What About Mithral Barding?

[SangoProduction]

So, Pathfinder has rules that say if you want armor for say, a Horse, then you have to pay 4x the normal cost. Does the multiplier apply to special materials as well?

Does the multiplier apply to magical enchantments?

I hear that magic armor resizes for its user. So does that mean you can build a diminutive barding for 1/2 the normal cost (1/4 for humanoid mounts, I guess), and just have it automagically resize to fit your mount?

[zlefin]

I don't know for sure about RAW; but I'd guess the multiplier applies to special material costs (since those are based on the amount of material it takes), but not to cost of magical enchantment (enchanting items is in general the same cost regardless of the size of them).

[Zanos]

The rules are based on the general rules for armor for unusual creatures. Horses for example are Large and Nonhumanoid, and therefore have a x4 modifier to the cost of their armor in the "Armor and Shields" table.

Since this only applies to the cost in the "Armor and Shields" table masterwork, material, and magical costs are not multiplied by RAW.

[SangoProduction]

The rules are based on the general rules for armor for unusual creatures. Horses for example are Large and Nonhumanoid, and therefore have a x4 modifier to the cost of their armor in the "Armor and Shields" table.

Since this only applies to the cost in the "Armor and Shields" table masterwork, material, and magical costs are not multiplied by RAW.

Where are you seeing that it is applied to the cost of the armor on the "Armor and Shields" table?

[Septimus]

There is a recent FaQ (http://paizo.com/products/btpy88yj/faq?Pathfinder-Roleplaying-Game-Core-Rulebook#v5748eaic9vtl) on that problem:

Cost Multipliers for Items: When an item has a cost multiplier, for instance for its size, unusual shape, or composition, does that apply before or after additional costs such as for making the item masterwork or using a special material?
First add up the total cost of the base item, including any special material. Then multiply by any multiplier for the size and unusual shape from Table 6-8. After that, add any additional cost for masterwork, if that isn't already part of the special material. Finally, apply any multiplier for discounts such as the 1/3 cost multiplier for crafting the item. For example, a chain shirt costs 100 gp and a mithral chain shirt costs 1,100 gp after the +1,000 gp cost for mithral. If you were applying the 1/3 cost multiplier for crafting the item using the Craft skill, the cost multiplier from Table 6-8 based on size and body type, or both, you would apply those multipliers to the full 1,100 gp cost for the mithral chain shirt. This means a mithral chain shirt built for a rune giant costs 8,800 gp and a mithral chain shirt built for the tarrasque costs 35,200 gp. On the other hand, a Large masterwork cold iron greatsword costs 500 gp (50 gp for a greatsword, doubled for cold iron, doubled again for a Large weapon, then adding masterwork last because cold iron isn't always masterwork).

[Zanos]

Where are you seeing that it is applied to the cost of the armor on the "Armor and Shields" table?
On the srd (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/armor/), but that might not match the book.

FAQ is pretty clear though, so that's not all that relevant.

[SangoProduction]

There is a recent FaQ (http://paizo.com/products/btpy88yj/faq?Pathfinder-Roleplaying-Game-Core-Rulebook#v5748eaic9vtl) on that problem:

Thanks for that.

[Psyren]

There is a recent FaQ (http://paizo.com/products/btpy88yj/faq?Pathfinder-Roleplaying-Game-Core-Rulebook#v5748eaic9vtl) on that problem:

And this is why I love Pathfinder. No system is perfect, but at least designer input can help us get there.