Is there an armor without Arcane Spell Failure? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Is there an armor without Arcane Spell Failure? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Callista
04-29-05, 10:35 PM I'm playing a wizard/cleric. Consequently, I have proficiency with armor, but I can't use it without a chance of messing up when I cast arcane spells.

I need all the protection I can get, though; so I'm hoping to take advantage of that proficiency somehow.

I've already thought of a mithril buckler; I'll probably get one of those if it does leave both hands free for spellcasting (does it?).

Is there a sort of armor that does not have a spell failure chance?
PhaedrusXY
04-29-05, 10:39 PM If you can use material from the Book of Exalted Deeds, a mithril chain shirt with the Twilight enhancement has 0% ASF.
Anthus_Longblade
04-29-05, 11:08 PM Bracers of Armor.
OneSidedDice
04-29-05, 11:11 PM Bucklers only sort-of leave both hands free. You can use your buckler hand to do something in the round and still have the shield on it, but you lose the buckler's AC bonus for the round if you do so. However, I believe spellcasting only requires one hand, so you should be okay unless you usually have a weapon or wand in your other hand often. If this is an issue, perhaps your DM would allow a modified version of the Improved Buckler Defense feat from Complete Warrior that would allow you to use a buckler and retain use of that hand for spellcasting.

As PhaedrusXY mentioned, both mithril and the Twilight attribute from Book of Exalted Deeds will reduce ASF.

Don't forget that you can use your wizard spells to enhance your AC as well. Mage armor lasts for 1 hour/wizard level and will give you a +4 armor bonus to AC, so this can make armor redundant unless you are willing to invest in it to bring its total bonus above +4. If you can use Complete Arcane material, I believe there is a greater mage armor. Also don't forget about bracers of armor, since they can give you an armor bonus with no ASF chance.
Callista
04-29-05, 11:52 PM Hmm... Okay.

What bonus is the Twilight enhancement?
Sarella Starshine
04-30-05, 01:05 AM Twlight enhancement just reduces the ASF penalty on armor.
Iron_Valkyrie
04-30-05, 01:27 AM I'm not sure if it was included in the 3.5 update, but in 3.0 there was blended quartz armor, which reduced the ASF by 20%.
Callista
04-30-05, 01:28 AM Twlight enhancement just reduces the ASF penalty on armor.
I mean for pricing purposes... kinda like Vorpal is considered a +5 enhancement.
DM Denubis
04-30-05, 01:46 AM Twilight is a +1 enhancement.
lucky2
05-01-05, 11:18 AM There's Bondleaf Wraps in the Arms and Equpment guide.
Draco Strang
05-01-05, 12:29 PM Gnomish wraps, they're in Races of Stone.
Ut-Napishtim
05-01-05, 12:47 PM Personally I'd say it depends on which you're going to focus on. If you're planning on focusing on your Cleric side get some Mithril Full Plate and eat the 25% spell failure chance. If you're focusing on Wizard or going Mystic Theurge I'd say going Greater Mage Armor and Shield are your best bet. If you're lawful you can drop a level in Monk and get that juicy Wis bonus to your AC too.
Shaken, not Stunned
05-01-05, 01:51 PM thistledown padded armor has an arcane spell failure of zero, it is in races of the wild. +1/+8

leafweave cord armor (cord armor + leafweave enhancement, both in A&E) has an ASF of 0, but wieghs like 20 pounds. +2/+5.

A mithral buckler has no arcane spell failure.

Personally, I would grab the thistledown and a mithral buckler, then enhance them both at a one to one ratio. Of course, if you have not-so-good dex, you may want to find a heavier armor, like the afore mentioned mithral twilight chain shirt.
Afarian
05-01-05, 02:14 PM I'm guessing none of these armors actually stack with Mage armor, correct? Still I would definetly take a 0% failure just to save the slot for something besides mage armor.
Another AC question though, if nobody minds. Does Ring of Protection stack with mage armor and possibly shield?
Draco Strang
05-01-05, 02:18 PM I'm guessing none of these armors actually stack with Mage armor, correct? Still I would definetly take a 0% failure just to save the slot for something besides mage armor.
Another AC question though, if nobody minds. Does Ring of Protection stack with mage armor and possibly shield?
No...they don't stack with Mage Armor. Mage Armor gives you a +4 AC to counter the fact that you have no armor bonus. (like named bonuses dont stack)

Ring of Protection is a deflection bonus...that stacks with shields, armor, and other deflections, if im not mistaken.
OneSidedDice
05-01-05, 02:26 PM Ring of Protection is a deflection bonus...that stacks with shields, armor, and other deflections, if im not mistaken.

Deflection bonuses do not stack with one another. The only named bonuses I can think of that will stack with one another are dodge bonuses.

Personally, I'd much rather use a measly 1-3 1st-level spell slots for mage armor than dump a few thousand gold into a suit of armor that would have the same effect.
Draco Strang
05-01-05, 02:42 PM Deflection bonuses do not stack with one another. The only named bonuses I can think of that will stack with one another are dodge bonuses.

Personally, I'd much rather use a measly 1-3 1st-level spell slots for mage armor than dump a few thousand gold into a suit of armor that would have the same effect.
Well what like bonuses do stack? Dodge, luck, and un-named bonuses, I know for sure. Are you positive deflection don't stack? I'm not with my books at the moment or I'd just check.
OneSidedDice
05-01-05, 02:48 PM I'm pretty positive deflection bonuses don't stack, nor, I believe, do luck bonuses as you claim. All unnamed bonuses do stack, though. Check page 21 of the 3.5 DMG for more information.
feartheinvinceblehamster
05-01-05, 02:55 PM A little invention that my warlock once requested:

Unrestrictive: makes the armor have no max dex, no ACP, and no ASF.

Market price: +10,000 GP
Merestil Haye
05-01-05, 09:12 PM Still Spell.

Spells with no Somatic component have no ASF chance.
eudas
05-02-05, 02:23 PM mithril chain shirt or chain mail with twilight enchantment, as has been mentioned.

bracers of armor are also a good way to go. (and they provide a force effect, which protects you against incorporeal attacks as well.)

mage armor + shield spells are good, too (same thing, force effects).

eudas

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Callista 04-29-05, 10:35 PM	I'm playing a wizard/cleric. Consequently, I have proficiency with armor, but I can't use it without a chance of messing up when I cast arcane spells. I need all the protection I can get, though; so I'm hoping to take advantage of that proficiency somehow. I've already thought of a mithril buckler; I'll probably get one of those if it does leave both hands free for spellcasting (does it?). Is there a sort of armor that does not have a spell failure chance?
PhaedrusXY 04-29-05, 10:39 PM	If you can use material from the Book of Exalted Deeds, a mithril chain shirt with the Twilight enhancement has 0% ASF.
Anthus_Longblade 04-29-05, 11:08 PM	Bracers of Armor.
OneSidedDice 04-29-05, 11:11 PM	Bucklers only sort-of leave both hands free. You can use your buckler hand to do something in the round and still have the shield on it, but you lose the buckler's AC bonus for the round if you do so. However, I believe spellcasting only requires one hand, so you should be okay unless you usually have a weapon or wand in your other hand often. If this is an issue, perhaps your DM would allow a modified version of the Improved Buckler Defense feat from Complete Warrior that would allow you to use a buckler and retain use of that hand for spellcasting. As PhaedrusXY mentioned, both mithril and the Twilight attribute from Book of Exalted Deeds will reduce ASF. Don't forget that you can use your wizard spells to enhance your AC as well. Mage armor lasts for 1 hour/wizard level and will give you a +4 armor bonus to AC, so this can make armor redundant unless you are willing to invest in it to bring its total bonus above +4. If you can use Complete Arcane material, I believe there is a greater mage armor. Also don't forget about bracers of armor, since they can give you an armor bonus with no ASF chance.
Callista 04-29-05, 11:52 PM	Hmm... Okay. What bonus is the Twilight enhancement?
Sarella Starshine 04-30-05, 01:05 AM	Twlight enhancement just reduces the ASF penalty on armor.
Iron_Valkyrie 04-30-05, 01:27 AM	I'm not sure if it was included in the 3.5 update, but in 3.0 there was blended quartz armor, which reduced the ASF by 20%.
Callista 04-30-05, 01:28 AM	Twlight enhancement just reduces the ASF penalty on armor. I mean for pricing purposes... kinda like Vorpal is considered a +5 enhancement.
DM Denubis 04-30-05, 01:46 AM	Twilight is a +1 enhancement.
lucky2 05-01-05, 11:18 AM	There's Bondleaf Wraps in the Arms and Equpment guide.
Draco Strang 05-01-05, 12:29 PM	Gnomish wraps, they're in Races of Stone.
Ut-Napishtim 05-01-05, 12:47 PM	Personally I'd say it depends on which you're going to focus on. If you're planning on focusing on your Cleric side get some Mithril Full Plate and eat the 25% spell failure chance. If you're focusing on Wizard or going Mystic Theurge I'd say going Greater Mage Armor and Shield are your best bet. If you're lawful you can drop a level in Monk and get that juicy Wis bonus to your AC too.
Shaken, not Stunned 05-01-05, 01:51 PM	thistledown padded armor has an arcane spell failure of zero, it is in races of the wild. +1/+8 leafweave cord armor (cord armor + leafweave enhancement, both in A&E) has an ASF of 0, but wieghs like 20 pounds. +2/+5. A mithral buckler has no arcane spell failure. Personally, I would grab the thistledown and a mithral buckler, then enhance them both at a one to one ratio. Of course, if you have not-so-good dex, you may want to find a heavier armor, like the afore mentioned mithral twilight chain shirt.
Afarian 05-01-05, 02:14 PM	I'm guessing none of these armors actually stack with Mage armor, correct? Still I would definetly take a 0% failure just to save the slot for something besides mage armor. Another AC question though, if nobody minds. Does Ring of Protection stack with mage armor and possibly shield?
Draco Strang 05-01-05, 02:18 PM	I'm guessing none of these armors actually stack with Mage armor, correct? Still I would definetly take a 0% failure just to save the slot for something besides mage armor. Another AC question though, if nobody minds. Does Ring of Protection stack with mage armor and possibly shield? No...they don't stack with Mage Armor. Mage Armor gives you a +4 AC to counter the fact that you have no armor bonus. (like named bonuses dont stack) Ring of Protection is a deflection bonus...that stacks with shields, armor, and other deflections, if im not mistaken.
OneSidedDice 05-01-05, 02:26 PM	Ring of Protection is a deflection bonus...that stacks with shields, armor, and other deflections, if im not mistaken. Deflection bonuses do not stack with one another. The only named bonuses I can think of that will stack with one another are dodge bonuses. Personally, I'd much rather use a measly 1-3 1st-level spell slots for mage armor than dump a few thousand gold into a suit of armor that would have the same effect.
Draco Strang 05-01-05, 02:42 PM	Deflection bonuses do not stack with one another. The only named bonuses I can think of that will stack with one another are dodge bonuses. Personally, I'd much rather use a measly 1-3 1st-level spell slots for mage armor than dump a few thousand gold into a suit of armor that would have the same effect. Well what like bonuses do stack? Dodge, luck, and un-named bonuses, I know for sure. Are you positive deflection don't stack? I'm not with my books at the moment or I'd just check.
OneSidedDice 05-01-05, 02:48 PM	I'm pretty positive deflection bonuses don't stack, nor, I believe, do luck bonuses as you claim. All unnamed bonuses do stack, though. Check page 21 of the 3.5 DMG for more information.
feartheinvinceblehamster 05-01-05, 02:55 PM	A little invention that my warlock once requested: Unrestrictive: makes the armor have no max dex, no ACP, and no ASF. Market price: +10,000 GP
Merestil Haye 05-01-05, 09:12 PM	Still Spell. Spells with no Somatic component have no ASF chance.
eudas 05-02-05, 02:23 PM	mithril chain shirt or chain mail with twilight enchantment, as has been mentioned. bracers of armor are also a good way to go. (and they provide a force effect, which protects you against incorporeal attacks as well.) mage armor + shield spells are good, too (same thing, force effects). eudas