Treating Heavy Armor as Light Armor

[Matamane]

It was mentioned in a past thread of mine there is a way to treat heavy armor as light armor. Does anyone know how this can be done?

[Mystic Muse]

It was mentioned in a past thread of mine there is a way to treat heavy armor as light armor. Does anyone know how this can be done?

Tooth of Savnok might work. It's in Tome of magic, 2,000 GP and it takes away the speed penalty. I assume that's what you're looking for? Otherwise, I have no clue how you'd reduce heavy to light armor since any material I can think of just reduces it to medium.

[Matamane]

Speed isn't a problem. It's reducing the category.

[PapaNachos]

The Halfweight enchantment from Underdark (pg. 70) will work nicely for you, unfortunately its rather pricey.

[Mystic Muse]

Speed isn't a problem. It's reducing the category.

Why do you need to reduce the category? Are you only proficient with light armor? Because Mithril chain shirts are pretty good.

[Ernir]

The Halfweight armor enhancement from Underdark makes any armor be treated as light (and reduces its weight by half). It's a +3 enhancement.

[PapaNachos]

Why do you need to reduce the category? Are you only proficient with light armor? Because Mithril chain shirts are pretty good.

Certain effects only work in light armor.

[Mystic Muse]

Certain effects only work in light armor.

Such as? I can't think of any but I don't usually look for things like that.

[senrath]

As written, the Unarmed Swordsage only gets Wis-to-AC while wearing Light Armor. I'm assuming that's what brought this topic up.

[Matamane]

Swordsage Wisdom Bonus

[PapaNachos]

Such as? I can't think of any but I don't usually look for things like that.

Evasion, swordsage AC bonus, etc...

[Matamane]

Does an animated Shield mess with swordsage mojo?

[PapaNachos]

As written, the Unarmed Swordsage only gets Wis-to-AC while wearing Light Armor. I'm assuming that's what brought this topic up.

The as written part only really affects whether or not they get it unarmored. They definitely don't while wearing heavy or medium.

[Mystic Muse]

I'm looking at my copy of ToB right now and unarmed Swordsages get no light armor proficiency.

That's assuming the OP is using unarmed swordsage and not normal swordsage however.

[Matamane]

They don't lose the AC bonus while armored in light, they just don't get the proficiency. A fighter/swordsage can take full advantage of that though

[NEO|Phyte]

fixed it for you. I'm looking at my copy of ToB right now and unarmed Swordsages get no light armor proficiency.

That's assuming the OP is using unarmed swordsage and not normal swordsage however.

They lose the armor proficiency, but the AC Bonus ability does not, as written, get changed to no armor.

Luckily, mithral chain shirts have no armor check penalty.

[Mystic Muse]

They don't lose the AC bonus while armored in light, they just don't get the proficiency. A fighter/swordsage can take full advantage of that though

Yeah, changed that.

What heavy armor are you so interested in using?

[PapaNachos]

Animated: Upon command, an animated shield floats within 2
feet of the wielder, protecting her as if she were using it herself
but freeing up both her hands. Only one shield can protect a character
at a time. A character with an animated shield still takes any
penalties associated with shield use, such as armor check penalty,
arcane spell failure chance, and nonproficiency.

Unfortunately its still treated as if you were wielding it, so you'll still lose your bonus. You might be able to work something out with your DM though.

[Matamane]

Mithril Full Plate.

Halfweight doesn't affect ACP or Max Dex

[Mystic Muse]

Halfweight doesn't affect ACP or Max Dex

And? If you're wearing heavy armor your max dex isn't going to be very high. Also, You're going to have to find Other things to reduce ACP.

[PapaNachos]

And? If you're wearing heavy armor your max dex isn't going to be very high and you're going to have to find Other things to reduce ACP.

Its still a start.

[Mystic Muse]

Nimbleness enchantment in the magic item compendium page 13. Reduces ACP by 2 and increases max dex by 1 but that's all I can do. I don't know of any other way to reduce it.

[lsfreak]

The Nimbleness enhancement reduces ACP by 2 and raises max Dex by 1. A +1 nimble mithril fullplate will have ACP of -1 and a max Dex of 4. That's about as good as you're ever going to get if you insist on wearing heavy armor.

[PapaNachos]

Matamane, I suggest Crystal Keep. Its a really useful resource, check it out.

[senrath]

Note that it's not always accurate. There are a lot of typos in their documents.

[PapaNachos]

True, but its a good place it start.

[Mystic Muse]

There's a feat that might work if you can convince your DM. It's called Heavy armor optimization and it can be found in races of stone. However, By RAW it wouldn't affect a halfweight Mithral fullplate.

[Matamane]

I'm wary of Crystalkeep, I prefer Realmshelp. I also prefer the book.

However, scattershot approach is a waste of time and resources, and it is also good to get the wealth of knowledge the gitp community has.


+1 Halfweight Mithril Fullplate of Nimbleness with Armored Savant final stats.

+9 AC Bonus
No Armor Check Penalty
+5 Maximum Dexterity Bonus

Treated as Light Armor

It gets funnier when we count in +X Defending Armor Spikes.

[Mystic Muse]

I prefer Realmshelp.

Does anybody know if this site is actually legal? I know it lists things that aren't in the OGL but I don't know if that means it violates any laws.

[Reynard]

Unless those things it lists were all written in the 1930s or before, then yes, it's breaking the law.