Pathfinder 2E Spellcaster armour

[corwyn77]

Is it possible by any method (multiclass, feats, etc.) for an arcane caster to wear armour with no penalty to arcane spellcasting? If so, what are all the ways. Could apply to 1e or 2e.

 

[Incenjucar]

PF2E allows anyone to wear armor just fine.

 

[cbwjm]

From memory, 1e had feats that reduced arcane spell failure which allowed you to wear light armour without arcane spell failure. Combo it with mithril and I think you could wear a chain shirt with no issues.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

PF2 does not have arcane spell failure at all. It does have an Armor Check penalty if you don't meet the Str requirement for the worn armor, this applies to Strength or Dexterity-based checks (that aren't attack rolls), so that means Acrobatics, Athletics, Stealth, etc. You also take a penalty to your Speed if you don't have the Str requirement for the armor.

Notably, if you wear armor you are not proficient with, you won't get to add your proficiency bonus to your AC. A witch or wizard (Trained (+2) in Unarmored, untrained in anything else) with a Dex of +1 gets an AC of 14 at 1st level (10 + 1 (Dex)) + 3 (Trained, 1st level)), 15 at 2nd, 16 at 3rd, etc. If you slap them in a Breastplate (+4 item bonus, max +1 Dex) that they don't have training for, they start at AC 15; that's 10 + 4 item + 1 Dex, but no proficiency bonus. Their AC doesn't go up with level as they're untrained in medium armor.

Classes start with armor proficiencies appropriate to the fantasy. You can take a general feat to add armor proficiencies (stacking, so taking it 2x on an Unarmored character gets you to Medium proficiency), or more likely use a dedication (think multiclassing) feat like Sentinel to add proficiency. Notably, the Rogue class dedication is fairly popular for this, as it gives Light armor proficiency as well as two trained skills.

So that example witch/wizard who spent a class feat on Sentinel dedication to get armor proficiency, now that they're at third level, now has an AC of 20 (10 + 4 item + 1 Dex + 5 proficiency (+2 for Trained, +3 for level)). If they didn't spend that feat, they'd still be at AC 15 in that same breastplate, but AC 16 without any armor at all!

Though they can cast spells all day every day in that armor regardless.

 

[corwyn77]

Thanks, all. The reason I was asking is because I'm working on an Pathfinder for Savage Worlds game and I don't really like the way they handle armour proficiency. I I have a Wizard multiclassed with fighter he is still limited to the armour of a wizard (none) and while there is an Edge that allows Light that's the best he can do. I much prefer 5e's method and was wondering how PF compares.

 

[GMMichael]

. . . I'm working on an Pathfinder for Savage Worlds game . . .

Does that make you the GM? If so, how would you like PF for SW to handle casters in armor?

 

[pawsplay]

There is no default penalty for wearing armor in P2E or Savage Worlds, that is specifically a quirk of Savage Pathfinder that imitates D&D 3e/P1E.

 

[corwyn77]

Does that make you the GM? If so, how would you like PF for SW to handle casters in armor?

Yeah, I would be. To be honest, I'm not sure. My background is from games like gurps and SW where mages can wear whatever they want as long as they have the strength for it. I'm trying to base a decision on both balance and feel of the setting.

Part of my issue is that magic in SW isn't as powerful as in PF (to require being so fragile) and the fact that there is no substitute for Mage Armour that a mage can cast and leave on all day.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

You might want to ask in a more Savage Worlds-oriented forum, then. I, personally, am not very familiar with it, though I have some of the Savage Rifts books, and those don't seem to have an issue with casters wearing armor.

FWIW, the base PF system(s) have ways of obtaining armor proficiency, if that's what you were looking for.

 

[GMMichael]

Part of my issue is that magic in SW isn't as powerful as in PF (to require being so fragile) and the fact that there is no substitute for Mage Armour that a mage can cast and leave on all day.

Well, I can solve your problem in three letters then: NPC. They follow GM rules, not player rules.

But black and white rules are boring. What about the fluff? Why does this mage want to wear armor? It's heavy and noisy. Armor is for the simpletons who think getting close to swords is a good idea. Gandalf could cast in armor just fine. But wearing a robe all day sounds much better than wearing armor all day. Try wearing a 10-pound backpack for two hours . . .