Alternative Armors
This week I thought it might be fun and useful to explore the idea of armor that can protect you from more than just swords and claws. That’s why this week I feature 3 new suits of armor, designed to protect you from all sorts of bad situations, both on and off the battlefield.
ARMOR OF SOCIAL DEFENSE PRICE 5,350 gp
Slot armor; CL 3rd; Weight 30 lbs.
Aura faint transmutation
This beautiful suit of crimson breastplate has the image of a grinning hawk emblazoned across the chest, and is paired with a feathered cape and a fine silk doublet. Often these armors are adorned with one or more gems worth 500 gp or more.
In addition to functioning as a +1 glammered breastplate, armor of social defense provides its wearer with magical defenses aimed to protect him from making a social faux pas. The armor provides a +2 bonus on Sense Motive checks, and this bonus is increased to +4 for the purposes of trying to uncover the hidden meaning behind words or interpret secret innuendo. Additionally, once per day per point of enhancement bonus the armor possesses, the wearer can reroll a single Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidate check he just made with a +5 bonus. The wearer must keep the new result, even if it is lower.
Construction Requirements Cost 2,850 gpCraft Magic Arms and Armor, eagle’s splendor, owl’s wisdom
CHAIN OF THE SAFE EXPLORER PRICE 4,750 gp
Slot armor; CL 3rd; Weight 25 lbs.
Aura faint transmutation
These steel chain shirts are often paired with heavy canvas coats or study cloaks to give them a rugged appearance, and are sometimes decorated with woodland or storm themes.
In addition to functioning as a +1 chain shirt, this armor provides its wearer with unique protections against harsh environmental factors that make an explorer’s life difficult. The wearer gains a +4 bonus on Fortitude saves made to resist nonlethal damage due to temperature and on Constitution checks made to continue running or making a forced march. Additionally, the wearer treats wind speeds as though they were 1 category lower than they are for the purposes of determining if she is checked or blown away. Finally, if the wearer would encounter difficult terrain that requires 4 squares of movement, she may move through that terrain as though it were normal difficult terrain, costing only 2 squares of movement.
Construction Requirements Cost 2,500 gpCraft Magic Arms and Armor, endure elements, bear’s endurance
SHIELD OF THE HIDDEN PRICE 8,180 gp
Slot shield; CL 5th; Weight 45 lbs.
Aura faint divination
These study towershields are usually jet-black and have no adornment whatsoever, giving them a plain appearance. The shields, though heavy, feel light to the touch, as though the wearer were relieved of some burden.
In addition to functioning as a +1 tower shield, a shield of the hidden protects its wearer from magical observation. The wearer of a shield of the hidden cannot be observed by spells of the scrying subschool that do not target him (for example, clairaudience/clairvoyance). Additionally, the wearer gains a +4 bonus on saving throws made to resist scrying effects that do target him. Finally, whether or not the wearer succeeds on resisting such effects, he is always aware of attempts to scry on him.
Craft Magic Arms and Armor, nondetection