Ways to cast in armor

[Elemmakil]

One thing the bracers have over the chain shirt is that they are force effects, and therefore are useful against incorporeal touch attacks (which may be more or less useful depending on your DM's predilections).

Plus, you can get a spiffy robe, if there's one that suits your fancy. I don't recall any good bracers for spellcasters, although there's a pretty good chance that I'm overlooking something.

Ultimately, the twilight + mythril chain shirt/bracers of armor/(greater) mage armor debate doesn't have a good, completely generic answer that everyone will agree on. Choose whichever is best for your character, or most commonly available in your game, and what looks cool. It sounds like mythril chain it is for you.

By the way, I don't believe that you can enchant robes like armor. They use the same slot, but are not the same thing. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

On another random note, a mythril buckler is (almost) always good for arcane casters. It's a bargain at about 1,100 gp, or 2,100 for a +2 shield bonus. Plus, you can put a heavy fortification enchantment on it, and it sounds like it would mesh pretty well in your image of your character.

-Elemmakil

 

[CrimsonWineGlass]

By the way, I don't believe that you can enchant robes like armor. They use the same slot, but are not the same thing. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Clothes can be enchanted as armor. Otherwise those rare unarmored characters, such as monks, will be eternally stuck with a painfully low AC compared to other characters. Afterall, its just putting a bit of magic over something that you wear. Why should it work on metal, exotic materials, animals hides, or even bark but it won't work on linen (which comes from plants) or silk (which comes from animals)?

 

[werk]

Clothes can be enchanted as armor.

By RAW, I don't think that is correct. Maybe something in a newer supplement missed my attention, but I think it would have shown up in the forums here. It has to do with armor enhancements being applicable to armor. There are contradictory precendents, but they are usually dismissed as unique items. My argument is that +2 armor bonus is 4000gp on armor or bracers.

It is how I do it IMC, MW clothes can be enchanted as armor, and I've had nothing but good come of it.

 

[Mistwell]

If he's a dwarf, try the Runesmith (Races of Stone). Otherwise, just go with the mithril chain shirt.

I agree with Runesmith. Great casting prestige class with plenty of armor and weapon use.

As for the thread in general - I know you are set on a Wizard, but your description sure SOUNDS like an elderly bard!

 

[Mistwell]

Clothes can be enchanted as armor. Otherwise those rare unarmored characters, such as monks, will be eternally stuck with a painfully low AC compared to other characters. Afterall, its just putting a bit of magic over something that you wear. Why should it work on metal, exotic materials, animals hides, or even bark but it won't work on linen (which comes from plants) or silk (which comes from animals)?

I disagree. And monks have an AC bonus built in to the class to take care of AC. They don't wear enchanted robes.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

By RAW, I don't think that is correct.

There are all kinds of robes in the DMG with armor bonuses.

 

[Elemmakil]

There are all kinds of robes in the DMG with armor bonuses.

I'm aware of exactly one - the Robe of the Archmagi. That's hardly a precedent for enchanting all robes as armor, particularly because the robe of the archmagi has a wide array of defensive abilities (SR, armor, resistance bonus to all saves, and maybe more that I'm missing). I have yet to see anyone claim that you can enchant a robe like a cloak or resistance just because of the robe of the archmagi.

To the best of my knowledge, the robes=armor connection is nowhere supported in the rules. Someone can check the recommended effects per body slot in the DMG (I don't have my books with me), but I'm pretty sure that the robe is listed as something like, "a wide variety of abilities," so making a robe +6 (armor bonus to AC) is not suggested by the rules as written.

That being said, it's neither illogical nor unbalanced to allow it. If a DM wants to, more power to him or her, but players shouldn't assume that it is OK in the same way that it is for armor.

-Elemmakil

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

I'm aware of exactly one - the Robe of the Archmagi.

Well, I'll be. I wonder where I read about all of them, now ...

Must be in other sources!

 

[Zurai]

To the best of my knowledge, the robes=armor connection is nowhere supported in the rules.

Yes it is. Robes take up the Body magic item slot, the same as suits of armor. Note that the DMG doesn't even LIST "armor" as a category of items to be enchanted in the "affinities" table. MIC has the updated rules for creating magic items, and it prices things purely by effect and slot.

 

[Ltheb Silverfrond]

Actually, I think you can enchant robes. I don't know of any Core examples other than the Robe of the Archmagi, but in Complete (Arcane?) there are those Impervious Vestments, which have a +9 Armor bonus (using the same formula as the Bracers, but not epic) and some other powers like Bladebarrier IIRC. I don't see why you couldn't enchant cloths, even though its not spelled out Yes or No in the RAW. You would be paying a huge amount though. Mage Armor/Greater Mage Armor spells are much easier to afford, and while it may not be the highest AC bonus available, the money you save on that can be put to enhancing other attributes, like buying a Ring of Protection, or a spellcasting-enhancing item. Lategame where the bonuses from those spells are eclipsed, you should have more than enough money, PrC class features, and feats to get any kind of AC bonus you want without Arcane Failure.