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Monks and Armor from VMC Oracle Revelations

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Hi, I was checking the rules for variant multiclassing, and I noticed some of the oracle revelations that form armor were included in the list you can take. Am I right in thinking a monk PC can use them to get the AC bonuses without losing the monk features that are normally lost in armor?

Air Barrier (Wind) will work. What others did you have in mind?

I was interested in the ice armor, coat of many stars and spirit shield revelations. I think they are all written similarly, so I expected it would be the same for all of them.

There's quite a bit of discussion on this actually. Look up the words "armor" "monk" and "count" in the message board search. "oracle" can help as well.
Pathfinder Adventure, Rulebook Subscriber

If I was the GM, I would say Heavens and Wind are not "armor" but grant an armor bonus (like Mage Armor or Bracers or Armor). I would say that Bone and Ice ARE Armor and so does affect monk.

RAW argument.....dunno.

They should all work with the Monk.

None of them are treated as actual armor.
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As you can see there is quite a bit of disagreement about how much like armor the various AC granting abilities are.

Until there is an FAQ on the subject I don't think those arguments will be resolved. And given how things tend to go here that will just turn the argument into whether the dev's decision is right or dumb.

I think the easiest and most direct way of going about it is to simply treat the word 'armor' literally. If the revelation creates an armor, then it hinders a Monk, and it's a valid target for Magic Vestment. Sometimes things are made far, far more complicated than they need to be.

Ok, my personal view is that since none of these has a listed weight or armor check penalty, they simply grant armor bonus and are ok for a monk, but I was hoping there was an official clarification. Thanks for the help!

My opinion on such matter is this, the monk is not forbidden from receiving an armor bonus to AC, just from wearing a item of the armor type. A thing is only an armor type item when it has a write up as a category of armor (such as light, medium or heavy) or states that it functions as XXXX Armor (otherwise functions as masterwork studded leather, etc.) If the Armor bonus to AC ability does not have one of those two exceptions than a monk can use it without penalty.

Disclaimer: I believe Monks should be allowed to have nice things.

I agree that it should work for monks. Sadly Oracle VMC is aweful. You get your first revelation at oracle level equal character level - 6!!!
As a result, you have to wait for level 7 to use your armor twice per day and for level 13 to get the first AC bonus increase...

That is another point, everytime i consider VMC i give up because there are no useful benefits until too late in the game. You might as well go for a dip and get something working 2-5 levels earlier.
Torbyne wrote:
That is another point, everytime i consider VMC i give up because there are no useful benefits until too late in the game. You might as well go for a dip and get something working 2-5 levels earlier.

There are a few exceptions. I do like the Magus VMC for some builds with classes like Occultist, Alchemist, and Investigator. Getting Arcane Pool at 3rd level is pretty decent. Very few of the other VMC options "front-load" abilities like that.

My test is "Does it count as light, medium or heavy armor?" If it doesn't count as one of these, then it isn't "armor".
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