All spellcaster treat armor the same: what's the best way?


Homebrew and House Rules


Hopefully the title says it all, but if not here's more info:

I don't want there to be a discernible difference between arcane and divine magic (largely because there won't be a difference in what I'm making). To that end I want to change either one type or the other's armor failure chance interaction.

Which is the best way out of these:

* Take away Arcane Failure Chance (I think this devalues a few features in some places, but are there enough to matter?).
NOTE: I would prefer this one.

* Institute Arcane Failure for all spellcasting classes, but grant previously divine classes "you may cast in this type of armor" features for any armor they are listed as proficient with.

Please do not suggest anything that would keep the status-quo as it is in the standard rules.


The latter option, but mix it up slightly. Give all Light Armors an ASF of zero. Any class with an ability that previously let them cast in Light Armor now has it apply to Medium, and all Divine Casters are also capable of casting in Medium. If somebody runs a Magus, swap their level 7 Medium Armor to Heavy Armor and their level 13 Heavy Armor with... something else.

The reason I suggest this is because your preference for the first option suggests, to me, that you're more interested in bringing the Arcane classes up than the Divine classes down. Of the Divine classes, only the Cleric would routinely carry more than Medium Armor anyway, so there's very little lost there. Of the Arcane classes, virtually all get an upgrade, so they're being brought up-- but Arcane classes retain at least a part of the basic vulnerability of the existing rules, that's baked into your class balance.

Alternate option: ASF only applies to armor you're not proficient with. All casters are proficient with light armor. Mostly the same result, but gives the previously-unarmored casters an option to improve their AC with a dip or some feats.


kestral287 wrote:
Alternate option: ASF only applies to armor you're not proficient with. All casters are proficient with light armor. Mostly the same result, but gives the previously-unarmored casters an option to improve their AC with a dip or some feats.

I was thinking this was an option, so thanks for the suggestion!

Verdant Wheel

i use this.

though i maintain the distinction you are trying to eliminate, for the record.

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