what is the deal with adamantine armor? please help

[chip079]

i know that this is probally a stupid question, but i am still pretty new and dont quite understand some of the rules. so if you can please help. ok my question has to do with adamantine armor which is in the DmG. it says that is has a natural +enhancement bonus to to the type of metal used to make it(adamantine). so my qustion is does a magical enhancement bonus stack with adamantine armors natural bonuses? for example: is a +1(magical)adamantine breastplate count as +3(2natural + 1 magical), or would you have to get the adamantine breastplate ehchanted with a +3 magical enhancement inorder to achieve that effect? if the later is the case, then what is the benefit of purchasing the adamantine breastplate? again thanks for your time, and any input is appreciated. thnx...

 

[Pax]

No, the bonusses do not stack.

+1 Adamantium armor is no better than nonmagical adamantium armor.

+3 Adamantium armor is nobetter than +3 non-adamantium armor.

Adamantium provides an "enhancement" bonus; so does making the armor magical. Bonusses of the same name (in this case, "enhancement") do NOT add together; you only get the BETTER of the two (or more).

[EDIT: addendum]
I agree, by the way, that doesn't seem to make sense to not let a "materials" bonus stack with "enhancement" bonus; IMC, I have adjusted thigns so that Masterwork ("MW") is NOT a prerrequisite for enchantment, and MW bonusses DO stack with magic. I simply reword Adamantium to give a "materials" bonus, and call the +1 from MW weapons a "masterwork" bonus.

One of the benefits of this is,if you PAY for it in coin,you BENEFIT from it.

The other benefit, as a DM, is: no longer do your players know that non-masterwork weapons do not need to be checked for magic. That cruddy, rusty, almost-borken-looking shortsword MIGHT just be a Short Sword +1 of Wounding, or whatever. And the jeweled, gilt, finely-crafted and decorated elven longsword ... may benothign more THAN a nice looking, well-made (MW) elven-crafted longsword. End result: check -everything-.

One other aside: some masterwork weapons IMC get +1 to damage, but NOT to hit. The extra effort goes into making the weapon more efficient at doing oucheis to the enemy, rather thn better-balanced for hittgn said enemy. Think serrated-blade longswords; it works great for fantasy-campaigns, at least.
[/EDIT]

 

[CRGreathouse]

No, the bonusses do not stack.

+1 Adamantium armor is no better than nonmagical adamantium armor.

Correct.

+3 Adamantium armor is nobetter than +3 non-adamantium armor.

Correct, assuming the armor is heavy.

 

[chip079]

ok well that sucks...thanks for the fast replies though.

 

[Crothian]

ok well that sucks...thanks for the fast replies though.

Well, it functions in magic dead zones. It can't be temporarily dispelled.

 

[CRGreathouse]

Well, it functions in magic dead zones. It can't be temporarily dispelled.

It looks really good. It has better hardness and hit points. It will be accepted as a down payment.

 

[Crothian]

You don't need craft arms and Armor to make it

 

[kreynolds]

It isn't made of cheese.

 

[Johno]

You have cheese armour in your campaign? Can I get that in cheddar? how about Blue?

The perfect armour for a quick dungeon delve; you don't have to carry your lunch in your backpack; You wear it!

Great for those adventures where you run off to save the princess before having a proper breakfast!

How much does it cost? Can I get it magically enhanced? Does it the cheese bonus stack with the enhancement bonus?

Edit Spelling

 

[Crothian]

It isn't made of cheese.

Cheese Grommet