Composite Plating: bonus or detriment? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Composite Plating: bonus or detriment? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
GhostStepper
03-15-07, 07:07 PM Im currently trying to design a new living construct based on those created by the astral construc power for my psionic campaign. Im trying to balance the race against warforged and im having issues deciding what features to include and what to raplace/remove.

One issue that im having is trying to decide if a warforged's Composite Plating is more of a benefit or a penalty for the race. Sure it gives monks and druids free armor but its a huge pain for arcane casters (who cant wear robes) or pretty much any martial class since they can buy better armor right off the bat.

So if i get rid of it with my new constructs should i replace it with a new penalty or a new benefit?
Thomar_of_Uointer
03-15-07, 07:48 PM Composite plating is a benefit. It grants a +2 natural armor bonus, and is a prerequisite for cooler things like Adamantine Plating. The armor check penalty is meaningless to warforged psions and artificers.

What ability were you planning on replacing it with?
GhostStepper
03-15-07, 08:23 PM I dont know if being a prereq for Adamantine Body makes it an advantage though. If there were a feat that gave you Fast Healing 1 and the prereq was Toughness, that wouldnt make Toughness a good feat in and of itself.

And while the armor check penalty is meaningless for psions and artificers, that is precisely why it is a penalty for them. They can easily afford better armor that likewise would not effect them, but since they are stuck with composite plating they cant wear it. For arcane types, mage armor is better and a warforged wizard is unable to wear robes. For fighters, rouges, warblades, etc its a drawback as well since they will have access to better armor but wont be able to wear it. Its only a real benefit to a couple of classes.

As far as what i want to replace it with, im not sure. My basic concept is that the race is a living form of astral construct. Their "skin" is a ectoplasmic membrane and so Composite Plating doesnt really make sense, though i do plan on having feats for ectoplasmic plating and hardened crystal plating which represent versions of Mithral body and Adamantine body. Ive been playing with the idea of giving them limited access to menu items from the normal astral construct creation though its a tough call since some abilities are a bit better than others (Fly is easily better than Mobility and Improved Bullrush as a 1st level character). The other issue is that i dont want to replicate the warforged whole cloth with only variation in flavor. Id like to make them stand out a bit.
Thomar_of_Uointer
03-15-07, 08:26 PM They can easily afford better armor that likewise would not effect them, but since they are stuck with composite plating they cant wear it.

Once again, Adamantine Plating.

For arcane types, mage armor is better and a warforged wizard is unable to wear robes. For fighters, rouges, warblades, etc its a drawback as well since they will have access to better armor but wont be able to wear it. Its only a real benefit to a couple of classes.

As far as what i want to replace it with, im not sure. My basic concept is that the race is a living form of astral construct. Their "skin" is a ectoplasmic membrane and so Composite Plating doesnt really make sense, though i do plan on having feats for ectoplasmic plating and hardened crystal plating which represent versions of Mithral body and Adamantine body. Ive been playing with the idea of giving them limited access to menu items from the normal astral construct creation though its a tough call since some abilities are a bit better than others (Fly is easily better than Mobility and Improved Bullrush as a 1st level character). The other issue is that i dont want to replicate the warforged whole cloth with only variation in flavor. Id like to make them stand out a bit.

But they can enchant their composite plating just fine, remember?

Yeah, if you're just giving them flat natural armor (totally sensible for a construct), don't bother with composite plating. However, no LA +0 race I know of has more than a +1 natural armor bonus. The warforged feats for better armor come with speed reductions and armor check penalties tied in, and they are meant to replace natural armor. If you're allowing the race to wear armor, stick to the norms for natural armor. If you're replacing armor, stick with composite plating.

Here's a neat idea! Let them shape composite plating as a free action while focused.
GhostStepper
03-15-07, 08:54 PM Once again, Adamantine Plating.

But they can enchant their composite plating just fine, remember?

Which rocks at first level, but once everyone's wealth level increases, every other fighter has the same benefit as well as an extra feat.

Likewise, wizards can get better twilight armor once they have enough gp while the warforged is stuck with his.

Yeah, if you're just giving them flat natural armor (totally sensible for a construct), don't bother with composite plating. However, no LA +0 race I know of has more than a +1 natural armor bonus. The warforged feats for better armor come with speed reductions and armor check penalties tied in, and they are meant to replace natural armor. If you're allowing the race to wear armor, stick to the norms for natural armor. If you're replacing armor, stick with composite plating.

I do agree that natural armor is pretty huge for an LA +0. Warforged get an armor bonus to AC that has deffinate drawbacks (unable to wear "good" armor without blowing a feat) so it isnt a stackable gimme like natural armor would be. I think at the moment im leaning toward not giving the race any free armor bonuses. My issue is simply whether that entitles them to something good in return or a penalty.

Here's a neat idea! Let them shape composite plating as a free action while focused.

That would be thematically cool though i think im starting to think i should give them something other than composite plating.
runestar
03-17-07, 02:57 AM While it provides a free +2 armour bonus, that will probably be superseded by whatever armour you will be wearing. Its nice for the flavour, but seems to have minimal in-game impact.

Dragonborn template lets warforged lose their composite plating for free, which is nice if you are playing a wiz.:)
GhostStepper
03-17-07, 11:45 PM And the dragonborn can actually keep adamantine body or mithral body if he wants anyway, which kind of negates the elimination of your racial traits. But i digress.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
GhostStepper 03-15-07, 07:07 PM	Im currently trying to design a new living construct based on those created by the astral construc power for my psionic campaign. Im trying to balance the race against warforged and im having issues deciding what features to include and what to raplace/remove. One issue that im having is trying to decide if a warforged's Composite Plating is more of a benefit or a penalty for the race. Sure it gives monks and druids free armor but its a huge pain for arcane casters (who cant wear robes) or pretty much any martial class since they can buy better armor right off the bat. So if i get rid of it with my new constructs should i replace it with a new penalty or a new benefit?
Thomar_of_Uointer 03-15-07, 07:48 PM	Composite plating is a benefit. It grants a +2 natural armor bonus, and is a prerequisite for cooler things like Adamantine Plating. The armor check penalty is meaningless to warforged psions and artificers. What ability were you planning on replacing it with?
GhostStepper 03-15-07, 08:23 PM	I dont know if being a prereq for Adamantine Body makes it an advantage though. If there were a feat that gave you Fast Healing 1 and the prereq was Toughness, that wouldnt make Toughness a good feat in and of itself. And while the armor check penalty is meaningless for psions and artificers, that is precisely why it is a penalty for them. They can easily afford better armor that likewise would not effect them, but since they are stuck with composite plating they cant wear it. For arcane types, mage armor is better and a warforged wizard is unable to wear robes. For fighters, rouges, warblades, etc its a drawback as well since they will have access to better armor but wont be able to wear it. Its only a real benefit to a couple of classes. As far as what i want to replace it with, im not sure. My basic concept is that the race is a living form of astral construct. Their "skin" is a ectoplasmic membrane and so Composite Plating doesnt really make sense, though i do plan on having feats for ectoplasmic plating and hardened crystal plating which represent versions of Mithral body and Adamantine body. Ive been playing with the idea of giving them limited access to menu items from the normal astral construct creation though its a tough call since some abilities are a bit better than others (Fly is easily better than Mobility and Improved Bullrush as a 1st level character). The other issue is that i dont want to replicate the warforged whole cloth with only variation in flavor. Id like to make them stand out a bit.
Thomar_of_Uointer 03-15-07, 08:26 PM	They can easily afford better armor that likewise would not effect them, but since they are stuck with composite plating they cant wear it. Once again, Adamantine Plating. For arcane types, mage armor is better and a warforged wizard is unable to wear robes. For fighters, rouges, warblades, etc its a drawback as well since they will have access to better armor but wont be able to wear it. Its only a real benefit to a couple of classes. As far as what i want to replace it with, im not sure. My basic concept is that the race is a living form of astral construct. Their "skin" is a ectoplasmic membrane and so Composite Plating doesnt really make sense, though i do plan on having feats for ectoplasmic plating and hardened crystal plating which represent versions of Mithral body and Adamantine body. Ive been playing with the idea of giving them limited access to menu items from the normal astral construct creation though its a tough call since some abilities are a bit better than others (Fly is easily better than Mobility and Improved Bullrush as a 1st level character). The other issue is that i dont want to replicate the warforged whole cloth with only variation in flavor. Id like to make them stand out a bit. But they can enchant their composite plating just fine, remember? Yeah, if you're just giving them flat natural armor (totally sensible for a construct), don't bother with composite plating. However, no LA +0 race I know of has more than a +1 natural armor bonus. The warforged feats for better armor come with speed reductions and armor check penalties tied in, and they are meant to replace natural armor. If you're allowing the race to wear armor, stick to the norms for natural armor. If you're replacing armor, stick with composite plating. Here's a neat idea! Let them shape composite plating as a free action while focused.
GhostStepper 03-15-07, 08:54 PM	Once again, Adamantine Plating. But they can enchant their composite plating just fine, remember? Which rocks at first level, but once everyone's wealth level increases, every other fighter has the same benefit as well as an extra feat. Likewise, wizards can get better twilight armor once they have enough gp while the warforged is stuck with his. Yeah, if you're just giving them flat natural armor (totally sensible for a construct), don't bother with composite plating. However, no LA +0 race I know of has more than a +1 natural armor bonus. The warforged feats for better armor come with speed reductions and armor check penalties tied in, and they are meant to replace natural armor. If you're allowing the race to wear armor, stick to the norms for natural armor. If you're replacing armor, stick with composite plating. I do agree that natural armor is pretty huge for an LA +0. Warforged get an armor bonus to AC that has deffinate drawbacks (unable to wear "good" armor without blowing a feat) so it isnt a stackable gimme like natural armor would be. I think at the moment im leaning toward not giving the race any free armor bonuses. My issue is simply whether that entitles them to something good in return or a penalty. Here's a neat idea! Let them shape composite plating as a free action while focused. That would be thematically cool though i think im starting to think i should give them something other than composite plating.
runestar 03-17-07, 02:57 AM	While it provides a free +2 armour bonus, that will probably be superseded by whatever armour you will be wearing. Its nice for the flavour, but seems to have minimal in-game impact. Dragonborn template lets warforged lose their composite plating for free, which is nice if you are playing a wiz.:)
GhostStepper 03-17-07, 11:45 PM	And the dragonborn can actually keep adamantine body or mithral body if he wants anyway, which kind of negates the elimination of your racial traits. But i digress.