Elven Chain and Chain Mail

[liriel01]

I belief that there is a problen with the application of stats to the Elven Armor. In the original D&D roleplaying and in the subsequent PC Gold box series etc al. Elven Armor has always had NO armor check penaulty, in fact, Elven Armor was the only armor without risk of spell failure, if worn by an Elf. We are now in 3.5 rules and I believe this should be changed within the game. Elven armor is of and itself both magical and blessed. It is supposed to allow the Elven people, who have an inate magical nature, the ability to cast spells while in that armor. I would suggest the Elven armor be race, and in the case of either Drow or Surface, alignment specific. That does not mean however that non-elven people should be prohibited from its wearing, only that they do not reap the benefits. Therefore a human would have a armor check penaulty and spell failure rate that of course could be minimized within the enhancement section. Additionally, Elven armor should have the highest allowable dexterity since again that is the benefit of playing an Elven character: + to Dexterity.
Thank you for listening. I have played D&D since the beginning first in board and paper and then all of the SSI gold box versions of the PC games. I think this would be in line with the original rules expanded to conform with the intent of the founders.

[The_Cataclysm]

Sorry, but that is not how it works in 3.5

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems...htm#elvenChain

[SteeleTrueheart]

In a little less blunt way...

When it was updated to version 3.x elven chain lost some of its mystical properties. In version 3.x the only mechanic for reducing ASF for a type of armor is material type. Thus elven is made from mithral and has the highest dex/lowest ASF possible for full chainmail according to 3.5 rules.

I admit that in DDO there are certain items that reduce ASF to some degree (ie seven fingered gloves) but this is outside of the core rules and these items are raid items not common items.

You bring up an interesting point though and maybe the Devs will think of producing a low ASF armour (hopefully something of a different type such as half plate, scale or full chainmail etc)

[Snike]

Frodo would be screwed in 3.x

[rimble]

The Elven Arcanum Enhancements make this possible. It's not necessarily the armor that is special, but the Elves that wear it. Anyone else in that mithral chain shirt will have 10% ASF, the Elves can make that 0%. Seems that's exactly what you want.

[Mercules]

Frodo would be screwed in 3.x

Why... he isn't wearing Chainmail. He is wearing a Mithral Chain Shirt. No penalties and he can use all his Dex bonus.

[Nefahrin]

The Elven Arcanum Enhancements make this possible. It's not necessarily the armor that is special, but the Elves that wear it. Anyone else in that mithral chain shirt will have 10% ASF, the Elves can make that 0%. Seems that's exactly what you want.

You mean Elven Fluidity.
Elven Arcanum is extra spell points that Wizards get for being an Elf.

[Mad_Bombardier]

Why... he isn't wearing Chainmail. He is wearing a Mithral Chain Shirt. No penalties and he can use all his Dex bonus.

What penalties and Dex bonus? He's a first level Commoner!

[Teufel_Hunden]

Edited - Question withdrawn for reasons of stupidity.

[DSL]

I belief that there is a problen with the application of stats to the Elven Armor. In the original D&D roleplaying and in the subsequent PC Gold box series etc al. Elven Armor has always had NO armor check penaulty, in fact, Elven Armor was the only armor without risk of spell failure, if worn by an Elf. We are now in 3.5 rules and I believe this should be changed within the game. Elven armor is of and itself both magical and blessed. It is supposed to allow the Elven people, who have an inate magical nature, the ability to cast spells while in that armor. I would suggest the Elven armor be race, and in the case of either Drow or Surface, alignment specific. That does not mean however that non-elven people should be prohibited from its wearing, only that they do not reap the benefits. Therefore a human would have a armor check penaulty and spell failure rate that of course could be minimized within the enhancement section. Additionally, Elven armor should have the highest allowable dexterity since again that is the benefit of playing an Elven character: + to Dexterity.
Thank you for listening. I have played D&D since the beginning first in board and paper and then all of the SSI gold box versions of the PC games. I think this would be in line with the original rules expanded to conform with the intent of the founders.

First, DDO is indeed based on 3.5 rules, and in this case is applying them very much in keeping with those rules.

Second, the "intent of the founders" seems to have only marginal impact on D&D's current publishing decision making. Sometimes this is a good thing, sometimes it is less good...

Third, I will now dispute your facts: in 1st edition AD&D, Elven chainmail, while definitely lighter and less cumbersome than regular chainmail (it was classed as "non-bulky" allowing full movement and not impeding barbarians), still was armor - a wizard could not use it and function, elf or no (the rule that elves can cast in it was from 2nd ED). In the Unearthed Arcana expansion book (where elven chainmail was first introduced in the books), a table was listed detailing modifiers to Thieves' abilities for wearing armor other than leather, wherein elven chain is clearly shown as giving penalties to certain abilities. Also, it was never considered magical, but merely superbly crafted by master armorers willing to spend years making a single chain shirt with a jeweler's precision. It carried no special properties that could be dispelled, would lose no base function in anti-magic, etc. In short, I'm not sure exactly when or where it existed in exactly the way you describe, but that's not how it began, and it's not how it is currently.

Lastly, as some have said, it more or less works out the way you seems to intend. while an elven arcane caster could function quite well in mithril armor through the Elven Fluidity enhacements, the other races will have more trouble, while it remains extremely useful for rogues and barbarians (and for others in it's heavy-armor varieties).

[rimble]

Lastly, as some have said, it more or less works out the way you seems to intend. while an elven arcane caster could function quite well in mithril armor through the Elven Fluidity enhacements, the other races will have more trouble, while it remains extremely useful for rogues and barbarians (and for others in it's heavy-armor varieties).

To dial it in a little further (and yes, I meant Elven Fluidity earlier) I think that Enhancement is only available to Elven Wizards...so not quite 'elven arcane casters' (that would include Bards and Sorcerers too).

[The_Cataclysm]

To dial it in a little further (and yes, I meant Elven Fluidity earlier) I think that Enhancement is only available to Elven Wizards...so not quite 'elven arcane casters' (that would include Bards and Sorcerers too).

Elven Fluidity is not limited to any class.

[Nefahrin]

To dial it in a little further (and yes, I meant Elven Fluidity earlier) I think that Enhancement is only available to Elven Wizards...so not quite 'elven arcane casters' (that would include Bards and Sorcerers too).

Elven Arcanum is limited to just Wizards.
Elven Fluidity is available to all Classes.