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I am again at that point where I do not have a character for sub-tier 1-2 games and am starting to think of making a new 1st level character.
I have been considering making a switch hitter, since in my experience there are very few effective ranged characters in PFS due to the close encounter ranges.
Before I get to it though I would appreciate any insight into your experience with this type of character (in PFS games in particular) - and who makes the better switch-hitter, rangers or fighters (again - in PFS context)?
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First Question, Outside of Sexual Orientation or Baseball, I have never heard the term switch hitter used in a RPG, so what do you mean by that?
You might want to look at Treantmonk's optimization guide to rangers :D
A switch hitter is a stationary archer who cuts opponents down at range, but does not withdraw when melee opponents reach him, but rather draws a melee weapon him self, thus making full-round attacks every round.
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My wife has a 5th level ranger switch hitter. It isn't fully "optimized" as it uses two-weapon fighting instead of a two-handed weapon, but it's still exceedingly effective. She plays a half-orc that focuses on strength. Personally I think the ranger approach would work better as you can generalize better, whereas the specialty of the fighter is to specialize in one form or the other. Also Ranger gives you the benefit of not having to focus on Dexterity as much. You can get by with only 14 dex but still "qualify" for the higher level ranged feats through ranger, while focusing on str (damage) and using regular feats on the two-handed weapon style (power attack, etc.).
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Before I get to it though I would appreciate any insight into your experience with this type of character (in PFS games in particular) - and who makes the better switch-hitter, rangers or fighters (again - in PFS context)?
I'm actually working through a build right now that is a barbarian-witch. Because I wanted to give her a high dex it seemed logical to put some feats into the bow tree so she can stand back from melee using a high dex and reasonable str composite bow. And gravity bow, that spell is sick! Some intimidating glare/evil eye debuffs as they get closer and rage/longsword/strength and a half if it comes down to it.
At least that's the theory, she's hit the table 1 time as a level 1 barbarian and GM credit has her close to 3rd level where I plan to add some levels of witch.
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I think a switch hitter is going to be more effective in PFS than a ranged only type. By more effective, I mean "more opportunities to make a difference."
I have seen and played ranged only types in PFS. I quit that character after 7 levels. Never once did I have to worry about a range penalty, as 90% of the time you start within 110 feet. It got boring doing the same thing every combat.. blech!
For a good switch hitter, take a fighter who is focused primarily on strength, but still has enough dexterity to hit often. Take your focuses, specialization, weapon training with ranged attacks. Then carry a Glaive, Spiked Gauntlet, and a Greatsword. That gives you a lot of options. Use Combat Reflexes and Step Up. With a decent strength and a two-handed weapon, you'll always do decent damage, even if you don't focus on it. The ranged attacks will be good with a strength bow, specialization, and weapon training.
Human Fighter 4 = 6 feats.
Weapon Focus (Longbow)
Point Blank Shot
Rapid Shot
Combat Reflexes
Step Up
Weapon Specialization (Longbow)
At 5th level take Precise Shot or Power Attack. Precise shot isn't necessarily needed. After your enemies engage people in people, drop your bow and pull your glaive.
If you want to be a bit cheesy, take a level in Ranger for the favored enemy Human, Undead, or Evil Outsider. That will let you use wands of Gravity Bow and Lead Blades (all for the price of 2 PA each!)
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Weapon Focus (Longbow)
Point Blank Shot
Rapid Shot
Combat Reflexes
Step Up
Weapon Specialization (Longbow)At 5th level take Precise Shot or Power Attack. Precise shot isn't necessarily needed. After your enemies engage people in people, drop your bow and pull your glaive.
The thing I always liked about the switch-hitter is that they don't need to follow any of the point blank/precise shot line. Since your whole objective is to eventually enter melee, you shouldn't be firing your bow if melee is occurring.
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Mark - What race is your barb/witch. That sounds like a cool option.
I would think that if you want an animal, go with Ranger. Then shoot at will, once they get close, swap to a melee weapon and have your wolf "Flank" help you out.
Otherwise a fighter build has many of the same options for flexibility.
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Mark - What race is your barb/witch. That sounds like a cool option.
Originally I wanted to do elf or half elf, but as the build evolved into more bow specialization I went with human for the extra feat. I figured once I started adding witch levels I was going to want more DEX bonus AC since I have to give up armor. And if I'm going to have less armor and want to be away from melee then I should be using a bow.
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For a ranger build I'd do something like this:
1-Power Attack
H-Quick Draw
2-Rapid Shot
3-Deadly Aim
5-Boon Companion
6-Manyshot
7-Furious Focus
9-Vital Strike
10-Improved Precise Shot
11-Improved Vital Strike
9 and 11 were chosen quickly, so I might choose others after more thought. This lets you start combat immediately and start pot shotting opponents as soon as possible. Just remember to pick up your bow after each fight!
First Question, Outside of Sexual Orientation or Baseball, I have never heard the term switch hitter used in a RPG, so what do you mean by that?You might want to look at Treantmonk's optimization guide to rangers :D
A switch hitter is a stationary archer who cuts opponents down at range, but does not withdraw when melee opponents reach him, but rather draws a melee weapon him self, thus making full-round attacks every round.
Odd. I have never heard that term in gaming either and in my history of playing D&D-type games I have never had a fighter-type that did not have both melee and ranged weapons, and I always thought someone who only used one or the other to be foolish.
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Too bad Gravity Bow and Lead Blades are personal spells, so UMD is your only option. :PMark - note that witch sadly doesn't get gravity bow. It isn't a huge deal, but does hurt a tad.Correct, but she does get UMD and potions are always tasty.
I thought that was the case but when I glanced over the rules for potions I must have missed that. I even checked before posting cause I haven't gotten this to the table yet. I fail. I just checked again and double fail. Someone throw me a page ref from the Core so I can stop obsessing?
EDIT: Found it. Thanks!
The imbiber of the potion is both the caster and the target. Spells with a range of personal cannot be made into potions.
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I think a switch hitter is going to be more effective in PFS than a ranged only type. By more effective, I mean "more opportunities to make a difference."
I have seen and played ranged only types in PFS. I quit that character after 7 levels. Never once did I have to worry about a range penalty, as 90% of the time you start within 110 feet. It got boring doing the same thing every combat.. blech!
Did the character do any worse or better than in a normal campaign (considering the short encounter ranges of PFS games)?
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Did the character do any worse or better than in a normal campaign (considering the short encounter ranges of PFS games)?I think a switch hitter is going to be more effective in PFS than a ranged only type. By more effective, I mean "more opportunities to make a difference."
I have seen and played ranged only types in PFS. I quit that character after 7 levels. Never once did I have to worry about a range penalty, as 90% of the time you start within 110 feet. It got boring doing the same thing every combat.. blech!
Depends on what you mean by "did better." In a home campaign there are more opportunities to use your range to your advantage. A ranged focused character has far fewer interesting options than a melee focused character. (since a melee type can be about damage, combat manuevers, attacks of opportunities, feinting, flanking, etc)
Much in the way that large mounts have issues in PFS, ranged focused characters are often limited by encounter design.
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My secondary PC was going the elven ranger route but necessity has nudged him into becoming a reasonable melee combatant.
At level 5 he's got a decent Dexterity (19) & a passable Strength (14).
Levels are Ranger 2/Rogue 3.
Feats are PBS/Precise Shot/Rapid Shot/Deadly Aim & Weapon Finesse.
[Note that 1 of these was acquired via the Rogue Talent]
Using an elven curved blade, he does alright in melee, esp. versus the many humans that pervade the majority of the scenarios. The Sneak damage doesn't hurt either.
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Depends on what you mean by "did better." In a home campaign there are more opportunities to use your range to your advantage. A ranged focused character has far fewer interesting options than a melee focused character. (since a melee type can be about damage, combat manuevers, attacks of opportunities, feinting, flanking, etc)
Much in the way that large mounts have issues in PFS, ranged focused characters are often limited by encounter design.
That's why I chose my ranged character to be an eldtrich knight. It at least gives more options than "shoot shoot shoot"... even if I choose to just shoot pretty often.
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Venture-Captain, Arizona—Tucson
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Unfortunately, scenarios meant to accommodate a variety of groups may inadvertently shortchange certain play styles. Some Pathfinder Society games have featured some encounters that favored long-range combat, but many scenarios have been set in areas unsuited for missile combat.
Organized play campaigns reward versatility, as you can never be sure what character types will share the table with you. An optimally-effective archer needs a party suited for his style of fighting and willing to work with him. With a little terrain control and a "cork" fighter to keep the bad guys off his case, he can be frighteningly effective, even in tight quarters.
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Who makes the better switch-hitter, rangers or fighters (again - in PFS context)?
I'm playing a switch-hitter in PFS currently, wielding a Great Axe in melee and a composite bow for ranged.
The main difference between fighter and ranger is that rangers get to skip some feat requirements for their 'combat style' feat selections, and therefore can skip the Precise Shot prereqs.
Fighters get the heavy-armor prof. automagically, which is nice for picking-up the sweet, sweet Mithral Full Plate, which is quite nice for characters focused on melee. That said, you're probably not going to see Mithral Full Plate for some time in PFS, and since its capped at level 12, you'll probably go through most of your campaign without it.
That said, I haven't had many problems dying in melee, (I leave that up to a certain charge-happy bard) Rangers are a durable class, and if you value mobility you might want to forgo heavy-armor and just stick with a mithral breastplate.
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That's why I chose my ranged character to be an eldtrich knight. It at least gives more options than "shoot shoot shoot"... even if I choose to just shoot pretty often.Depends on what you mean by "did better." In a home campaign there are more opportunities to use your range to your advantage. A ranged focused character has far fewer interesting options than a melee focused character. (since a melee type can be about damage, combat manuevers, attacks of opportunities, feinting, flanking, etc)
Much in the way that large mounts have issues in PFS, ranged focused characters are often limited by encounter design.
or even "run run run." >:)
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As an alternative, and thanks to a feat in the APG, you can make a ranged character who can, at 5th level (Fighter) or 6th level (Ranger), use his bow in melee.
My primary character is a Fighter 4, Cleric 1, who is considered one fo the big damage dealers in my area (Don't ask me, I only built him).
Str 16
Dex 18 (19 at 4th level)
He was built with Cha 7, so his channel energy is bad; but the Cleric level was for Travel & Liberation domains, and the ability to use wands of CLW.
Feats:
Point Blank Shot
Precise Shot
Weapon Focus: Longbow
Deadly Aim
Rapid Shot
Weapon Specialization: Longbow
Point-Blank Master (APG)
Currently using a +1 composite longbow (Str +3), for a base damage of 1d8+6 per shot, at +10 to hit, moving up to 1d8+11 per shot, at +9 to hit or +7 to hit when using Rapid Shot as well, using Deadly Aim within 30', including without provoking opportunity attacks at melee.
Wearing a masterwork breastplate, standard Fighter, so full move (40' with domain) with light load. You can give up the 40' move and get a better to hit by going pure Fighter, of course.
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@ Quasi-Human and Callarek:
I am glad to hear that you have encountered no mayor problems. It appears I can go ahead making the switch hitter.
Quasi-Human's pretty darned powerful in combat. Combine him with a Barbarian/Fighter who's minimum damage (I believe) is now 17 (when raging) and really enemies just melt away in our group. I personally prefer the ranger switch hitter myself, but I personally am a fan of having a number of skills to fall back in in roleplay and non-combat situations, which is something fighters struggle with.
Also, it's not that hard to get Mithral. The aforementioned Barbarian/Fighter has a set at level 5. It requires no special PA requirements, and even with some nominal magic item purchases (boots of elvenkind, cloak of resistance, magic sword), the gold requirement was easily obtainable before level 6.
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Also, it's not that hard to get Mithral. The aforementioned Barbarian/Fighter has a set at level 5. It requires no special PA requirements, and even with some nominal magic item purchases (boots of elvenkind, cloak of resistance, magic sword), the gold requirement was easily obtainable before level 6.
Yeah for 1100 GP I might go with a mithral chain shirt for my witch/barbarian...10% arcane failure and +4 AC might just work :)
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@ Quasi-Human and Callarek:
I am glad to hear that you have encountered no mayor problems. It appears I can go ahead making the switch hitter.
It's actually a rather fun playstyle, as you always need to be planning ahead and thinking about whether you should attack from range, or dive into the melee.
Get a masterwork breastplate as soon as you can afford it, and then save-up for a Mithral breastplate. I'd also pick-up a darkwood heavy shield and a one-handed weapon somewhere in the first couple of levels - rangers can 'tank' in a pinch if needed.
Switch-hitters using a two-handed weapon work really well simply because two-handed weapons need very little feats to be competitive. (I.e. power-attack) So the bulk of your feats can go towards the archery stuff.
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Get a masterwork breastplate as soon as you can afford it, and then save-up for a Mithral breastplate. I'd also pick-up a darkwood heavy shield and a one-handed weapon somewhere in the first couple of levels - rangers can 'tank' in a pinch if needed.
Switch-hitters using a two-handed weapon work really well simply because two-handed weapons need very little feats to be competitive. (I.e. power-attack) So the bulk of your feats can go towards the archery stuff.
I'll also point out something that Quasi-Human didn't about his build. If you go the route of half-elf you can make a pretty sick perception score with your wisdom bonus and skill focus (perception). That leads to rarely being surprised, and as a result, the ability to fire from range a few times early on in combat.
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OK. Heres my take on a pretty straight forward switch hitter.
It's a very basic meat and potatoes.
If anyone has some good advice on how to optimize the character any further, please let me know.
The tactics are very siple; pepper enemies with arrows untill they make the mistake of closing into melee - then cut them down!
This build starts out with a single fighter level, then double-dips into ranger and finishes with 9 more fighter levels.
Human Fighter/Ranger,
20 point buy
Str: 18
Dex: 16
Con: 12
Int: 12
Wis: 10
Cha: 7
Stat Increases: Lvl 4 (Dex), Lvl 8 (Str), Lvl 12 (Str)
Trait 1: Defender of the Society
Trait 2: Heirloom Weapon
Human feat: Power Attack
1st lvl feat: Point Blank Shot
1st lvl fighter feat: Weapon Focus (melee)
Combat Style feat: Rapid Shot
3rd lvl feat: Cleave
2nd lvl fighter feat: Deadly Aim
5th lvl feat: Weapon Focus (range)
4th lvl fighter feat: Many Shot
7th lvl feat: Improved Critical (melee)
6th lvl fighter feat: Weapon Specialization (melee)
9th lvl feat: Vital Strike
8th lvl fighter feat: Greater Weapon Focus (melee)
11th lvl feat: Improved Critical (range)
10th lvl fighter feat: Weapon Specialization (range)
Lvl 1: Melee mwk. greatsword +8 (2d6+6/19-20), CMB +5, CMD 18, AC 19 (scale mail), hp 12,
Lvl 1: Melee Power Attack +7 (2d6+9/19-20)
Lvl 1: Range composite longbow +5 (1d8+1/X3)
Lvl 12: Melee +3 greatsword +25 (2d6+15/17-20), CMB +21, CMD 36, AC 31 (+3 full-plate armor, +4 Dex, +2 deflection, +2 natural, +1 trait), hp 122
Lvl 12: Melee Power Attack +21 (2d6+27/17-20)
Lvl 12: Range +3 composite longbow [+4] +22 (1d8+8/19-20 X3)
Lvl 12: Range Deadly Aim +18 (1d8+16/19-20 X3)
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Venture-Captain, Arizona—Tucson
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If your character is particularly suited for fighting at range or for stealth, you would be wise to mention this to your party and your GM. You may be able to change the circumstances of some encounters by describing how your approach to a situation differs from a standard party's. "We know that there are bandits operating nearby, so I'd like to stealthily approach the last two miles to the rendezvous. We'll move across the ridgeline to the west, then wait until first light to close the last mile, keeping to the streambed you described so the scrub growth nearby will give us cover."
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This feat progression is not possible. Manyshot, unless it has changed, requires a BAB of +6, and Improved Critical requires a BAB of +8.
1st lvl feat: Point Blank Shot
1st lvl fighter feat: Weapon Focus (melee)
Combat Style feat: Rapid Shot
3rd lvl feat: Cleave
2nd lvl fighter feat: Deadly Aim
5th lvl feat: Weapon Focus (range)
4th lvl fighter feat: Many Shot
7th lvl feat: Improved Critical (melee)
6th lvl fighter feat: Weapon Specialization (melee)
9th lvl feat: Vital Strike
8th lvl fighter feat: Greater Weapon Focus (melee)
11th lvl feat: Improved Critical (range)
10th lvl fighter feat: Weapon Specialization (range)
So, since WS is available at 4th level Fighter:
Human feat: Power Attack
1st lvl feat: Point Blank Shot
1st lvl fighter feat: Weapon Focus (melee)
Combat Style feat: Rapid Shot
3rd lvl feat: Cleave
2nd lvl fighter feat: Deadly Aim
5th lvl feat: Weapon Focus (range)
4th lvl fighter feat: Weapon Specialization (melee)
7th lvl feat: Weapon Specialization (range)
6th lvl fighter feat: Many Shot
9th lvl feat: Vital Strike
8th lvl fighter feat: Greater Weapon Focus (melee)
11th lvl feat: Improved Critical (range)
10th lvl fighter feat: Improved Critical (melee)
Not too sure about some of the feat choices, you are losing a bit of focus trying to be balanced at both melee and ranged.
You lose out on some of the good feats for either combat style.
Some feats that can be useful:
Improved Precise Shot BAB +11, archery
Point-Blank Master WS:Bow, Archery
Great Cleave, BAB+4, Melee
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I'm new to PFS, but my 1st character for a Pathfinder campaign is a Fighter 5 / Rogue 4 who is almost as good in melee as he is with a bow. The best feat for both fighting styles is Vital Strike once you get +6 BAB. The bow is his main weapon, but in melee he uses a greataxe, which also allows more chances to get in sneak attack damage (his highest skill is Acrobatics for just this reason).
Just my 2 cents.
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OK. Heres my take on a pretty straight forward switch hitter.
It's a very basic meat and potatoes.
If anyone has some good advice on how to optimize the character any further, please let me know.The tactics are very siple; pepper enemies with arrows untill they make the mistake of closing into melee - then cut them down!
** spoiler omitted **
Hi there Diego! I was looking over your build for your switch hitter, overall very nice build, with one exception which may have been an oversight. I noticed you went 2 levels of Ranger for the Fav. Enemy bonus, and combat style special feature of Ranger, as your progression furthers down the chain, i noticed you have your character outfitted with Full Plate. A Ranger's special combat feature Combat Style: Melee/Archery only works when you are in medium armor or light armor or no armor, anything higher than medium armor and you lose the ability from the combat style feature from Ranger. I may be wrong on this account, but i think you can outfit your character with Mithral Full Plate, and the Mithral changes the armor's category from Heavy to Medium, thereby allowing your character to retain the Ranger's Combat Style features.
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Hi there Diego! I was looking over your build for your switch hitter, overall very nice build, with one exception which may have been an oversight. I noticed you went 2 levels of Ranger for the Fav. Enemy bonus, and combat style special feature of Ranger, as your progression furthers down the chain, i noticed you have your character outfitted with Full Plate. A Ranger's special combat feature Combat Style: Melee/Archery only works when you are in medium armor or light armor or no armor, anything higher than medium armor and you lose the ability from the combat style feature from Ranger. I may be wrong on this account, but i think you can outfit your character with Mithral Full Plate, and the Mithral changes the armor's category from Heavy to Medium, thereby allowing your character to retain the Ranger's Combat Style features.
True, that would have to be a mithril full-plate. An oversight on my part.
Since mithril armor is rare in PFS scenarios, I may have to consider making this a 12 lvl fighter build instead. But for now I will probably assume a breastplate is used at higher levels.|
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True, that would have to be a mithril full-plate. An oversight on my part.
Since mithril armor is rare in PFS scenarios, I may have to consider making this a 12 lvl fighter build instead. But for now I will probably assume a breastplate is used at higher levels.
Mithril is an "always available" item, so while rare mithril shows up in scenario rewards, you can always buy a suit of +1 Mithril Full plate. By the time you have the gold to do that, you likely have the PA to enchant it up to +2 shortly thereafter. This is speaking from the experiences of regularly GMing/Dating a PFS Barbarian/Fighter who's level 6 in Mithril +1 Full Plate.
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Mithril is an "always available" item, so while rare mithril shows up in scenario rewards, you can always buy a suit of +1 Mithril Full plate. By the time you have the gold to do that, you likely have the PA to enchant it up to +2 shortly thereafter. This is speaking from the experiences of regularly GMing/Dating a PFS Barbarian/Fighter who's level 6 in Mithril +1 Full Plate.True, that would have to be a mithril full-plate. An oversight on my part.
Since mithril armor is rare in PFS scenarios, I may have to consider making this a 12 lvl fighter build instead. But for now I will probably assume a breastplate is used at higher levels.
You're dating a Barbarian/Fighter? Hot! Where does she keep her axe?
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Mithril is an "always available" item, so while rare mithril shows up in scenario rewards, you can always buy a suit of +1 Mithril Full plate. By the time you have the gold to do that, you likely have the PA to enchant it up to +2 shortly thereafter. This is speaking from the experiences of regularly GMing/Dating a PFS Barbarian/Fighter who's level 6 in Mithril +1 Full Plate.
Thats a long time to wait though!
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Mithril is an "always available" item, so while rare mithril shows up in scenario rewards, you can always buy a suit of +1 Mithril Full plate. By the time you have the gold to do that, you likely have the PA to enchant it up to +2 shortly thereafter. This is speaking from the experiences of regularly GMing/Dating a PFS Barbarian/Fighter who's level 6 in Mithril +1 Full Plate.Thats a long time to wait though!
It really wasn't that awful. A masterwork breastplate kept her satisfied until level 4 and she picked up the full plate mid-5. Your going to have plenty of gold, so augment your AC with a ring of protection or an amulet of natural armor until you get the better stuff.
Trust me, with the hit points a barbarian can have, having an AC of 18 isn't the end of the world.
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True, that would have to be a mithril full-plate. An oversight on my part.
Since mithril armor is rare in PFS scenarios, I may have to consider making this a 12 lvl fighter build instead. But for now I will probably assume a breastplate is used at higher levels.
Hi Diego, i was looking up how Mithral functions as far as how the armor changes categories, ie. Heavy to Medium, Medium to Light and so on. Here is some of the text from the Core book on what Mithral does to armors...Most mithral armors are one category lighter than normal for purposes of movement and other limitations. Heavy armors are treated as medium, and medium armors are treated as light, but light armors are still treated as light. This decrease does not apply to proficiency in wearing the armor. A character wearing mithral full plate must be proficient in wearing heavy armor to avoid adding the armor's check penalty to all his attack rolls and skill checks that involve moving.So with what it states here Mithral changes armor from one category to a lighter one for purposes of movement and other limitations, here is the rub: the armor is still treated as Heavy armor, so it can be a gray area as far as any class that has limitations of special abilities that require a type of armor worn, or whatever the case may be in regards to said special ability of the class. It may very well be that a Ranger is only allowed to wear medium armor to retain the use of his/her special abilities in this case the Combat Style feats, so even if the armor is Mithral Full Plate, it is still Heavy armor. This to me is a special kind of quandary, and again i may be totally wrong on all accounts on how to interpret the wording from the Core book.
I hope i haven't caused you any due frustration, it was not my intent, i just wanted to give you something to consider.
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Hi Diego, i was looking up how Mithral functions as far as how the armor changes categories, ie. Heavy to Medium, Medium to Light and so on. Here is some of the text from the Core book on what Mithral does to armors...Most mithral armors are one category lighter than normal for purposes of movement and other limitations. Heavy armors are treated as medium, and medium armors are treated as light, but light armors are still treated as light. This decrease does not apply to proficiency in wearing the armor. A character wearing mithral full plate must be proficient in wearing heavy armor to avoid adding the armor's check penalty to all his attack rolls and skill checks that involve moving.So with what it states here Mithral changes armor from one category to a lighter one for purposes of movement and other limitations, here is the rub: the armor is still treated as Heavy armor, so it can be a gray area as far as any class that has limitations of special abilities that require a type of armor worn, or whatever the case may be in regards to said special ability of the class. It may very well be that a Ranger is only allowed to wear medium armor to retain the use of his/her special abilities in this case the Combat Style feats, so even if the armor is Mithral Full Plate, it is still Heavy armor. This to me is a special kind of quandary, and again i may be totally wrong on all accounts on how to interpret the wording from the Core book.
I hope i haven't caused you any due frustration, it was not my intent, i just wanted to give you something to consider.
At this time I agree with james maissen on this one, but your point should be FAQed.
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Most mithral armors are one category lighter than normal for purposes of movement and other limitations. Heavy armors are treated as medium, and medium armors are treated as light, but light armors are still treated as light. This decrease does not apply to proficiency in wearing the armor. A character wearing mithral full plate must be proficient in wearing heavy armor to avoid adding the armor's check penalty to all his attack rolls and skill checks that involve moving.
I'm with james on this one. The rules are very clear. Mithril armor counts as one category lower for special ability usage, feats, spellcasting, movement, and any other purpose. A suit of mithril plate is for all intents and purposes medium armor with one single exception: you must be proficient in heavy armor to wear it. This is a change from 3.5 where mithril armor straight-out counted as armor one category lighter; in Pathfinder you're required to be proficient in the original armor's classification.
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I believe that there is one exception to the proficiency rule, Elven Chain which actually is light armor even though it is chainmail.
James Jacob's explained that one awhile ago - Elven Chain isn't the same as mithril chainmail, they are two different items. A particularly rules focused GM (especially in society play) could easily say that you can't enchant the armor any further than it already is since it's named armor. I could find the thread where James talked about this, but I'm feeling particularly lazy today.