Armoured Coats - how handy are they?

[Ack]

I understand that armoured coats are pretty useful. You can put one on or remove it in one move action; so very handy in many situations.

However, once said coat is removed, how unwieldy is it? Can it be folded/rolled/bundled/wadded up somehow in order to either tie on to a backpack or even fit into a backpack entirely? (Yes, this is so that the character can swim or jump or climb without the added encumbrance of actually wearing the armour).

Is it, I would like to know, actually necessary to pay for Masterworking in order to have an armoured coat that does not automatically become utterly unmanageable once taken off?

Curious minds want to know.

[blackbloodtroll]

Mithral Armored Coat combined with an Armored Kilt is a nice combo.

[Dragonchess Player]

If an armored coat is not worn, it becomes a 20 lb item. Most suits of armor can fit in a duffle bag/large backpack; in fact, it was a reasonably common practice for footsoldiers to not wear their armor (or wear a lighter/partial set) when traveling and only armor up on reaching a battlefield.

If the armor is carried, then the armor check/movement penalties are based on the character's total load (see Table 7-4 and 7-5 in the Core Rulebook). "If your character is wearing armor, use the worse figure (from armor or from load) for each category. Do not stack the penalties." (Core Rulebook, pg. 169)

[Steelfiredragon]

I'd take an armored coat that uses padded cloth over the metal pieces version....

padded armor.... but still.....