Armor opinions... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Armor opinions... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ye1low
03-03-06, 09:51 PM Hello, I am running a fourth level Elven Cleric and I have some questions on what type of armor I should purchase. My strength is 13. Some people say I should go full plate, but with the spell failure, and the weight, I really don't think I should. Right now I am wearing +1 breastplate, +1 shield, and bracers +1 giving me an armor class of 22. I would really like to hear your opinion on where I should go with him, thanks.

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep:
jaelis
03-03-06, 10:04 PM ASF doesn't apply to divine spells, so don't worry about that.

What's your Dex?
ShinAkuma2
03-03-06, 10:08 PM Hello, I am running a fourth level Elven Cleric and I have some questions on what type of armor I should purchase. My strength is 13. Some people say I should go full plate, but with the spell failure, and the weight, I really don't think I should. Right now I am wearing +1 breastplate, +1 shield, and bracers +1 giving me an armor class of 22. I would really like to hear your opinion on where I should go with him, thanks.

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep:

1) Your strength doesn't matter much...Unless you are some weird Clerical Acrobat, being encumbered shouldn't hurt you much.

2) ARCANE Spell Failure doesn't apply to your Divine spells.

3) Those Bracers of Armor don't stack with your breastplate. Armor bonus + armor bonus, and so on.
ye1low
03-03-06, 10:08 PM My dexterity is 17. Thanks for the info on spell failure. I am going to go prestige to a shadow dancer at level 10, so strength matters some, and the armor and shield are both +1's, not from the bracers.
jaelis
03-03-06, 10:11 PM I'd stick with the breastplate. Full plate is more expensive, you'll just get +1 to AC out of it, you'll eat a pretty high skill check penalty, it's heavy, and you won't be able to run.

I would actually consider going to either a chain shirt or mithril breastplate when you can. Being able to move 30 ft can be a lifesaver.

Edit: and ShinAkuma is right about the bracers.
ye1low
03-03-06, 10:14 PM Ok, Thank You! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
Fighter1
03-03-06, 10:44 PM I'd stick with the breastplate. Full plate is more expensive, you'll just get +1 to AC out of it, you'll eat a pretty high skill check penalty, it's heavy, and you won't be able to run.

I would actually consider going to either a chain shirt or mithril breastplate when you can. Being able to move 30 ft can be a lifesaver.

Edit: and ShinAkuma is right about the bracers.

I've done it both ways (Full Plate vs. Breast Plate and +3 Dex). You already have your attribute scores; but to note; in a point buy atttribute score environment you do have to think about the armor you want BEFORE getting this far. The higher dex gives you other options...but also takes some away. But since you got that 17 DON't waste it on full plate; gow ith the Breastplate for sure!

Armor wise they are the same about; at lower levels that higher full plate cost matters a bit more.
Jay_Ibero_911
03-03-06, 11:20 PM You might want to consider Mithral Full plate. Then you'll still get your full dex bonus as long as you don't bump it again.
terrashand
03-04-06, 07:03 AM Well since it has already been answered to the fullest. Hmmm........Dwarven Forged Gold Full Plate of heaviness. Always the right choice for an Elven Cleric seeking to fulfill their thrist for battle. :)
Nyaz
03-04-06, 08:17 AM Don't forget: you can run 4 x armoured speed in breastplate (medium), 3 x armoured speed in full plate (heavy). Might be useful for those instances when the encounter gets a little overwhelming:):) At least those were the rules in 3rd Ed... don't know if they changed. Plus, roleplay-wise, elves in full plate tend to look kind of odd (but perhaps it's just my opinion).

As for mithril and magical armour, that's also good, but it can hardly be available to you at 4th level. And bracers don't stack with armour.

Good Luck!
Fighter1
03-04-06, 09:00 AM You might want to consider Mithral Full plate. Then you'll still get your full dex bonus as long as you don't bump it again.

But at the lowwer levels Mithral is well out of reach unless you don't own anything else.
Fighter1
03-04-06, 09:05 AM Don't forget: you can run 4 x armoured speed in breastplate (medium), 3 x armoured speed in full plate (heavy). Might be useful for those instances when the encounter gets a little overwhelming:):) At least those were the rules in 3rd Ed... don't know if they changed. Plus, roleplay-wise, elves in full plate tend to look kind of odd (but perhaps it's just my opinion).

As for mithril and magical armour, that's also good, but it can hardly be available to you at 4th level. And bracers don't stack with armour.

Good Luck!

Running away is more a rareity than a norm I think - if things got that bad (or you expect them to) I would hope that you would be wise enoguh to ahve faster transport available quickly.

ENcounter in and Encounter out; if you don't want to or can't get that Dex up(as a fighter) then Full Plate's limit on running is a good balance; you can always take the run feat and get Boots of Striding and Sprringing - or cheaper; just have boots of Striding made; a lot cheaper - like 2k I think vs. 5.5k.
StevenO
03-04-06, 07:40 PM My dexterity is 17. Thanks for the info on spell failure. I am going to go prestige to a shadow dancer at level 10, so strength matters some, and the armor and shield are both +1's, not from the bracers.

Given that information you shouldn't want to switch to heavier armor unless you could afford Mithral Plate. Given a Shadow Dancer goal (although how to meet those skills is questionable for a cleric) I'd definitely consider a +1 Dex boost so you can switch to a Chain Shirt with the same net AC but a smaller ACP and no speed reduction. Depending on the rest of your stats I consider that option anyway.

Bracers +1 don't stack with any other armors but you could instead find a +1 Amulet of Natural Armor that would stack with armor worn.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ye1low 03-03-06, 09:51 PM	Hello, I am running a fourth level Elven Cleric and I have some questions on what type of armor I should purchase. My strength is 13. Some people say I should go full plate, but with the spell failure, and the weight, I really don't think I should. Right now I am wearing +1 breastplate, +1 shield, and bracers +1 giving me an armor class of 22. I would really like to hear your opinion on where I should go with him, thanks. :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep:
jaelis 03-03-06, 10:04 PM	ASF doesn't apply to divine spells, so don't worry about that. What's your Dex?
ShinAkuma2 03-03-06, 10:08 PM	Hello, I am running a fourth level Elven Cleric and I have some questions on what type of armor I should purchase. My strength is 13. Some people say I should go full plate, but with the spell failure, and the weight, I really don't think I should. Right now I am wearing +1 breastplate, +1 shield, and bracers +1 giving me an armor class of 22. I would really like to hear your opinion on where I should go with him, thanks. :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :weep: :weep: :weep: :weep: 1) Your strength doesn't matter much...Unless you are some weird Clerical Acrobat, being encumbered shouldn't hurt you much. 2) ARCANE Spell Failure doesn't apply to your Divine spells. 3) Those Bracers of Armor don't stack with your breastplate. Armor bonus + armor bonus, and so on.
ye1low 03-03-06, 10:08 PM	My dexterity is 17. Thanks for the info on spell failure. I am going to go prestige to a shadow dancer at level 10, so strength matters some, and the armor and shield are both +1's, not from the bracers.
jaelis 03-03-06, 10:11 PM	I'd stick with the breastplate. Full plate is more expensive, you'll just get +1 to AC out of it, you'll eat a pretty high skill check penalty, it's heavy, and you won't be able to run. I would actually consider going to either a chain shirt or mithril breastplate when you can. Being able to move 30 ft can be a lifesaver. Edit: and ShinAkuma is right about the bracers.
ye1low 03-03-06, 10:14 PM	Ok, Thank You! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
Fighter1 03-03-06, 10:44 PM	I'd stick with the breastplate. Full plate is more expensive, you'll just get +1 to AC out of it, you'll eat a pretty high skill check penalty, it's heavy, and you won't be able to run. I would actually consider going to either a chain shirt or mithril breastplate when you can. Being able to move 30 ft can be a lifesaver. Edit: and ShinAkuma is right about the bracers. I've done it both ways (Full Plate vs. Breast Plate and +3 Dex). You already have your attribute scores; but to note; in a point buy atttribute score environment you do have to think about the armor you want BEFORE getting this far. The higher dex gives you other options...but also takes some away. But since you got that 17 DON't waste it on full plate; gow ith the Breastplate for sure! Armor wise they are the same about; at lower levels that higher full plate cost matters a bit more.
Jay_Ibero_911 03-03-06, 11:20 PM	You might want to consider Mithral Full plate. Then you'll still get your full dex bonus as long as you don't bump it again.
terrashand 03-04-06, 07:03 AM	Well since it has already been answered to the fullest. Hmmm........Dwarven Forged Gold Full Plate of heaviness. Always the right choice for an Elven Cleric seeking to fulfill their thrist for battle. :)
Nyaz 03-04-06, 08:17 AM	Don't forget: you can run 4 x armoured speed in breastplate (medium), 3 x armoured speed in full plate (heavy). Might be useful for those instances when the encounter gets a little overwhelming:):) At least those were the rules in 3rd Ed... don't know if they changed. Plus, roleplay-wise, elves in full plate tend to look kind of odd (but perhaps it's just my opinion). As for mithril and magical armour, that's also good, but it can hardly be available to you at 4th level. And bracers don't stack with armour. Good Luck!
Fighter1 03-04-06, 09:00 AM	You might want to consider Mithral Full plate. Then you'll still get your full dex bonus as long as you don't bump it again. But at the lowwer levels Mithral is well out of reach unless you don't own anything else.
Fighter1 03-04-06, 09:05 AM	Don't forget: you can run 4 x armoured speed in breastplate (medium), 3 x armoured speed in full plate (heavy). Might be useful for those instances when the encounter gets a little overwhelming:):) At least those were the rules in 3rd Ed... don't know if they changed. Plus, roleplay-wise, elves in full plate tend to look kind of odd (but perhaps it's just my opinion). As for mithril and magical armour, that's also good, but it can hardly be available to you at 4th level. And bracers don't stack with armour. Good Luck! Running away is more a rareity than a norm I think - if things got that bad (or you expect them to) I would hope that you would be wise enoguh to ahve faster transport available quickly. ENcounter in and Encounter out; if you don't want to or can't get that Dex up(as a fighter) then Full Plate's limit on running is a good balance; you can always take the run feat and get Boots of Striding and Sprringing - or cheaper; just have boots of Striding made; a lot cheaper - like 2k I think vs. 5.5k.
StevenO 03-04-06, 07:40 PM	My dexterity is 17. Thanks for the info on spell failure. I am going to go prestige to a shadow dancer at level 10, so strength matters some, and the armor and shield are both +1's, not from the bracers. Given that information you shouldn't want to switch to heavier armor unless you could afford Mithral Plate. Given a Shadow Dancer goal (although how to meet those skills is questionable for a cleric) I'd definitely consider a +1 Dex boost so you can switch to a Chain Shirt with the same net AC but a smaller ACP and no speed reduction. Depending on the rest of your stats I consider that option anyway. Bracers +1 don't stack with any other armors but you could instead find a +1 Amulet of Natural Armor that would stack with armor worn.