the common armor to be the heavy stuff and the light armor (at least of the enchanted variety) to be rare and pricey. PCs can hold out if they want. Might be a long time coming.