Rabulias
the Incomparably Shrewd and Clever
The above three should have a note that says "*Only in certain editions. Check with your DM."
EDIT: I think the "weighs less" rule also varies by edition, but I'm not certain.
D&D General Reasons to prefer magical armor to more effective non-magical one
- Thread starter mhd
- Start date
EDIT: I think the "weighs less" rule also varies by edition, but I'm not certain.
Yaarel
🇮🇱 🇺🇦 He-Mage
Jack of plate, in the sense similar to brigandine, is simply scale mail. AC 14. It uses the fabric to secure the metal scales.The thing is, there is no need for this ridiculous nonsense. Appropriate historical equivalent of "d&d studded leather" exist. Behold:
Jack of plate - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
How about?
Leather Armor (cuirass torso protection, boiled hard leather in the form of breastplate or scales) AC 11
Full Leather Armor (also adds protection for arms and legs) AC 12
I think everything in the book is ridiculous nonsense.
The difference is that I'm perfectly okay with that.
The really rediculous nonsense is arguing over the historicality of armor in a clearly ahistorical game.
Edit to add - I mean, I have a gnome character who rides a self-repairing intelligent mechanical dog-like construct into battle, firing a crossbow that manifests ammunition out of thin air. Whether his armor with studs on it is historically accurate is the least of the issues in this picture.
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Asisreo
Patron Badass
If everyone had access to all armors, there'd be no reason. But not all characters have all armor available to them.
Obviously, there's the transitional stages of armor. So maybe a character with heavy and medium armor proficiency but only a +1 dex would choose plate over half-plate. But if that armor is a +3 half-plate, it would be more tempting even if its not "heavy."
There's also armor with debuffs/modifiers like the ones with stealth disadvantage. If you were a rogue, would you take a +2 leather armor or padded leather? What about during stealth? And remember changing armor is basically impossible in-combat so a rogue would have a meaningful decision (keywords) about which armor they'll wear during a given sequence/encounter.
Finally, there's the armors that have STR requirements. Maybe your cleric is a Life Cleric but your STR is only 13 and your DEX is only 14. Well, you could still equip heavy armor that does more protection than your medium/light armor if that heavy armor is a +2 chainmail armor.
There is a point in magic armor that isn't the "maximum AC of the type" armor. It just isn't seen as much since we make assumptions like all heavy armor wearing characters have high strength or the stealth disadvantage doesn't matter that much.
Obviously, there's the transitional stages of armor. So maybe a character with heavy and medium armor proficiency but only a +1 dex would choose plate over half-plate. But if that armor is a +3 half-plate, it would be more tempting even if its not "heavy."
There's also armor with debuffs/modifiers like the ones with stealth disadvantage. If you were a rogue, would you take a +2 leather armor or padded leather? What about during stealth? And remember changing armor is basically impossible in-combat so a rogue would have a meaningful decision (keywords) about which armor they'll wear during a given sequence/encounter.
Finally, there's the armors that have STR requirements. Maybe your cleric is a Life Cleric but your STR is only 13 and your DEX is only 14. Well, you could still equip heavy armor that does more protection than your medium/light armor if that heavy armor is a +2 chainmail armor.
There is a point in magic armor that isn't the "maximum AC of the type" armor. It just isn't seen as much since we make assumptions like all heavy armor wearing characters have high strength or the stealth disadvantage doesn't matter that much.
Lanefan
Victoria Rules
Thread isn't tied to any one edition; and any of these ideas can easily be ported into any edition that doesn't have them.
hopeless
Adventurer
I've been wondering about whether the material that armour is made from might need to be quite special to accommodate the enchantment it bears?
For example a Mithril Vest, only dwarves know the secret of enchanting steel armour, perhaps the more antiquated it is the more likely it bears a more powerful enchantment for example a bronze chain vest being of elvish design looked down upon by those clad in iron or steel only to discover its just as effective and potentially even more so given their age.
How would you treat this?
For example a Mithril Vest, only dwarves know the secret of enchanting steel armour, perhaps the more antiquated it is the more likely it bears a more powerful enchantment for example a bronze chain vest being of elvish design looked down upon by those clad in iron or steel only to discover its just as effective and potentially even more so given their age.
How would you treat this?
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Ruin Explorer
Legend
I have a feeling it wasn't explicit until some weird late book in 2E, like maybe the magic item collection book or something? But I could misremember. I suspect we got it from some book or another though (I'm guessing not the DMG but I could be wrong, long time since I read the 2E DMG).
hopeless
Adventurer
I remember in a Faerun campaign I played in the dm ruled there was a chance that armour wouldn't fit you.
The one time a suit of enchanted full plate turned up when I ran a cleric and I was offered it I told them to sell it as that would benefit the party.
Yes it was dumb as eventually my character had to buy a suit of enchanted plate along with a bastard sword which was how rarely suitable items turned up for my character.
And that includes the 2 +1 Maces I destroyed via critical fumbles!
Not kidding about that!
Been a while since that was brought up, I need to reacquaint myself with 2e!
The one time a suit of enchanted full plate turned up when I ran a cleric and I was offered it I told them to sell it as that would benefit the party.
Yes it was dumb as eventually my character had to buy a suit of enchanted plate along with a bastard sword which was how rarely suitable items turned up for my character.
And that includes the 2 +1 Maces I destroyed via critical fumbles!
Not kidding about that!
Been a while since that was brought up, I need to reacquaint myself with 2e!
