Technically there’s nothing against it.
Practically, it’s usually a bad idea unless you’re specifically intending to gish it. A -4 to AC is hardly worth the bonus once you add all the other penalties...
Well you will probably need to invest quite a few things for that heavy armor. Easiest one being cha and going paladin multiclass.but still that's a class feat going down the drain, so i am fine with that. And heavy armor if you plan to use dex to hit is more of a liability than anything.
Yea. And if untrained, you don't get your level to AC.
Yea. And if untrained, you don't get your level to AC.
Well, you do under the rules to the playtest, but you don't under the rumored rules for PF2. Which one you want to go with if you're using the playtest rules for a game is up to you.
I suppose we’ll get back to carrying a spare full plate to tie up prisoners in.
Yea. And if untrained, you don't get your level to AC.Well, you do under the rules to the playtest, but you don't under the rumored rules for PF2. Which one you want to go with if you're using the playtest rules for a game is up to you.
Which I immediately thought, but the penalty for a first level mage would be minimal in losing their level to their AC. (i.e. losing +1 from level wouldn't be much to get a bonus from armor)
However, I believe that Wizards are Trained in unarmored defense, so that means you are not comparing:
+1(level) +0(Skill) +0(ArmorType) = +1
vs
+0(level) + 0(skill) +5(ArmorType) = +5
Instead it will probably be:
+1(level) +2(Skill) +0(ArmorType) = +3
vs
+0(level) + 0(skill) +5(ArmorType) = +5
Which means the first level wizard could wear splint mail if they had the money to spend on it at first level, and might have a higher AC to begin with. However, they will get ACP for some things, and will only get 2 better AC than if they wore nothing, and a mage armor won't stack with their existing armor.
An interesting aspect would be that while this would be viable for a first level wizard, without them getting armor proficiency with that heavy an armor, it quickly becomes a losing proposition.
Someone suggested allowing someone to wear armor they are not trained with, but taking the ACP penalty to the AC. While reasonable sounding, and something that might be able to be worked into a solution, I would note, that would make leather armor into something you wouldn't need any training in. Also, studded leather or chain shirts would likewise be able to become ubiquitous when expert versions become available and its ACP becomes zero.
Hmm.... I didn't factor TAC into that equation, so wearing armor you aren't trained in would become a matter of trading AC bonus for a potential penalty in TAC.
Honestly... I see some of the types of layered and even poofy robes that one pictures wizards and other spell casters wearing potentially something that might actually be able to qualify as Padded Armor, so I don't have a big issue with mages wearing some forms of armor. However, there is a degree to which I wouldn't want the game to push the magic users to use armor at lower levels, and then turn around and punish such a concept by making it unable to be something they can somehow put resources into getting skill in.
To be honest, I'd considered the idea of rather than giving a spell failure chance, I'd contemplated applying ACP against the DC of spells cast while in armor they aren't trained for. This would mean spells such as healing without DC rolls wouldn't be impacted much. If they are trained in the armor, they have committed a resource to getting that ability, allowing them to cast spells in armor, perhaps shouldn't be a big deal. By default, having the wizards not know armor proficiency means many wouldn't bother to wear it, perhaps, since it has its drawbacks and very limited benefit, often more easily gotten elsewhere.
In addition to only having 2 more first level AC than if they were unarmoured (at the cost of 125 of their starting 150 sp, and all the normal penalties of heavy armour) consider that they also have 3 less AC than a proficient character in the same armour, with the new proficiency values - for something that will be completely obsolete in 2 levels anyway, it's really not very good in any respect for a spellcaster.