adamantine or mithril? [Archive] - Wizards Community

adamantine or mithril? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
noahconstrictor
10-02-06, 03:30 PM aside from the inconsequential (to me) cost difference which is going to be more effective for a higher level (12+) cleric, adamantine (DR 3/-) or mithril (+2 AC) full plate?

i can see the argument either way --

with mithril, get hit less often. at higher levels, damage is high enough that 3 less damage may not make a difference, whereas that one time not getting hit may save you a lot of pain. also, better damage reduction items may be available that would supercede adamantine. (if so, what are they?)

with adamantine, that's 3 less damage on every hit, which can add up. and how often is 2 ac really going to be the difference between a hit and a miss? (that's not a rhetorical question, i really want to know.)

i think i'm leaning toward mithril, but i'm hoping some of you have experience with both and have come to a definitive conclusion. or maybe, i'm overlooking some better armor for the cost that i should know about?

grazie.
tarkin
10-02-06, 04:46 PM Power Attack with a THW converts +2 to hit into +4 damage, overcoming DR 3/-

As such, +2 to AC is worth more than DR 3/-, in my book.

Add in the better movement rate and mithril is the better deal.

Adamantine armor makes sense for people with LOW dexs.

That said, consider getting:

Flametouched Iron (Ebberon) and Ysgardian Heartwire (Book of Exalted Deeds).
lint trap
10-02-06, 04:56 PM If you have the Dex for it, definitely take mithril. And if cost is really not an object, make it Susalian Chainweave Mithril Full Plate, from CW p. 136. It gives DR 3/piercing, making it damn near as good as adamantine.
Wharin
10-02-06, 06:13 PM Yeah, the answer to the mithral/adamantine question is best answered by your character's Dex. Is he a ueber nimbal avarial barbarian? Or is he the very down to earth Gold Dwarf Dwarven Defender whos about as nimble as a brick wall? Often playing the latter much moreso than the former, Adamantine is usually my metal of choice for armour.

When it comes to weapons, Adamantine is almost stricty a better choice (price aside) than mithral, unless your STR is *that* low, and maintaining a light load is that important to you.
Tony Vargas
10-02-06, 06:16 PM If you have a DEX of 16, the mithral is worth it - you gain +2 AC, and it's touch AC. Of course, Clerics don't often have very high DEX - if cost is /no/ object, even if you're DEX 10, you can always dump 36k on the +6 gloves of DEX to go with it.

If your DEX is 12 or less, Adamantine is nice, because of the DR/-, but, as a Cleric, you'll at least occassionally cast spells that grant you DR, and DR overlaps, so it can be a pretty minor benefit.

Another thing clerics seldom consider is skill checks. Jump, Climb & Swim do come up, often at very inconvenient times, and having a -5 ACP from Adamantine plate rather than a -3 from Mithral can make a difference (especially when you probably have no ranks).
Jeddi151
10-02-06, 11:34 PM any time you add +1 to your ac..your decreasing an opponent's "to hit" chance by 5%. ((they need to roll 1 higher on the d20, so that's 1 less number)).
chucky
10-03-06, 08:10 AM Easy. High dex char gets mith low dex gets adamantine.
tarkin
10-03-06, 10:35 AM I think that makes it unanimous.

If you have the Dexterity, get the Mithril.

If you don't, consider the Adamantine.
oracle71
10-04-06, 10:27 PM The mithral is better at high levels anyway. A DR of 3/- is most useful at low levels when most attacks on you are only doing an average of 5-10 ponts of damage. At higher levels when the average damage inflicted is 20-30 points (or higher), the +2 bonus to AC will be more helpful. As long as your Dex doesn't totally suck, go woth the mithral.
Damionte
10-05-06, 02:02 AM The DR will be more useful.

Both abilities are close ot menaingless at high levels vs the main threat type characters and monsters.

A dragon or storm giant won't miss oyu anyway, plus they'll do so much damage your 3/- isn't putting a dent in it. The DR3/- though wil make you tougher against minions. All the smaller fights on the way to the main challenge will be easier to take with that DR than with just 2 points of AC.
Sapp
10-05-06, 02:11 AM Higher levels, I'd go with Mithril.

The monsters that you worry about doing a lot of damage to you will be power attacking.

The extra movement is also good.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
noahconstrictor 10-02-06, 03:30 PM	aside from the inconsequential (to me) cost difference which is going to be more effective for a higher level (12+) cleric, adamantine (DR 3/-) or mithril (+2 AC) full plate? i can see the argument either way -- with mithril, get hit less often. at higher levels, damage is high enough that 3 less damage may not make a difference, whereas that one time not getting hit may save you a lot of pain. also, better damage reduction items may be available that would supercede adamantine. (if so, what are they?) with adamantine, that's 3 less damage on every hit, which can add up. and how often is 2 ac really going to be the difference between a hit and a miss? (that's not a rhetorical question, i really want to know.) i think i'm leaning toward mithril, but i'm hoping some of you have experience with both and have come to a definitive conclusion. or maybe, i'm overlooking some better armor for the cost that i should know about? grazie.
tarkin 10-02-06, 04:46 PM	Power Attack with a THW converts +2 to hit into +4 damage, overcoming DR 3/- As such, +2 to AC is worth more than DR 3/-, in my book. Add in the better movement rate and mithril is the better deal. Adamantine armor makes sense for people with LOW dexs. That said, consider getting: Flametouched Iron (Ebberon) and Ysgardian Heartwire (Book of Exalted Deeds).
lint trap 10-02-06, 04:56 PM	If you have the Dex for it, definitely take mithril. And if cost is really not an object, make it Susalian Chainweave Mithril Full Plate, from CW p. 136. It gives DR 3/piercing, making it damn near as good as adamantine.
Wharin 10-02-06, 06:13 PM	Yeah, the answer to the mithral/adamantine question is best answered by your character's Dex. Is he a ueber nimbal avarial barbarian? Or is he the very down to earth Gold Dwarf Dwarven Defender whos about as nimble as a brick wall? Often playing the latter much moreso than the former, Adamantine is usually my metal of choice for armour. When it comes to weapons, Adamantine is almost stricty a better choice (price aside) than mithral, unless your STR is that low, and maintaining a light load is that important to you.
Tony Vargas 10-02-06, 06:16 PM	If you have a DEX of 16, the mithral is worth it - you gain +2 AC, and it's touch AC. Of course, Clerics don't often have very high DEX - if cost is /no/ object, even if you're DEX 10, you can always dump 36k on the +6 gloves of DEX to go with it. If your DEX is 12 or less, Adamantine is nice, because of the DR/-, but, as a Cleric, you'll at least occassionally cast spells that grant you DR, and DR overlaps, so it can be a pretty minor benefit. Another thing clerics seldom consider is skill checks. Jump, Climb & Swim do come up, often at very inconvenient times, and having a -5 ACP from Adamantine plate rather than a -3 from Mithral can make a difference (especially when you probably have no ranks).
Jeddi151 10-02-06, 11:34 PM	any time you add +1 to your ac..your decreasing an opponent's "to hit" chance by 5%. ((they need to roll 1 higher on the d20, so that's 1 less number)).
chucky 10-03-06, 08:10 AM	Easy. High dex char gets mith low dex gets adamantine.
tarkin 10-03-06, 10:35 AM	I think that makes it unanimous. If you have the Dexterity, get the Mithril. If you don't, consider the Adamantine.
oracle71 10-04-06, 10:27 PM	The mithral is better at high levels anyway. A DR of 3/- is most useful at low levels when most attacks on you are only doing an average of 5-10 ponts of damage. At higher levels when the average damage inflicted is 20-30 points (or higher), the +2 bonus to AC will be more helpful. As long as your Dex doesn't totally suck, go woth the mithral.
Damionte 10-05-06, 02:02 AM	The DR will be more useful. Both abilities are close ot menaingless at high levels vs the main threat type characters and monsters. A dragon or storm giant won't miss oyu anyway, plus they'll do so much damage your 3/- isn't putting a dent in it. The DR3/- though wil make you tougher against minions. All the smaller fights on the way to the main challenge will be easier to take with that DR than with just 2 points of AC.
Sapp 10-05-06, 02:11 AM	Higher levels, I'd go with Mithril. The monsters that you worry about doing a lot of damage to you will be power attacking. The extra movement is also good.