Armor too heavy [Archive] - Wizards Community

Armor too heavy [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Jastra of the clawed hand
10-11-05, 12:31 PM What can one do to make armor less heavy ( materials and armor enchantments)? For materials, the core and Eberron materials can be used.
I'd be grateful for any answers ;)
Tyler Do'Urden
10-11-05, 12:34 PM ...? You're kidding, right?

Mithral: Mithral is a very rare silvery, glistening metal that is lighter than iron but just as hard. When worked like steel, it becomes a wonderful material from which to create armor and is occasionally used for other items as well. Most mithral armors are one category lighter than normal for purposes of movement and other limitations. Heavy armors are treated as medium, and medium armors are treated as light, but light armors are still treated as light. Spell failure chances for armors and shields made from mithral are decreased by 10%, maximum Dexterity bonus is increased by 2, and armor check penalties are lessened by 3 (to a minimum of 0).
An item made from mithral weighs half as much as the same item made from other metals. In the case of weapons, this lighter weight does not change a weapon’s size category or the ease with which it can be wielded (whether it is light, one-handed, or two-handed). Items not primarily of metal are not meaningfully affected by being partially made of mithral. (A longsword can be a mithral weapon, while a scythe cannot be.)
Weapons or armors fashioned from mithral are always masterwork items as well; the masterwork cost is included in the prices given below.
Mithral has 30 hit points per inch of thickness and hardness 15.

This is in the DMG.
bondious
10-11-05, 12:45 PM Possibly a little harsh there, Tyler? I'm sure there are plenty of reasons why Jastra asked this question...not everyone who posts here are D&D experts or life-long fans of the game.

That said, he is correct about Mithral, and you could also use Darkwood to reduce the weight of wooden shields. Both of these options are in the DMG (Dungeon Master's Guide), near the back.
00_Whupass
10-11-05, 12:50 PM I don't remember darkwood from the DMG. Can I get a page reference? I'm curious to read more about it.
Tyler Do'Urden
10-11-05, 01:01 PM Oh yes, my large text was so very, very harsh. However will she go on?

Special materials are on page 283 of the 3.5 DMG. Darkwood is on the bottom right of that page, Mithral is on the bottom right of the following page.
jaelis
10-11-05, 01:46 PM In Eberron, there is also leafweave which is lighter. It's in the armor section of the Eberron Campaign Source.
Jastra of the clawed hand
10-11-05, 02:00 PM Guys....just calm down, ok ;)?
First off, it's a "he"....Jastra was the name of my first 3rd ed. character
( female sun elf necromancer who was burned at the stake :( ).
Second, the question originally comes from my girlfriend. She wanted to know what else she could do to make her character's armor lighter.
Yes, we both knew about Mithral beforehand but she ( who has no net access yet) wanted an alternative.
I should have mentioned this in the first post but I was in a hurry and just wanted to get the question out.
Finally, next time I can do without " you're kidding"...just answering the question should do the job just fine ;)
But I've got a big heart and I'll forgive you :D
bondious
10-11-05, 02:03 PM Oh yes, my large text was so very, very harsh. However will she go on?

Okay, check this out...I think you'll like it:

Possibly a little harsh there, Tyler?

I don't recall writting the word "very" anywhere, dude. :bored:
Tyler Do'Urden
10-11-05, 02:51 PM Nono, I was suggesting that changing the font size wasn't harsh at all. Not even a little. I was exaggerating for effect.

First off, it's a "he"
I figured that was actually more probable, but because of those blasted core books, I default to 'she' now.
Necro King
10-11-05, 03:31 PM If you can convince your DM, you can have an alchemist create a potion that (once poured onto your armor) will make it lighter (using a percentage roll). Exactly what your DM would charge for that…I have no idea.
Jastra of the clawed hand
10-11-05, 03:58 PM Ummm...I am the DM ;)
But I was looking for official material ( as I said, apart from Mithral).
Thanks anyway.
Lord Schpungus
10-11-05, 06:42 PM glassteel from races of faerun has all the properties of mithril and adamantine, plus it's transparent.
Fanged Fremont
10-11-05, 07:02 PM glassteel from races of faerun has all the properties of mithril and adamantine, plus it's transparent.

is that simular to plasteel from Star Wars? Honestly the names people come up with.

Personally I think armor is over rated. I just run around in the buff and I'm not even a monk (or simular situation where something besides dex gives you a bonus to AC) and I'm a human!

then again I am a barbarian/sorc1/dragon disciple with mage armor constantly cast.
primemover003
10-11-05, 07:09 PM Bracers of Armor are the best way to lighten your load;)

But not too much other than the materials given above is out there...
Rierevin
10-11-05, 07:28 PM bronze wood from the arms and equipment guide makes the armor weight 10% less and it can be used instead of metal

wildwood from races of the wild also can be used in metal armor and it weighs 3/4 the normal weight of the armor

i think blue ice from frostburn makes armor lighter but i dont know by how much
Rulebook
10-11-05, 08:39 PM actually the name Glassteel is a holdover from 2e when it was a spell that turned ordinary glass as hard as steel, or steel as brittle as glass.
TyraaloftheFist
10-11-05, 09:40 PM Eh, Mithral, Leafweave, Darkweave (if that's even a material in anything), and Bracers of Armor are the best choices that I can think of. Those, and necklaces of protection.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Jastra of the clawed hand 10-11-05, 12:31 PM	What can one do to make armor less heavy ( materials and armor enchantments)? For materials, the core and Eberron materials can be used. I'd be grateful for any answers ;)
Tyler Do'Urden 10-11-05, 12:34 PM	...? You're kidding, right? Mithral: Mithral is a very rare silvery, glistening metal that is lighter than iron but just as hard. When worked like steel, it becomes a wonderful material from which to create armor and is occasionally used for other items as well. Most mithral armors are one category lighter than normal for purposes of movement and other limitations. Heavy armors are treated as medium, and medium armors are treated as light, but light armors are still treated as light. Spell failure chances for armors and shields made from mithral are decreased by 10%, maximum Dexterity bonus is increased by 2, and armor check penalties are lessened by 3 (to a minimum of 0). An item made from mithral weighs half as much as the same item made from other metals. In the case of weapons, this lighter weight does not change a weapon’s size category or the ease with which it can be wielded (whether it is light, one-handed, or two-handed). Items not primarily of metal are not meaningfully affected by being partially made of mithral. (A longsword can be a mithral weapon, while a scythe cannot be.) Weapons or armors fashioned from mithral are always masterwork items as well; the masterwork cost is included in the prices given below. Mithral has 30 hit points per inch of thickness and hardness 15. This is in the DMG.
bondious 10-11-05, 12:45 PM	Possibly a little harsh there, Tyler? I'm sure there are plenty of reasons why Jastra asked this question...not everyone who posts here are D&D experts or life-long fans of the game. That said, he is correct about Mithral, and you could also use Darkwood to reduce the weight of wooden shields. Both of these options are in the DMG (Dungeon Master's Guide), near the back.
00_Whupass 10-11-05, 12:50 PM	I don't remember darkwood from the DMG. Can I get a page reference? I'm curious to read more about it.
Tyler Do'Urden 10-11-05, 01:01 PM	Oh yes, my large text was so very, very harsh. However will she go on? Special materials are on page 283 of the 3.5 DMG. Darkwood is on the bottom right of that page, Mithral is on the bottom right of the following page.
jaelis 10-11-05, 01:46 PM	In Eberron, there is also leafweave which is lighter. It's in the armor section of the Eberron Campaign Source.
Jastra of the clawed hand 10-11-05, 02:00 PM	Guys....just calm down, ok ;)? First off, it's a "he"....Jastra was the name of my first 3rd ed. character ( female sun elf necromancer who was burned at the stake :( ). Second, the question originally comes from my girlfriend. She wanted to know what else she could do to make her character's armor lighter. Yes, we both knew about Mithral beforehand but she ( who has no net access yet) wanted an alternative. I should have mentioned this in the first post but I was in a hurry and just wanted to get the question out. Finally, next time I can do without " you're kidding"...just answering the question should do the job just fine ;) But I've got a big heart and I'll forgive you :D
bondious 10-11-05, 02:03 PM	Oh yes, my large text was so very, very harsh. However will she go on? Okay, check this out...I think you'll like it: Possibly a little harsh there, Tyler? I don't recall writting the word "very" anywhere, dude. :bored:
Tyler Do'Urden 10-11-05, 02:51 PM	Nono, I was suggesting that changing the font size wasn't harsh at all. Not even a little. I was exaggerating for effect. First off, it's a "he" I figured that was actually more probable, but because of those blasted core books, I default to 'she' now.
Necro King 10-11-05, 03:31 PM	If you can convince your DM, you can have an alchemist create a potion that (once poured onto your armor) will make it lighter (using a percentage roll). Exactly what your DM would charge for that…I have no idea.
Jastra of the clawed hand 10-11-05, 03:58 PM	Ummm...I am the DM ;) But I was looking for official material ( as I said, apart from Mithral). Thanks anyway.
Lord Schpungus 10-11-05, 06:42 PM	glassteel from races of faerun has all the properties of mithril and adamantine, plus it's transparent.
Fanged Fremont 10-11-05, 07:02 PM	glassteel from races of faerun has all the properties of mithril and adamantine, plus it's transparent. is that simular to plasteel from Star Wars? Honestly the names people come up with. Personally I think armor is over rated. I just run around in the buff and I'm not even a monk (or simular situation where something besides dex gives you a bonus to AC) and I'm a human! then again I am a barbarian/sorc1/dragon disciple with mage armor constantly cast.
primemover003 10-11-05, 07:09 PM	Bracers of Armor are the best way to lighten your load;) But not too much other than the materials given above is out there...
Rierevin 10-11-05, 07:28 PM	bronze wood from the arms and equipment guide makes the armor weight 10% less and it can be used instead of metal wildwood from races of the wild also can be used in metal armor and it weighs 3/4 the normal weight of the armor i think blue ice from frostburn makes armor lighter but i dont know by how much
Rulebook 10-11-05, 08:39 PM	actually the name Glassteel is a holdover from 2e when it was a spell that turned ordinary glass as hard as steel, or steel as brittle as glass.
TyraaloftheFist 10-11-05, 09:40 PM	Eh, Mithral, Leafweave, Darkweave (if that's even a material in anything), and Bracers of Armor are the best choices that I can think of. Those, and necklaces of protection.