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Message: <blockquote data-quote="handforged" data-source="post: 950637" data-attributes="member: 2027">seasong:  I like the new table with no specific descriptions of armor materials.  This way the DM can determine exactly where a piece of armor fits into the system.  If a player comes in with the picture of, say Alhandra, from the PHB, they might request that it be considered Light rigid, because of the various plates.  I would probably rule that it is Medium Flexible, because the primary body protection is scales, the shoulder pauldrons do not restrict movement very much at all(lower check penalty), and the lack of overlapping plates anywhere else means that blows will be absorbed less by the armor(lower DR), but that it would protect from a similar number of blows(same AC).Classes with armor dependent abilities like the Ranger and the Paladin, could require that the armor leave a certain percentage of their dex score intact.For DM's to have a guide, we could break up all of the listed armors from the PHB, and possibly OA, FRCS, other large publications, as well as documenting some well-known illustrations.Xeriar:  My point was not to say that creating a comprehensive list would be fruitless, but rather trying to say that not all armors have to be balanced.  If the PCs are out of their home territory, they may have to pay more for a less efficient armor, because the local population doesn't know how to make fully articulated steel plate(at whatever weight or price).  Armor for a certain culture would also be based on what weapons they were used to defending against.  Mail doesn't work against arrows, or stilleto daggers(which were designed to penetrate mail).  A fighter in full plate who plans only to participate in the joust, will have minimal protection on his legs and back becuase no points can be scored by placing blows in either area, and it is difficult to unhorse a rider by hitting their leg.  A fighter in full plate who plans on going toe to toe with another fighter in full plate, will definitely have his back protected as well as the back of his legs.  A wrap shot with a sword or mace can break bones and seriously destroy some muscle structure.  Neither of these fighters would wear much armor on their shield arms because the wood and metal shields are heavy enough, and if they couldn't hold their shield up, they were probably going to die anyway.~hf</blockquote>

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