Wizards and Armor

[Steely_Dan]

Straight out of the box I do not think Wizards should be able to cast in armour (but as magical armour is in, if they can get magic robes or what-have-you to bump their AC, I think that could work).

Having said that, maybe down the line there could be a way to do it (kit, prestige class, paragon path, special theme etc).

 

[MarkB]

On a related note: Why is everyone in D&D always fighting with his/her backpack on?

Because unattended objects get individually targeted by fireballs, and mundane ones don't even get saves.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

I seem to recall one game-- but not the name of it-- in which the reason Wizards didn't wear metal armor and often went as near to naked as they could afford was because of overheating. Magic generated a lot of heat, and a powerful mage could cook himself if he weren't careful.

 

[jadrax]

I'm so tired of seeing people try to find ways to make wizards undesirable to play.

If your not wearing robes, you are not actually a wizard, you are just some fighter/mage hybrid.

If wearing Robes is an obviously sub-optimal choice for arcane casters, that would have the effect of almost completely removing wizards from the game.

 

[Chalice]

Despite the fact that I'm happy running 3.5 for the time being, albeit with a few house rules, I feel quite strongly that arcane, divine and psionic character alike should NOT have any issues casting spells / using powers while wearing armour. After all, melee-focussed (or archery-focussed) characters do not have issues moving around a heck of a lot at speed - in full plate for example!

The system needs to be balanced in different ways. It's archaic, and doesn't work well with many a character/archetype that might appeal to a prospective player. Having to kludge it via cheesy magic items and arbitrary all-but-flavourless prestige classes (or some equivalent) is less than ideal, I would say.

I would prefer that each kind of caster (including arcane specialists, which perhaps all of them should be...) be far more limited, less god-like, more flavourful (distinct from every other kind).

 

[Li Shenron]

Despite the very good points in this thread, I am still not convinced...

I guess I just don't like seeing wizards running around casting spells in heavy armor.

Those who have no problem with that, I suppose also would not mind seeing monks throwing flying kicks in heavy armor, rogues sneaking and disabling traps/locks in heavy armor, druids walking their pets in the bush in heavy armor, rangers tracking foes in the wild in heavy armor, etc...?

 

[Votan]

I wonder if the trick might not be to take an idea from Star Wars Saga Edition and make it so that armor using classes got additional bonuses in armor as they leveled? Then make armor not stack with a lot of other protective options.

At high levels armor is very important to the warrior types (who have incredible instincts as to how to use it effectively) but is just one choice (and maybe not a great one) to the average wizard.

 

[steeldragons]

What if the mages studied with elves? They seemed to have figured it out.

Tru dat.

But, to my mind, that's because of the magical nature of elves...has nothing really to do with the "being a mage" part. A human mage who studied with elves still can't where armor. The elves can't teach them to BE an elf.

And, if memory serves, I wouldn't let elves use higher/more than leather or elvin chain as a mage either.

Though, in all honesty, if a player had a character whose background they wanted to be "I was raised and studied magic with the elves" I'd probably work with that to give them some kinda bonus spells per day or bonuses to their use of enchantment magics (harder to save against) or something like that. I would not permit them though to wear armor asa human wizard.

But that's just the fluffy bits of my game world...not really something I need or want the system telling me is "ok."

--SD

 

[Oni]

I seem to recall one game-- but not the name of it-- in which the reason Wizards didn't wear metal armor and often went as near to naked as they could afford was because of overheating. Magic generated a lot of heat, and a powerful mage could cook himself if he weren't careful.

That's from the Scarred Lands setting.

 

[Falling Icicle]

Those who have no problem with that, I suppose also would not mind seeing monks throwing flying kicks in heavy armor, rogues sneaking and disabling traps/locks in heavy armor, druids walking their pets in the bush in heavy armor, rangers tracking foes in the wild in heavy armor, etc...?

Like fighters doing whirlwind attacks and other fancy sword maneuvers in heavy armor?