I am creating a Druid character to run in a CORE PFS game and had a question regarding how Dragonhide Armor works. I was thinking of picking up some Leather (Dragonhide), or Hide (Dragonhide) armor for him to wear from an RP perspective but was wondering if it provides any mechanical benefit as well. Does wearing Dragonhide armor offer any type of benefit from a gameplay position? Higher AC? Lower AC Check Penalty? Higher DEX Allowed?
I see that the armor has Hardness 10, does that transfer to melee damage taken by the character?
Dragonhide: Armorsmiths can work with the hides of dragons to produce armor or shields of masterwork quality. One dragon produces enough hide for a single suit of masterwork hide armor for a creature one size category smaller than the dragon. By selecting only choice scales and bits of hide, an armorsmith can produce one suit of masterwork banded mail for a creature two sizes smaller, one suit of masterwork half-plate for a creature three sizes smaller, or one masterwork breastplate or suit of full plate for a creature four sizes smaller. In each case, enough hide is available to produce a light or heavy masterwork shield in addition to the armor, provided that the dragon is Large or larger. If the dragonhide comes from a dragon that had immunity to an energy type, the armor is also immune to that energy type, although this does not confer any protection to the wearer. If the armor or shield is later given the ability to protect the wearer against that energy type, the cost to add such protection is reduced by 25%.
Because dragonhide armor isn't made of metal, druids can wear it without penalty.
Dragonhide armor costs twice as much as masterwork armor of that type, but it takes no longer to make than ordinary armor of that type (double all Craft results).
Dragonhide has 10 hit points per inch of thickness and hardness 10. The hide of a dragon is typically between 1/2 inch and 1 inch thick.
Dragonhide only has the benefits of being cheaper to enchant with abilities to protect against energy types (the armor itself is immune to that energy type, not the wearer) and allowing normally metal armors to be worn by druids.
Hardness on armor doesn't do anything in combat except against sunder attempts. Regular metal armor also has hardness 10 and doesn't help the wearer prevent damage upon himself either.
Does this mean I can wear a "Dragonhide" Chain Shirt to gain the benefits of the higher AC as a PFS Core player with Light armor?
By CORE you only got options of banded mail, half-plate, full plate, breastplate, or hide armor, and heavy or light shield. Or whatever else might be granted by your chronicle sheets making it available to you.
Dragonhide doesn't affect the AC or armor category (medium doesn't become light) so I'm not understanding your chain shirt having better AC question.
Leather Armor has 2 AC.
Chain Shirt has 4 AC.
Both are listed in the Core Rulebook under Light Armors.
I am asking if I can have a Dragonhide version of a Chain Shirt made, thus gaining the stats for the Chain Shirt.
Leather Armor has 2 AC.
Chain Shirt has 4 AC.
Both are listed in the Core Rulebook under Light Armors.I am asking if I can have a Dragonhide version of a Chain Shirt made, thus gaining the stats for the Chain Shirt.
One dragon produces enough hide for a single suit of masterwork hide armor for a creature one size category smaller than the dragon. By selecting only choice scales and bits of hide, an armorsmith can produce one suit of masterwork banded mail for a creature two sizes smaller, one suit of masterwork half-plate for a creature three sizes smaller, or one masterwork breastplate or suit of full plate for a creature four sizes smaller. In each case, enough hide is available to produce a light or heavy masterwork shield in addition to the armor, provided that the dragon is Large or larger.
Do you see chain shirt being listed as an option? You can't have dragonhide chain shirt. You can only have dragonhide hide, banded mail, half-plate, full-plate, or breastplate. No other armor type is an option, not even leather.