I just don't understand this: a full plate offers a better bonus but has a higher max dex bonus and a lower armor check penalty. I just don't get it. Watching the pictures makes this even stranger. Wearing just the part of an armor brings no advantage at all, instead wearing the full is the better deal?
I just don't understand this: a full plate offers a better bonus but has a higher max dex bonus and a lower armor check penalty. I just don't get it. Watching the pictures makes this even stranger. Wearing just the part of an armor brings no advantage at all, instead wearing the full is the better deal?It costs more so it is better? Or Full plate is custom fit to you, that's why you need to pay that extra money to get a randomly found suit of full plate to fit you
This seems somewhat logical to me. Still not obvious, though. I did not focus on the price. The fact alone, that you get a bit more protection for less penalties and even the same weight, seems a bit dull. Whatever, thanks.
Historically speaking Half plate was specialized tournament jousting armor that gave equal protection as full plate but only from the front. In jousting this was no problem as all damage would come from the front. It was also lighter and easyer to use on a horse. It was considered useless in battle as your rear was practically unprotected.
And again if you look to history: full plates were extremely expensive, I suspect strongly that we get a bargain on the full plates we buy in the game.
I know from reenactment performers that full plate nowadays sets you back about 8000 to 10000 euro as well as spending at least a week at the smithy for fitting and adjusting. These suits of armor were (and are) custom made for the user and take about a month of work to create.
Historically speaking Half plate was specialized tournament jousting armor that gave equal protection as full plate but only from the front. In jousting this was no problem as all damage would come from the front. It was also lighter and easyer to use on a horse. It was considered useless in battle as your rear was practically unprotected.
And again if you look to history: full plates were extremely expensive, I suspect strongly that we get a bargain on the full plates we buy in the game.
I know from reenactment performers that full plate nowadays sets you back about 8000 to 10000 euro as well as spending at least a week at the smithy for fitting and adjusting. These suits of armor were (and are) custom made for the user and take about a month of work to create.
Thanks. But I do not question the price. Just that an armor were my arms and legs are covered with metal allows me to move better (higher max dex and lesser armor penalty) than an armor which leaves arms free just refuses to get in my head. There are possible explanations in this thread but they all seem kind of constrained to me.
the description of Half-Plate: Combining elements of full plate and chainmail, half-plate includes gauntlets and a helm.
So why do you think the arms are free????
Half-Plate is in between chainmail and full plate and therefor cheeper but worse then a full plate in the game. Why it get's no dex enhancement is beyond my understanding (probably game-balance issue).
I could suggest making a house rule and grant half plate 1 dex enhancement (that doesn't seem unbalanced).
I believe the advantage of full plate in all stats is because it is meant to be better in weight distribution on the body. A food suit of plate armor in the day was custom fitted (as mentioned), but that included careful considering about how the weight was carried. There were straps and buckles which would attach each section of armor to the body and thus the load was distributed across the limbs and frame.
Half plate is a melange of armor pieces distributed over the body including chain and pieces of plate and they are more haphazard in how your body can carry the load. People would imagine chain mail to not be so bad since it is all flexible, but the weight all gets dumped on the shoulders and waist (assuming a belt, and they were basically universal to allow some load bearing).
Since half plate basically is chain with plates over vulnerable areas, it is going to be worse than chain.
My understanding from other threads like this has also been that the chain mail portion of half-plate has a tendency to bunch up between the plates, limiting movement.
That could be completely off base, though.
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full plate
This metal suit includes gauntlets, heavy leather boots, a visored helmet, and a thick layer of padding that is worn underneath the armor. Each suit of full plate must be individually fitted to its owner by a master armorsmith, although a captured suit can be resized to fit a new owner at a cost of 200 to 800 (2d4 × 100) gold pieces.
so basically like a second metal skin.
half plate
is random pieces stitched together
I believe the advantage of full plate in all stats is because it is meant to be better in weight distribution on the body. A food suit of plate armor in the day was custom fitted (as mentioned), but that included careful considering about how the weight was carried. There were straps and buckles which would attach each section of armor to the body and thus the load was distributed across the limbs and frame.
Half plate is a melange of armor pieces distributed over the body including chain and pieces of plate and they are more haphazard in how your body can carry the load. People would imagine chain mail to not be so bad since it is all flexible, but the weight all gets dumped on the shoulders and waist (assuming a belt, and they were basically universal to allow some load bearing).
Since half plate basically is chain with plates over vulnerable areas, it is going to be worse than chain.
Good one.
I actually disagree with your example Cruel Kindness. A box of patatoes is easyer to pick up but harder to carry around. Where the sack of patatoes though more difficult to pick up can be molded around your neck and shoulders and if molded correctly not even needing hands to stay around your neck and shoulders when you start walking.
A better example would be a sack of potatoes in a backpack is easier to carry than a sack of potatoes resting on your shoulder. :)
- Gauss