Boots of the Winterlands

[Peter Kies]

What is intended by "normal speed" in the descrition for this item? Does it remove all speed penalties for moving over snow and ice, or does it just eliminate tracks and falling chance at the "normal" (reduced) speeds?

Also, if the terrain is otherwise open (except for ice or snow of any depth), does it mean you can use running movement rates? Do these boots remove only the movement penalties or do they actually make it so these surfaces are no longer difficult terrain for the wearer?

[Peter Kies]

I'm thinking about putting them on a werewolf and it feels a bit cheesy to have them meld into wolf form and gain the benefits of quadruped movement speed and an enhancement from a single pair of boots.

For the character concept and the current campaign setting, these boots sound like s very good deal. If we stay outdoors on open plains with deep snow, it seems like I could move 200' in a round when most PCs and opponents might be limited to 15' with a double move.

[Kolyarut]

It removes all speed penalties, you can run and take 5-foot steps and anything else you could do when your speed is not reduced.

[Wheldrake]

Those boots are so good that they are almost a must-have item - if and only if a lot of encounters take place in snow and ice-covered environments.

And I see nothing wrong with a wereguy putting on those boots when he has two feet, and continuing to get the benefits when he has four paws.

[Ravingdork]

Snow: Falling snow has the same effects on visibility, ranged weapon attacks, and skill checks as rain, and it costs 2 squares of movement to enter a snow-covered square. A day of snowfall leaves 1d6 inches of snow on the ground.

Heavy Snow: Heavy snow has the same effects as normal snowfall but also restricts visibility as fog does (see Fog). A day of heavy snow leaves 1d4 feet of snow on the ground, and it costs 4 squares of movement to enter a square covered with heavy snow. Heavy snow accompanied by strong or severe winds might result in snowdrifts 1d4 × 5 feet deep, especially in and around objects big enough to deflect the wind—a cabin or a large tent, for instance. There is a 10% chance that a heavy snowfall is accompanied by lightning (see Thunderstorm). Snow has the same effect on flames as moderate wind.

Ice Sheet: The ground is covered with slippery ice. It costs 2 squares of movement to enter a square covered by an ice sheet, and the DC of Acrobatics checks there increases by 5. A DC 10 Acrobatics check is required to run or charge across an ice sheet.

Boots of the winterlands allow you to ignore the bolded portions above. They do not help alleviate other speed penalties, such as for moving at half speed while unable to see in darkness.

[dharkus]

the druid archetype arctic druid gives you the same thing