Dwarven Babarians

[PlatinumJester]

We all know that dwaves are not affected by heavy armour movement penalties. However if a dwarf was wearing heavy armour would he still be allowed to use fast movement?

[Ranis]

I beleive so.

[Jasdoif]

No. Barbarian's Fast Movement doesn't work while wearing heavy armor or carrying a heavy load. Has nothing to do with a dwarf's ability to ignore the usual encumbrance penalty to speed.

[Merlin the Tuna]

No. It explicitly says no, light, or medium armor only.

[Zincorium]

We all know that dwaves are not affected by heavy armour movement penalties. However if a dwarf was wearing heavy armour would he still be allowed to use fast movement?

The barbarian ability states

Fast Movement (Ex)

A barbarian’s land speed is faster than the norm for his race by +10 feet. This benefit applies only when he is wearing no armor, light armor, or medium armor and not carrying a heavy load. Apply this bonus before modifying the barbarian’s speed because of any load carried or armor worn.

So no, they don't. Not because of anything to do with dwarves, or taking armor penalties, but simply because the barbarian fast movement never functions when wearing heavy armor, no matter what race you are. Same thing with heavily encumbered barbarians, they don't get the movement bonus.

[jonnyjmboy]

But, with good enough medium armor, a dwarf that can move thirty is still pretty awesome. And who wouldn't want to play a barb with such an effective dump stat as CHA?

[silentknight]

And it's not that a dwarf's speed isn't effected, it's that it remains a speed of 20 regardless of encumberance or armor.

[storybookknight]

The Wizards of the Coast released a FAQ which specifically stated that dwarven barbarians couldn't move 30' in heavy armor.

[ilovefire]

But what if the armor in question is Mithril armor? say, a Mithril suit of Full plate.

[Lord Tataraus]

Mithril Fullplate is medium armor, so you get the movement but that cost gp. So you might as well get +5 Halfweight Mountain Plate to move at 30ft with a +15 armor bonus in light (if you have a lenient DM, if not medium at least) armor.

[Matthew]

Mithril Fullplate is usually considered Medium Armour, but there is some controversy. The Sage was a little guarded about his answer, so I would advise anyone to check with his DM before trying it.

[the_tick_rules]

well mountain plate states it stays heavy if mithril, but why would there be a prob with full plate.

[Matthew]

It's just that it's not explicitly stated in the Core Books and the Sage seems a bit cagey about it:

Is a character proficient with light armor, such as a
rogue, considered to be proficient with mithral breastplate?
What about a character proficient with medium armor,
such as a barbarian—is he considered proficient with
mithral full plate armor?
The description of mithral on page 284 of the Dungeon
Master’s Guide is less precise than it could be in defining how
it interacts with armor proficiency rules. The simplest answer—
and the one that the Sage expects most players and DMs use—
is that mithral armor is treated as one category lighter for all
purposes, including proficiency. This isn’t exactly what the
Dungeon Master’s Guide says, but it’s a reasonable
interpretation of the intent of the rule (and it’s supported by a
number of precedents, including the descriptions of various
specific mithral armors described on page 220 of the Dungeon
Master’s Guide and a variety of NPC stat blocks).
Thus, a ranger or rogue could wear a mithral breastplate
without suffering a nonproficiency penalty (since it’s treated as
light armor), and each could use any ability dependent on
wearing light or no armor (such as evasion or the ranger’s
combat style). A barbarian could wear mithral full plate armor
without suffering a nonproficiency penalty (since it’s treated as
medium armor), and he could use any ability dependent on
wearing medium or lighter armor (such as fast movement).
The same would be true of any other special material that
uses the same or similar language as mithral (such as darkleaf,

on page 120 of the EBERRON Campaign Setting).

It's more like a 'soft' errata than a normal FAQ answer...

[Seffbasilisk]

Dwarven monk can carry a heavy load and keep speed.

[melchizedek]

Fast Movement (Ex)

At 3rd level, a monk gains an enhancement bonus to her speed, as shown on Table: The Monk. A monk in armor or carrying a medium or heavy load loses this extra speed.

That's not true. Even if his speed isn't normally reduced, the monk ability specifically states that it doesn't apply when carrying a heavy load.

[Latronis]

The Fast Movement of both monk and barbarian specifically mention they don't work with certain armours, any at all for monk and heavy for barbarian.

so no dice by RAW.

As for mithril armours its a bit inspecific so i rule anything you can do in medium armour you can do in mithril fullplate, however you still need heavy armour profeciency, to avoid nonproficiency penalties.

So i would let your dwarven barbarian wear mithril fullplate and move at 30'

Ask for the DM's ruling