Does the fact that an item made of mithral is also masterwork stack?
In the section on masterwork armor, the Core Rulebook says that the suit of armor costs an extra 150, but this reduces armor check penalties by 1. In the section on materials, the Core Rulebook says that Mithral armor has the armor check penalty reduced by 3, and the cost increased by the table. It also says that the cost for the masterwork is included in the table. What it does NOT say is whether or not the masterwork quality stacks with the fact it is made of mithral.
I think this would be most important when considering mithral breastplate. Breastplate has an armor check penalty of -4. If it is made out of mithral the check penalty decreases by 3, putting it at -1. However mithral breastplate is also masterwork, if this stacks with the bonus from being made of mithral, the armor has a check penalty of 0 meaning rogues, bards, and Duelists without levels in fighter can wear it without penalty.
So which is it? -1 check penalty or 0?
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The masterwork quality should be included in the mithral armor check reduction just as the cost for the masterwork component is included in the cost of mithral. If it wasn't they would have mentioned it in the description of mithral.
"Weapons or armors fashioned from mithral are always masterwork items as well; the masterwork cost is included in the prices given below."
special materials are ALWAYS of masterwork quality. It states so under special materials. Since special materials are always mastorwork, master work is already included in the special materials abilites. if you dont beleive that then just look at mithral chain mail compared to masterwork chain mail in the corebook...
ok that makes sense, thank you for the clarification