Armor & Shields

Banded mail is made up of overlapping strips of metal, fastened to a sturdy backing of leather and chain. The size of the metal plates, interconnected metal bands, and layers of underlying armor make it a more significant defense than similar armors, like scale mail or splint mail.

A breastplate protects a wearer’s torso with a single piece of sculpted metal, similar to the core piece of a suit of full plate. Despite its sturdiness, its inflexibility and open back make it inferior to complete suits of metal armor, but still an improvement over most non-metal armors.

This small metal shield is worn strapped to your forearm. You can use a bow or crossbow without penalty while carrying it. You can also use your shield arm to wield a weapon (whether you are using an off-hand weapon or using your off hand to help wield a two-handed weapon), but you take a –1 penalty on attack rolls while doing so.

Chain mail is made up of thousands of interlocking metal rings. The suit includes gauntlets and a layer of quilted fabric underneath to prevent chafing and to cushion the impact of blows.

A chain shirt protects your torso while leaving your limbs free and mobile. It includes a layer of quilted fabric underneath to prevent chafing and to cushion the impact of blows. Several layers of sheet metal, connected like chain mail but far more flexible, make up the bulk of the armor.

This metal suit comprises multiple pieces of interconnected and overlaying metal plates, incorporating the benefits of numerous types of lesser armor. A complete suit of full plate (or platemail, as it is often called) includes gauntlets, heavy leather boots, a visored helmet, and a thick layer of padding that is worn underneath the armor. Each suit of full plate must be individually fitted to its owner by a master armorsmith, although a captured suit can be resized to fit a new owner at a cost of 200 to 800 (2d4 100) gold pieces.

Half-plate consists of shaped and fitted metal plates that cover most of the body, with chain mail covering the joints. It is heavier than a breastplate but not as encumbering as full plate.

Also called a belly-warmer, a haramaki is a simple silken sash lined with chainmail or articulated metal plates and tied about the stomach to protect it.

A heavy steel shield provides excellent protection and is made of steel. It is heavier than a wooden shield but more durable. You strap a shield to your forearm and grip it with your hand.

A heavy wooden shield provides more protection than a light shield and is still made from wood. You strap a shield to your forearm and grip it with your hand.

Hide armor is made from the tanned skin of particularly thick-hided beasts. It is stiff and somewhat cumbersome, but provides good protection for those who cannot or will not wear metal armor.

Leather armor is made up of multiple overlapping pieces of leather, boiled to increase their natural toughness and then deliberately stitched together. Although not as sturdy as metal armor, the flexibility it allows wearers makes it among the most widely used types of armor.

A light steel shield is made from steel. It is heavier than a wooden shield but more durable and resistant to fire and other energy attacks. You strap a shield to your forearm and grip it with your hand.

A light wooden shield is made from wood and reinforced with iron. It is lighter than a heavy shield but still provides useful protection. You strap a shield to your forearm and grip it with your hand.

Padded armor features quilted layers of cloth and batting. Though it provides little more than minimal protection, it is affordable and does not impede arcane spellcasting at all.

Scale mail is made up of dozens of small, overlapping metal plates. Similar to both splint mail and banded mail, scalemail has a flexible arrangement but is not as resistant to bludgeoning attacks as splint mail.

Splint mail is made up of narrow vertical strips of metal riveted to a backing of leather that is worn over cloth padding. Flexible chain mail protects the joints.

Studded leather armor is crafted similarly to leather armor but with dozens of metal rivets punched into it. These rivets help the armor resist slashing and piercing attacks and make the armor slightly stiffer and more resistant.

This massive shield stands as tall as most of its wielders. In most situations, it provides the indicated shield bonus to your AC. It can also be used to provide total cover, but doing so requires spending a move action and renders the wielder unable to attack.