Items/Armor & Shields

Armor
{| class="wikitable"
 * colspan="7" |

Simple Armor

 * Name:
 * Cost
 * Armor Bonus
 * Strength Rating
 * Weight
 * Special
 * Keywords
 * colspan="7" |
 * colspan="7" |
 * colspan="7" |

Light Armor

 * Padded Shirt
 * 1 gp
 * 1
 * 0
 * 1 lb
 * Impact Absorbing, Natural
 * Light
 * Leather Armor
 * 10 gp
 * 2
 * 0
 * 12 lb
 * Natural
 * Light
 * Hide Armor
 * 15 gp
 * 4
 * 2
 * 20 lb
 * Natural
 * Light
 * colspan="7" |
 * Natural
 * Light
 * colspan="7" |
 * colspan="7" |

Heavy Armor

 * Lamellar
 * 100 gp
 * 8
 * 5
 * 35 lb
 * Metal
 * Heavy
 * Banded Mail
 * 250 gp
 * 8
 * 6
 * 40 lb
 * Strong, Metal
 * Heavy
 * colspan="7" |
 * Heavy
 * colspan="7" |
 * colspan="7" |

Martial Armor

 * colspan="7" |
 * colspan="7" |

Light Armor

 * Studded Leather
 * 30 gp
 * 2
 * 0
 * 12 lb
 * Double-Plated, Strong, Natural
 * Light
 * Chain Shirt
 * 110 gp
 * 4
 * 1
 * 18 lb
 * Nimble, Metal
 * Light
 * Breastplate
 * 200 gp
 * 6
 * 4
 * 25 lb
 * Vital-Guard, Weather Ready(Hot), Metal
 * Light
 * colspan="7" |
 * Vital-Guard, Weather Ready(Hot), Metal
 * Light
 * colspan="7" |
 * colspan="7" |

Heavy Armor

 * Chainmail
 * 200 gp
 * 8
 * 5
 * 35 lb
 * Vital-Guard, Strong, Metal
 * Heavy
 * Full Plate
 * 1500 gp
 * 10
 * 6
 * 50 lb
 * Double-Plated, Metal
 * Heavy
 * colspan="7" |
 * Heavy
 * colspan="7" |
 * colspan="7" |

Exotic Armor

 * colspan="7" |
 * colspan="7" |

Light Armor

 * Armored Coat
 * 150 gp
 * 6
 * 3
 * 22 lb
 * Nimble, Quick Don, Weather Ready(Cold), Metal
 * Light
 * Spider Silk Suit
 * 200 gp
 * 4
 * 0
 * 5 lb
 * Nimble, Strong, Natural
 * Light
 * colspan="7" |
 * Light
 * colspan="7" |
 * colspan="7" |

Heavy Armor

 * Fortress Plate
 * 2400 gp
 * 13
 * 9
 * 95 lb
 * Double-Plated, Vital Guard, Metal
 * Heavy
 * Tatami-do
 * 1000 gp
 * 8
 * 4
 * 35 lb
 * Nimble, Deflecting, Metal
 * Heavy
 * }
 * Heavy
 * }

Armor Creation Rules
Similar to weapons for the vision of a character to come through you wish to have the right armor to match. The system should generally be limited to access by players and be more of a tool of a GM to build their world better. These rules have been used to make almost every armor in this system, though most armors were designed with a theme or historical use in mind rather than maximum potential. Should a player wish to use this system a GM should add some restrictions, such as the player character needs to have the skills necessary to make it themselves, or the ability to create schematics for special orders from a blacksmith. If a type of armor is too uncommon a price increase should be added to reflect the rarity of such a tool. As usual the GM is the final arbiter in their game and may adjust/tweak these rules as they wish, but it is recommended to not stray too far as it could create unintentional power imbalance in your game. Similar to weapon design this armor design system allows you to create new armor. The number of Design Points an armor receives is determined by whether it is simple (8 DP), martial (10 DP), or exotic (12 DP). These rules do not cover shields, and should not be used to design a shield. All new armor weapons begin with the following base statistics: +1 Armor Bonus, 6 Strength Rating and is considered Heavy Armor Weight: When determining the armor’s weight, use the weight of a armor with similar AC, Strength Rating and features. Generally the more of the body covered the more it likely should weigh. Price: Unlike weapons armor tends to follow more of a progression curve, raising your strength, gaining more money, simply later getting into a armor proficiency you previously lacked. These can result in armor changing over the course of a game. As a result armor should match armor of similar AC, Proficiency, and special abilities; the heavier the armor generally the more it should cost, material is an important factor also.

Armor Rules
For most, armor is the simplest way to protect oneself in a world of rampant threats and dangers. Many characters can wear only the simplest of armors, and only some can use shields. To wear heavier armor effectively, a character can select the Armor Proficiency feats, but most classes are automatically proficient with the armors that work best for them. Armor comes in two weight classes and three proficiency categories. The weight classes are Light and Heavy, which are outlined in the Armor Keywords section. Proficiencies work similar to armor with simple, martial, and exotic variants of armor; with simple being the most commonly accessible to classes and exotic usually requiring a character to choose to gain proficiency on their own.

Cost
The cost in gold pieces of the armor for Small or Medium humanoid creatures. Half the cost for each size below small, and double the cost for each size above medium. This value is the pre-masterwork cost and does not multiply the masterwork cost.

Armor Bonus
Each type of armor grants an armor bonus to Armor Checks(AC). The armor bonus from a suit of armor doesn’t stack with other effects or items that grant an armor bonus.

Nonproficient with Armor Worn: A character who wears armor with which he is not proficient double’s the armor strength rating requirement. If the armor has a strength rating of 0 or lower it instead becomes 1. In addition the armors AC bonus is treated as 1 lower (minimum 0) for AC rolls and redirecting damage to the armor.

Sleeping in Armor: A character who sleeps in heavy armor is automatically fatigued the next day. Sleeping in light armor does not cause fatigue.

Armor Redirection
Armor’s goal is to provide protection to its wearer, while it may deflect or turn some blows into near-misses, the key point is what it does when a direct hit occurs.

When the wearer of armor would take damage from an attack roll that targeted the wearer’s AC or Touch AC they may redirect a number of points of the damage up to the armor’s armor bonus, this may include any bonuses to the armor from enhancement bonuses. Any damage redirected in this way bypasses any hardness the armor would have and damages the armor directly. The wearer may not redirect damage from effects requiring saving throws or environmental hazards, such as lava. For the purposes of redirection the broken condition does not affect now much damage may be redirected to the armor.

Example: A suit of leather armor would allow 0, 1 or 2 points to be directed to the armor instead of the player. So an attack that would deal 8 would deal 6 to the player and 2 to the armor, or could deal 7 to the player and 1 to the armor.

Example 2: A suit of full plate could redirect 12 points due to its 10 armor bonus, and an additional 2 from its double-plated feature. As such anywhere from 0 to 12 damage can be redirected to the armor.

Armor Sacrifice
The wearer of armor may fully sacrifice their armor to save themselves. As an immediate action the wearer of the armor may redirect an entire hit from an attack roll that targeted the wearer’s AC or Touch AC to their armor, dealing full damage to their armor bypassing any hardness the armor possesses. Any damage in excess of the armor’s hit points are then dealt to the wearer. The wearer may not redirect damage from effects requiring saving throws or environmental hazards, such as lava. You may only use armor sacrifice while your armor is above half hit points (lacks the broken condition).

Armor Health
Armor has hit points like any other object, but for armor the hit points are an important resource to be tracked by the wearer as it can serve as a secondary pool of health for a player.

Armor Hardness: Increase the hardness of the armor by 2 per +1 enhancement bonus it possesses.

Armor has a number of hit points equal to 6x the base armor bonus of the armor. For each +1 enhancement bonus the armor possesses it gains 8+ the base armor bonus of the armor as additional hit points.

Armor that has taken damage in excess of half their total hit points gain the broken condition, meaning they are less effective at their designated task. The broken condition reduces AC bonus armor grants to half, rounded down. This reduction in AC reduces how much damage may be redirected to the armor per hit as well, but does not recalculate the armor’s maximum hit points.

Armor Keywords
Light: Armor with the light keyword applies to armor that allows dexterity to AC. Light armor tends to have lower armor bonus and strength rating than heavy armor.

Heavy: Armor with the heavy keyword applies to armor that does not allow the wearer’s dexterity bonus to AC or touch AC. If the wearer has a negative dexterity modifier the penalty is applied to their AC (such as from having a 9 or lower dexterity score). This is not treated as being denied their dexterity bonus to AC such as for sneak attack or determining if dodge bonuses apply; and may still be affected by feint for the purposes of denying dodge bonuses or becoming a valid target for sneak attack.

Natural: Natural material is armor made from hide, leather, or some other material that is not metal (such as cloth or bone). This keyword is important for a number of reasons.

Metal: Metal armor is armor made from Iron, Steel or some other material that is metal. This keyword is important for a number of reasons.

Strength Rating
The armor’s strength rating is the representation of how much strength the wearer needs to move efficiently in the armor. This means stronger characters will gain more benefit from a higher strength rating armor while a lower strength character will favor lighter armors as penalties for wearing the heavier armor may be too great to be worth it.

If your strength modifier is equal to or above the strength rating of the armor you wear the armor without penalty. If your strength modifier is below the strong rating of the armor you take the following penalties:


 * For each point your strength modifier is below the strength rating of the armor you take a 5 foot penalty to your movement speed, to a minimum of 5 feet.
 * For each point your strength modifier is below the strength rating of the armor you take a -1 penalty to attack rolls made while wearing the armor.
 * For each point your strength modifier is below the strength rating of the armor you take a -1 penalty to strength or dexterity based skill checks.

Spellcasting and Armor
Armor interferes with the gestures that a spellcaster must make to cast a spell. Normally spellcasters are unable to cast in armor and automatically fail to cast any spell while wearing armor. Some feats and abilities exist that allow casters to bypass this restriction.

Weight
This column gives the weight of the armor sized for a Medium wearer. Armor fitted for Small characters weighs half as much, and armor for Large characters weighs twice as much.

Special Armor Features:
Deflecting: Whenever an opponent attacks the wearer with a piercing or slashing melee weapon and misses by 5 or fewer, the wearer gains a +1 circumstance bonus on his next melee attack roll against that opponent. This attack must be made in the next round or the bonus is lost. Double-Plated: The armor’s AC value is treated as 2 higher for the purposes of determining the amount of hit points it possesses in addition to how much can be redirected from each attack. Impact Absorbing: Treats any fall as 5 feet shorter per point of armor bonus for the purpose of calculating fall damage. Locking Joints: Provides a +4 bonus to CMD against reposition attempts when not flat-footed, but the wearer takes a -1 penalty on all dexterity based skill checks. Nimble: The wearer may apply a number of points of the armor’s AC bonus, including bonuses from enhancement bonuses to the armor’s AC, against touch attacks (to a maximum of 1 point per 4 BAB the wearer possesses) Quick Don: You can don and remove the armor as a move action.

Razored: Whenever an opponent attempts a melee touch attack or a grapple combat maneuver and misses by 5 of fewer, the attacker takes 1d4 piercing damage plus the armor’s enhancement bonus.

Slumbering: The wearer may sleep in heavy armor without penalty; but the wearer takes a -1 penalty on all saves against hot weather, and all swim checks while wearing the armor.

Strong: The armor grants a +2 bonus to CMD against sunder attempts against the armor.

Vital-Guard: The wearer treats their AC as 2 higher against critical confirmation rolls.

Weather Ready: The armor counts as hot weather or a cold weather outfit.

Shield Rules
For most, shields can be an additional way to protect oneself beyond the armor that they wear. Shields are simpler than armor coming in a baseline of 4 variants of Buckler, Light, Heavy, and Tower shields. Light and Heavy shields may be made of either metal or wood but outside of weight and hardness have no direct impact on other statistics for the shield. Proficiencies for shields are defined through weapons, as such bucklers fall into simple, light and heavy shields are martial, and tower shields are considered exotic. As such proficiency, damage, cost, and other factors are listed in the weapon section, while the Armor, Strength Rating, and other special notes are listed in the shield table.

Cost/Weight
The cost and weight for shields are listed in the weapon page as while a defensive item many of their features are defined on their weapon listing, in addition to other features.

Shield Bonus
Each type of shield grants a shield bonus to Armor Checks(AC). The armor bonus from a suit of armor doesn’t stack with other effects or items that grant an armor bonus.

Nonproficient with a Shield: A character who uses a shield with which he is not proficient double’s the shield's strength rating requirement. If the shield has a strength rating of 0 or lower it instead becomes 1. In addition the shield’s AC bonus is treated as 1 lower. In addition any penalties associated with lacking proficiency in a weapon apply to a shield when attempting to use it to make shield bashes.

Shield Health
Shields have hit points similar to armor, but cannot normally redirect damage to themselves like armor when an attack manages to get past them; though it is important to be aware of the hit points of a shield for the purposes of sunder attempts made against it. A shield may be made of wood or metal, but a spiked shield is always considered to be made primarily of metal.

Shield Hardness and Health: Increase the hardness of the shield by 2 per +1 enhancement bonus it possesses.

Shields have hit points as per the chart above; and for each +1 enhancement bonus the shield possesses it gains 10 additional hit points.

Shields that have taken damage in excess of half their total hit points gain the broken condition, meaning they are less effective at their designated task. The broken condition reduces AC bonus shield grants to half, rounded down.

Strength Rating
The shield’s strength rating is the representation of how much strength the wearer needs to fight efficiently. A shield’s strength rating when wielded is added to the strength rating of the armor they wear to determine required strength rating and penalties associated with it.

When wielding more than one shield you only add the highest strength rating values of any shields you are currently wielding.

Spellcasting and Shields
Unlike armor not all shields interfere with spellcasting though it depends on each shield.

Shields and Bashing
Shields are unique in which they serve two purposes. They are both a defensive and offensive item. A shield may be used as a weapon performing a shield bash, dealing damage as per the shield’s entry in the weapon table. A shield may be used as part of Two-Weapon Fighting. Any information relating to the weapon properties of a shield are listed. Spiked shields that are listed are simply variants of a shield that deal piercing damage instead of bludgeoning damage.

Raise Shield(Reaction)
Shields have a unique reaction they may use while equipped. A creature wielding a shield may as a reaction raise their shield and apply their shield’s AC bonus to their Reflex against an incoming attack or spell. This cannot be used in situations when you would be unable to use a reaction, and requires the wielder to be aware of the originating attacker for the attack or spell.

Masterwork Armor and Shields
Just as with weapons, you can purchase or craft masterwork versions of armor. A masterwork armor is a finely crafted version of normal armor. Masterwork armor gains an additional 10 hit points and 1 hardness. Shields gain 1 hardness, but otherwise are treated as weapons for the purposes of masterworking and enhancement. The masterwork quality adds 150 gp to the cost of armor.