The armor tables seem to suggest that even light armor would limit a wearer's speed, as the "limit" for a character with 30ft speed is 30ft, not "-".
Example of my train of thought: Human Magus is wearing a chain shirt and casts Expeditious Retreat. The spell doesn't have any text that allows a bypass of armor speed restrictions, so wouldn't the wearer still be limited to 30ft?
I know I've always played that "light armor doesn't limit your movement speed at all" but now that I'm thinking about it, I can't actually find any justification for that in the RAW.
Is there any? If so, where is it?
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Light armor dos not change your speed at all. Consider a human barbarian, whose normal move speed is 40'. When he wears light armor, his move speed is still 40'. The Expeditious Retreat spell increases your base land speed by 30' - you have the same increase in speed when you wear armor.
You have been playing correctly. (-:
Light armor does not reduce speed.
Light armor dos not change your speed at all.
Where does it flat out say this, though? Because the text on armor speed is:
Speed: Medium or heavy armor slows the wearer down. The number on Table: Armor and Shields is the character's speed while wearing the armor. Humans, elves, half-elves, and half-orcs have an unencumbered speed of 30 feet. They use the first column. Dwarves, gnomes, and halflings have an unencumbered speed of 20 feet. They use the second column. Remember, however, that a dwarf's land speed remains 20 feet even in medium or heavy armor or when carrying a medium or heavy load.
Shields: Shields do not affect a character's speed.
Bolded for emphasis. If Light armor truly didn't affect a character's speed, then why is a numerical value listed, instead of just copying the template that shields use (ie: a dash instead of a number)?
Consider a human barbarian, whose normal move speed is 40'. When he wears light armor, his move speed is still 40'. The Expeditious Retreat spell increases your base land speed by 30' - you have the same increase in speed when you wear armor.
Ah, but the Barbarian's Fast Movement specifically works in light and medium armor, because the ability itself says so:
A barbarian's land speed is faster than the norm for her race by +10 feet. This benefit applies only when she is wearing no armor, light armor, or medium armor, and not carrying a heavy load. Apply this bonus before modifying the barbarian's speed because of any load carried or armor worn. This bonus stacks with any other bonuses to the barbarian's land speed.
I used Expeditious Retreat as an example because it doesn't specifically say it works in armor, the way Fast Movement does.
It gives you a table and guidelines for adjusting it for slower/faster races.
I see no such additional table for slower/faster races. PRD link or page number?
Ah, "additional rules." Thanks.
And yes, I did notice that "light" was missing from that sentence. But, as I point out above, I also notice that the chart you are directed to, to find out what your movement speed is in armor, lists a number. But if there is no limit, then why the inclusion of a limit?
Maybe they thought that if they put a dash someone would read it to mean they cant move at all in that armor...
There is no real reason to list speed in light armor since it equals your base speed. The only exception I know of is the monk class, whose fast movement ability is negated by light armor -- but in that case also the unenhanced speed is already known as well.
I think it is possible to look at a small part of the rules a bit too long and confused one self.
I know i have done it. And i think that is what happend here.
Honestly, I just think it's missing a, "Light armor does not reduce your speed" tagline. Leaving "light" out of the sentence that says, "Medium and Heavy armors reduce your speed," but also including number values in the "Speed" column seem to contradict each other with the RAI.
All they had to do is stick a, "Light armor does not affect your speed" tagline, just like they have for Shields. :)
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Honestly, I just think it's missing a, "Light armor does not reduce your speed" tagline. Leaving "light" out of the sentence that says, "Medium and Heavy armors reduce your speed," but also including number values in the "Speed" column seem to contradict each other with the RAI.
All they had to do is stick a, "Light armor does not affect your speed" tagline, just like they have for Shields. :)
Technically, the table is correct. No where does say that 30 ft is a max speed. What the table says is that a character with a speed of 30 feet can move 30 feet in light armor, which it true. It doens't say anything about a character with a move speed of 40 feet (a barbarian), 35 feet (I think there's a feat that gives you an extra 5 feet), or 60 feet (haste).
It could probably be worded better, but the table itself is fine.