Best Starting Armor? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Best Starting Armor? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
wfurlong78
05-01-07, 08:09 AM I know whats in the PHB but what kinds of armors are in ebberron that I might be overlooking? Chitin I know about.
Edymnion
05-01-07, 08:21 AM Chitin is really only available to the drow in Xen'Drik, you're gonna be hard pressed to find it anywhere in Khovaire outside of perhaps an exotic novelties shop in Sharn where they charge you an arm and a leg for it.

Eberron pretty much just uses the PHB armor. Get a breastplate. :)
Bluebrush
05-01-07, 08:24 AM If you're just starting, it's a question of what you can afford. Most of the wacky and exotic armours are going to have to wait until later levels.
Amaril
05-01-07, 07:06 PM The orc barbarian/gatekeeper druid in my Eberron campaign wears leather scale mail armor (Arms & Equipment Guide).
LoneStranger
05-01-07, 07:49 PM The best way to answer that question is with another question actually...

What is your character concept?

If you're going for high agility (swashbuckler, archer, or just plain flashy) then armor that let's you use your full dex bonus and allows some room for improvement is very good. However if you play a tank and aren't worried about dex at all go for the heaviest you can afford while leaving room to get the rest of your supplies, weapons, etc.

Of course if you play a monk in Eberron you should just focus on being a monk, don't worry about armor at all.
RogueElement
05-01-07, 08:23 PM Warfarged with Adamantine Body!
Edymnion
05-01-07, 09:14 PM Warfarged with Adamantine Body!WF MONK with Adamantine Body!
No, seriously, the stuff you lose for wearing armor is about equal to what you gain from Adm Body, and nobody expects an Adm Warforged to be punching people for d20 damage.
snakebliskan
05-01-07, 10:17 PM depends on your stats class and style of character!

My shifter druid wears a wood breastplate!(ironwood spell rocks!) and he weilds an ironwood greatsword!....
Euangelion
05-02-07, 12:19 AM ...and he weilds an ironwood greatsword!....
Why ironwood? Druids in 3.5 have no weapon restrictions other than a short proficiency list. Of course, if it's just because he/she thinks its cool, well, there ya go.
ChristopherGroves
05-03-07, 01:15 AM Why ironwood? Druids in 3.5 have no weapon restrictions other than a short proficiency list. Of course, if it's just because he/she thinks its cool, well, there ya go.

Of course, being wood you can spikes/brambles it. Booyah.
Cifer
05-03-07, 08:38 AM Generally, you're pretty much stuck to the stuff from the PHB - everything else adds at least a hundred gp which is usually too much for a starting character.
LoneStranger
05-03-07, 07:51 PM Right, getting back on track...

What's the character concept? How are you planning on running the character? If you can answer those questions that'll help not only with starting armor but also with how the armor should progress through the game.
dunkeykong
05-04-07, 12:41 AM Right, getting back on track...

I know, its like trying to corral 5 year olds with ADD sometimes.
Euangelion
05-04-07, 12:49 AM I know, its like trying to corral 5 year olds with ADD sometimes.

Oh, look! A chicken!! :chicken:
Hideous Phidias
05-04-07, 01:46 AM Dinner!!!!

Go something light,like a chainshirt or studded leather, and when you get money buy the weird stuff.
LoneStranger
05-07-07, 07:49 PM Right getting on with the suggestions, I'll put it this way.

If you're going to be the tank of the party (high AC), try and ramp up as high as you can on the armor list at start, like a breastplate or a full suit of chainmail or whatever. Of course as you continue on with this one goal could be a suit of Adamantine Mountain Plate with some AC enchantments and Heavy Fortification making sure all crit threats fail horribly.

Or...

If you're going for a more agile fighter go with studded leather armor or so, something that allows your dex bonus to add to your AC and still have room to improve said dex with time. With that you could go for a character who doesn't have the best armor class, but has a bloody good hide skill with the enchantments put into the armor and can pull off amazing stunts.
Angerland
05-08-07, 11:06 PM My shifter Druid3 started off with leather armor and a heavy darkwood shield. The shield was a gift from my druid mentor before sending em off to be nature's guardian. But I have an AC of 17 (with a 16 dex) and no armor check penalty!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
wfurlong78 05-01-07, 08:09 AM	I know whats in the PHB but what kinds of armors are in ebberron that I might be overlooking? Chitin I know about.
Edymnion 05-01-07, 08:21 AM	Chitin is really only available to the drow in Xen'Drik, you're gonna be hard pressed to find it anywhere in Khovaire outside of perhaps an exotic novelties shop in Sharn where they charge you an arm and a leg for it. Eberron pretty much just uses the PHB armor. Get a breastplate. :)
Bluebrush 05-01-07, 08:24 AM	If you're just starting, it's a question of what you can afford. Most of the wacky and exotic armours are going to have to wait until later levels.
Amaril 05-01-07, 07:06 PM	The orc barbarian/gatekeeper druid in my Eberron campaign wears leather scale mail armor (Arms & Equipment Guide).
LoneStranger 05-01-07, 07:49 PM	The best way to answer that question is with another question actually... What is your character concept? If you're going for high agility (swashbuckler, archer, or just plain flashy) then armor that let's you use your full dex bonus and allows some room for improvement is very good. However if you play a tank and aren't worried about dex at all go for the heaviest you can afford while leaving room to get the rest of your supplies, weapons, etc. Of course if you play a monk in Eberron you should just focus on being a monk, don't worry about armor at all.
RogueElement 05-01-07, 08:23 PM	Warfarged with Adamantine Body!
Edymnion 05-01-07, 09:14 PM	Warfarged with Adamantine Body!WF MONK with Adamantine Body! No, seriously, the stuff you lose for wearing armor is about equal to what you gain from Adm Body, and nobody expects an Adm Warforged to be punching people for d20 damage.
snakebliskan 05-01-07, 10:17 PM	depends on your stats class and style of character! My shifter druid wears a wood breastplate!(ironwood spell rocks!) and he weilds an ironwood greatsword!....
Euangelion 05-02-07, 12:19 AM	...and he weilds an ironwood greatsword!.... Why ironwood? Druids in 3.5 have no weapon restrictions other than a short proficiency list. Of course, if it's just because he/she thinks its cool, well, there ya go.
ChristopherGroves 05-03-07, 01:15 AM	Why ironwood? Druids in 3.5 have no weapon restrictions other than a short proficiency list. Of course, if it's just because he/she thinks its cool, well, there ya go. Of course, being wood you can spikes/brambles it. Booyah.
Cifer 05-03-07, 08:38 AM	Generally, you're pretty much stuck to the stuff from the PHB - everything else adds at least a hundred gp which is usually too much for a starting character.
LoneStranger 05-03-07, 07:51 PM	Right, getting back on track... What's the character concept? How are you planning on running the character? If you can answer those questions that'll help not only with starting armor but also with how the armor should progress through the game.
dunkeykong 05-04-07, 12:41 AM	Right, getting back on track... I know, its like trying to corral 5 year olds with ADD sometimes.
Euangelion 05-04-07, 12:49 AM	I know, its like trying to corral 5 year olds with ADD sometimes. Oh, look! A chicken!! :chicken:
Hideous Phidias 05-04-07, 01:46 AM	Dinner!!!! Go something light,like a chainshirt or studded leather, and when you get money buy the weird stuff.
LoneStranger 05-07-07, 07:49 PM	Right getting on with the suggestions, I'll put it this way. If you're going to be the tank of the party (high AC), try and ramp up as high as you can on the armor list at start, like a breastplate or a full suit of chainmail or whatever. Of course as you continue on with this one goal could be a suit of Adamantine Mountain Plate with some AC enchantments and Heavy Fortification making sure all crit threats fail horribly. Or... If you're going for a more agile fighter go with studded leather armor or so, something that allows your dex bonus to add to your AC and still have room to improve said dex with time. With that you could go for a character who doesn't have the best armor class, but has a bloody good hide skill with the enchantments put into the armor and can pull off amazing stunts.
Angerland 05-08-07, 11:06 PM	My shifter Druid3 started off with leather armor and a heavy darkwood shield. The shield was a gift from my druid mentor before sending em off to be nature's guardian. But I have an AC of 17 (with a 16 dex) and no armor check penalty!