Four Mirror Mail

[Tarma]

Why is the Four Mirror Mail so cheap? It's a full third of the cost of Chain mail, and almost a quarter of Lamellar Steel. You can get a master work FMM for almost the cost of a regular chainmail.

Does anyone know why?

[Mergy]

I assume you mean the Four Mirror Armour.

The answer is the AC penalty to skills (-5!) and the weight (45lbs!).

[Tarma]

That's just it. It's the same armor check penalty as Chainmail. And yeah, it's a little heavier, but only by 5 pounds. Unless weight is EXTREMELY crucial to your character, it's not that big of a difference.

[Mergy]

I'd compare it to the breastplate and say that yes, four-mirror armour is cheaper, but it's also much heavier and has an extra AC penalty. Considering most characters are filthy rich by 3rd level, it's really only the kind of thing you'd buy at first. I'd swap it for a breastplate almost immediately.

[Tarma]

I'm still not sure I agree that 5 pounds heavier is that much of a downside. I'm also confused as to why you say it has an extra AC penalty. Yes, the Dex is higher on the breast plate, but if you don't have a character that has a +3 or higher Dex the FMM is still a better purchase for a while.

I agree that it's an intermediary piece, but it's cost has more ramifications in the society. Instead of slowly working up to having a higher AC, you can start right off the bat with it. The chainmail is priced at a point where starting gold makes it difficult to acquire, yet the four mirror armor can be grabbed right off the bat with money left over to spare.