Dastana Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dastana Question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Karzach
05-15-07, 12:19 AM So, I was looking at the Dastana in Arms and Equipment Guide. Table has it listed as a shield, text has it listed as an armor bonus that...stacks with other shields.

So, does that mean its a shield bonus to AC, or an armor bonus to AC?
Cold Napalm
05-15-07, 12:42 AM So, I was looking at the Dastana in Arms and Equipment Guide. Table has it listed as a shield, text has it listed as an armor bonus that...stacks with other shields.

So, does that mean its a shield bonus to AC, or an armor bonus to AC?

armor bonus. enchantment on a dastana does not stack but over laps with one on armor...however it is a cheap way to add special effects...
Karzach
05-15-07, 01:29 AM Interesting to note, the Dastana essentially makes the breastplate worthless.

BP:
AC 5
Max Dex 3
ACP -4
Movement: 20/15
Weight 30 lbs
Cost 200 GP

Dastana + Chain Shirt:
AC 5
Max Dex 4
ACP -3
Movement: 30/20
Weight 30 lbs
Cost 125 GP.

The only real loss is your wrist slot, and beyond bracers of armor (which don't stack anyway) and bracers of archery, I'm not really seeing much of a loss there (though I haven't spent as much time with MIC just yet)

Oh, and if you're willing to spend an extra 300 GP, the ACP reduces to -1, as opposed to the Breastplate reducing to -3. Cost then is CS + D: 425 GP versus BP: 350 GP.

Not a bad trade off I'd say...
Flan
05-15-07, 08:43 AM armor bonus. enchantment on a dastana does not stack but over laps with one on armor...however it is a cheap way to add special effects...

Nowhere does it say that. It does say the armor bonus of dastana stacks, so the enhancement bonus would as well.
Vrellum
05-15-07, 03:54 PM Dastana are one of those poorly thought out ideas that get printed everyonce in a while.

They really don't make sense under the rules. Dastana are just another bit that is added to your armor to make it more protective. The problem is it can be enhanced separately from the suit of armor. Even if the armor bonus overlaps that still allows access to very cheap special enhancements. It doesn't make sense because you can't specifically enchant pauldrons or any other individual piece of armor.
Watchman
05-15-07, 04:01 PM Real dastanas are just vambraces - forearm armour. Rather like greaves, something along those lines should already be included in most appropriate heavier armour.

Leave it to the WotC content-production wonks to make them some sort of internally wildly inconsistent "add-on" armour. :rolleyes:
GhostStepper
05-15-07, 04:48 PM Did a shield provide and armor bonus instead of a shield bonus to AC in 3.0? If that is so, its as easy as making it a kind of shield when translating it to 3.5. Problem solved. :)
Kouk
05-15-07, 08:26 PM It was recently ruled in an article (I think) that even though the enhancement bonus enhances the armor value, that only the highest of those enhancements is counted.
BugHunter
05-15-07, 09:03 PM Reading the description for the dastana the bonus stacks with the base armor and any shield worn. So a +1 dastana will stack with +1 chain shirt and and a +1 buckler which makes the ac 19 plus dex mod. It requires the armor proficiency (light) to wear without penalty. Plus the dastana does not take the bracer slot for a magic item since it is listed as a shield.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Karzach 05-15-07, 12:19 AM	So, I was looking at the Dastana in Arms and Equipment Guide. Table has it listed as a shield, text has it listed as an armor bonus that...stacks with other shields. So, does that mean its a shield bonus to AC, or an armor bonus to AC?
Cold Napalm 05-15-07, 12:42 AM	So, I was looking at the Dastana in Arms and Equipment Guide. Table has it listed as a shield, text has it listed as an armor bonus that...stacks with other shields. So, does that mean its a shield bonus to AC, or an armor bonus to AC? armor bonus. enchantment on a dastana does not stack but over laps with one on armor...however it is a cheap way to add special effects...
Karzach 05-15-07, 01:29 AM	Interesting to note, the Dastana essentially makes the breastplate worthless. BP: AC 5 Max Dex 3 ACP -4 Movement: 20/15 Weight 30 lbs Cost 200 GP Dastana + Chain Shirt: AC 5 Max Dex 4 ACP -3 Movement: 30/20 Weight 30 lbs Cost 125 GP. The only real loss is your wrist slot, and beyond bracers of armor (which don't stack anyway) and bracers of archery, I'm not really seeing much of a loss there (though I haven't spent as much time with MIC just yet) Oh, and if you're willing to spend an extra 300 GP, the ACP reduces to -1, as opposed to the Breastplate reducing to -3. Cost then is CS + D: 425 GP versus BP: 350 GP. Not a bad trade off I'd say...
Flan 05-15-07, 08:43 AM	armor bonus. enchantment on a dastana does not stack but over laps with one on armor...however it is a cheap way to add special effects... Nowhere does it say that. It does say the armor bonus of dastana stacks, so the enhancement bonus would as well.
Vrellum 05-15-07, 03:54 PM	Dastana are one of those poorly thought out ideas that get printed everyonce in a while. They really don't make sense under the rules. Dastana are just another bit that is added to your armor to make it more protective. The problem is it can be enhanced separately from the suit of armor. Even if the armor bonus overlaps that still allows access to very cheap special enhancements. It doesn't make sense because you can't specifically enchant pauldrons or any other individual piece of armor.
Watchman 05-15-07, 04:01 PM	Real dastanas are just vambraces - forearm armour. Rather like greaves, something along those lines should already be included in most appropriate heavier armour. Leave it to the WotC content-production wonks to make them some sort of internally wildly inconsistent "add-on" armour. :rolleyes:
GhostStepper 05-15-07, 04:48 PM	Did a shield provide and armor bonus instead of a shield bonus to AC in 3.0? If that is so, its as easy as making it a kind of shield when translating it to 3.5. Problem solved. :)
Kouk 05-15-07, 08:26 PM	It was recently ruled in an article (I think) that even though the enhancement bonus enhances the armor value, that only the highest of those enhancements is counted.
BugHunter 05-15-07, 09:03 PM	Reading the description for the dastana the bonus stacks with the base armor and any shield worn. So a +1 dastana will stack with +1 chain shirt and and a +1 buckler which makes the ac 19 plus dex mod. It requires the armor proficiency (light) to wear without penalty. Plus the dastana does not take the bracer slot for a magic item since it is listed as a shield.