underwater armor

D&D 3E

underwater armor

3rd-May-2007 04:34 pm

Is there some kind of magical ability that can be added to armor like "underwater moves" or something to reduce the check penalty while underwater?

Basically, I'm playing a water genasi druid, and I'd hate to have a -12 penalty to my swim checks (even with the +8 bonus) because of armor (double the -6 for banded mail). I'm looking for some officially published ability that is the equivalent of a +1 bonus (making the armor total +3000 gp or a +2 modifier)

edit: I found this:

Plate Armor of the Deep
This +1 full plate is decorated with a wave and fish motif. The wearer of plate armor of the deep is treated as unarmored for purposes of Swim checks. The wearer can breathe underwater and can converse with any creature with a language that breathes water.

Moderate abjuration; CL 11th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, freedom of movement, water breathing, tongues; Price 24,650 gp; Cost 17,150 gp + 600 XP.

since I don't want full plate, and don't need to breath underwater, can we seperate out some of that cost? This is exactly what I want, except not plate mail.

Comments

3rd-May-2007 08:57 pm (UTC)

marphod

Well, simply:

+1 full plate costs:
1500gp (full plate)
150gp (masterwork)
1000gp (+1)

So, the no swim penalty, bneath underwater, and converse with creatures costs 22,000gp.

Water Breathing is a 3rd level spell. Continous effect. 2000gp x 3rd level spell x 5th caster level is 30kgp.

So, we learn this far, that the item is either underpriced, or take sinto account that Water Breathing is an hour-a-level spell. Call that a 1/5 cost mofidier, so that water breathing is a 6kgp add.

Tongues is, again, a 3rd level spell. Call it, again, a limited effect and longer-than-normal spell, for another 6kgp add.

Which makes the no-swim penalty cost about 10kgp. Which seems about right.

(although, special items can't easily be broken down cost wise).

3rd-May-2007 08:59 pm (UTC)

marphod

Alternatively, just move it to another armor. The armor cost (1650) is clearly an add to the 25000gp item cost. Move it to Hide for 25165gp. or Dragonscale Breatsplate for 25700gp.

4th-May-2007 03:03 am (UTC)

_ogmios

Foater is a psionic armour enhancement. It reduces or kills swim penalties from armour.

Also, are druids allowed to wear banded mail? I thought it was against their schtick.

4th-May-2007 03:28 am (UTC)

foxsable

You can get dragonhide armor (see SRD) which is double the masterwork price, but allows druids to wear it because it is made from an animal.

4th-May-2007 03:31 am (UTC)

_ogmios

Oh. Right. I usually restrict my players from special substances, so I forget about them.

And, for the record,

Armor Ability: Floating
This kind of armor is psionically buoyant in water or a similar liquid, negating the normal penalty for wearing armor when making Swim checks. Additionally, it grants a +4 circumstance bonus on Swim checks.

Faint psychoportation; ML 4th; Craft Psionic Arms and Armor, float; Price +4,000 gp.

3rd-May-2007 09:01 pm (UTC)

nviiibrown

I know there's something that's just what you're looking for in Stormwrack. I think they have a special material like pearlsteel or something that'll let you swim better, and there's a special ability called buoyant, which might help with swim checks.

4th-May-2007 06:49 am (UTC)

zionchild

Buoyant: +1 bonus. Can only be placed on a suit of armor. The armor weighs half as much and the armor check penalty is not doubled for Swim checks.

(Just another reason that I hate psionics. Compare this to Floating, which ogmios posted above. Floating obviously wins. It's like whoever's coming up with the stuff is out to "beat" magic in a magic-heavy setting.)

SW doesn't describe what effects Pearlsteel armor would have beyond being 25% lighter, which is strange. The only other special material is Riverine, which makes half the AC a deflection bonus.

3rd-May-2007 09:03 pm (UTC)

ray_k85

*sigh* I wish I could remember the name of it, but it was an enchantment that I found in one of the supplement books (complete adventurer?)... so I know that it does exist, I just don't remember the name of it. It had a simple name though. "underwater freedom" or "underwater movement" or something.

Actually... if you don't find what you're looking for, couldn't you talk to your game master and use a modified "freedom of movement" spell? Whatever the name of it is.. you know the one I'm talking about. Gets you out of aggravating spells like entanglement and whatnot.

Sorry that doesn't help much :/

~Ray

3rd-May-2007 09:05 pm (UTC)

ray_k85

Actually now that I think of it, it wasn't an enchantment. It was a potion that we found on one of our advenures. Sorry, lol.

~Ray

3rd-May-2007 11:48 pm (UTC)

marphod

Freedom of Movement is a 40kgp continuous effect. (ring of freedom of movement)

You should probably take a gander at the SRD (an SRD site), the open-source core of DnD. Its useful for looking up spell names.

3rd-May-2007 11:50 pm (UTC)

marphod

Take a look at the pearl of the sirens.

15kgp item, gives you a swim speed (so your swim check is irrelevant) and freedom of movement underwater.

Takes either a hand or amulet slot.

4th-May-2007 01:24 am (UTC)

thezahir

The Magic Items Compendium has Crystals of Aquatic Action that can be added to any armor. The least version costs 250 gp and means that the armor doesn't impose any penalty on Swim checks.

4th-May-2007 03:27 am (UTC)

foxsable

They also have an enchant I found which is an enchant called bouyant (different and better than the one in Stormwrack) which negats all armor check penalties, and gives a +2 to swim checks. It's +4000 gp. Stormwracks just prevented the double penalty but was a straight +1 attack.

4th-May-2007 01:08 pm (UTC)

silver_beetle

What about armor made from some sort of giant fish scales?

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