Why no plate for fighters?

[AkaKageWarrior]

ummm, wait a second, NO skill check penalty in scale?

 

[BarkingDeathSquirrel]

ummm, wait a second, NO skill check penalty in scale?

With a Paragon tier feat, Armor Specialization (Scale), yeah.
Edit: My bad, Scale Armor has no check penalty, but does have a speed penalty, which Armor Specialization removes...

 

[Irda Ranger]

(Is there a search feature on these boards for those of us who don't use them enough to warrant paying for them?)

Google

 

[DarkJester]

ummm, wait a second, NO skill check penalty in scale?

Yep, no armor check penalty for scale. Plate only has a -1 penalty itself. There is a paragon tier feat out there that gets rid of Scale's movement penalty and grants +1 ac as well.

 

[Blacksmithking]

With scale armor, a fighter gets some use out of his best trained skill. He can climb, escape from a grab, jump, and swim without penalty, at least until he picks up a shield. At the paragon tier, scale doesn't even slow him down in combat. This all makes a fighter distinct from a paladin, more physical and brazen. It's one of the interesting little "easter eggs" I've been finding in the 4e rules that shows that the designers put some serious thought into the classes.

 

[BarkingDeathSquirrel]

Yikes, I never realized how crappy chainmail was compared to the other heavy armors.

I guess it is good for Clerics and Inspiring Presence Warlords... but anyone else has much better options.

 

[Fedifensor]

Fighter proficiency stops at Scale armor because Scale is the best armor in the game. +7 AC, no armor check, and only a -1 to speed. With the Armor Specialization (Scale) feat, that goes to a +8 AC and no penalties at all. Plate is merely there to trick the stupid paladins into drowning themselves in bodies of water.

Or to give +1 AC over plate at the cost of -1 speed and -2 to certain skill checks. Remember, you can take Armor Specialization with Plate as well. Besides, who cares about speed if you have a Warlord shifting you around the battlefield?

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

Yep, no armor check penalty for scale. Plate only has a -1 penalty itself. There is a paragon tier feat out there that gets rid of Scale's movement penalty and grants +1 ac as well.

I notice that that feat requires a 15 Dex, which is kind of hard to justify for a cleric, paladin, or fighter.

Brad

 

[Xsjado]

Not when you have as many attribute bonus as 4e. Dex is a tertiary stat for a fighter and I'd probably work it out to be 15 by paragon level. Initiative is quite important for a fighter to get into the thick of things before the enemy has a chance to act.

The bonus to AC is also pretty invaluable as well IMO, especially if you are caught without your armour. Maybe thats just cause I've had some mean DMs

 

[Cadfan]

I notice that that feat requires a 15 Dex, which is kind of hard to justify for a cleric, paladin, or fighter.

Brad

15 dex is incredibly justified for a fighter, particularly if you wield certain weapons. Not so justified for a paladin or a cleric though, but they don't typically wear scale.