Armor Magic Properties
Introduction
Magic armor properties grant the wearer special abilities while wearing the armor. These abilities vary greatly, but often bear a resemblance to spell effects. Note that Spell Effects cannot be applied to armor.
Those magic armor properties which provide a permanent bonus must be worn for 24 hours in order to attune to the item and get its benefits. Once attuned, the item provides the bonus any time the magic item is worn. When taken off, the magic item does not provide any bonuses but the attunement stays intact (if there are exceptions to this rule, the magic armor property will specifically state that the effect continues even if the armor is taken off). An attunement is lost if someone else wears the item for 24 hours and becomes attuned, at which point the previous attunement is disrupted. The original character can, of course, re-attune to the item with a new 24-hour attunement.
Magic armor cannot have any magic armor properties applied to it unless it has at least a +1 Enhancement bonus also applied to it. For example, you cannot make a suit of Studded Leather armor with the +2 magic armor property of Expeditious unless it has at least a +1 enhancement bonus (and therefore an Absolute Bonus of +3). No armor may be enchanted with Epic magic armor properties unless they have an Enhancement bonus of at least +6.
Important Note: If a character has more than one item equipped which provides magic armor properties, only the item with the highest enhancement bonus actually provides benefits to the wearer (in the event they are the same, the wearer may choose which item functions and which is dormant). The lesser item's magic armor properties provide no benefits whatsoever, even if they are 'always on' abilities, unless the greater item is taken off.
Magic Armor Costs
To determine the cost of a suit of armor, three elements must be added together:
- The cost of the suit of armor.
- The cost of any special materials used to create the armor (e.g. mithril, adamantine, etc.).
- The cost of the Absolute Bonus (the sum of the magic properties and the enhancement bonus).
Absolute Bonus
The Absolute Bonus is determined by adding together the plus values of the armor's Enhancement Bonus and any Magical Properties it will be enchanted with. For example, a +2 Expeditious Breastplate has a +4 Absolute Bonus, since the Expeditious property has a +2 cost associated with it.
Dweomermetals
Dweomermetals, such as mithril, argent and bloodgold, can grant the armor special qualities, as well as improved hardness and durability. The prices and special qualities of each dweomermetal are described in detail on the Dweomermetals page.
Dweomermetals do not alter the Absolute Bonus of armor, though the cost for armor made with a dweomermetal is added to the overall cost of the armor.
Note that special materials can be added to an existing suit of armor, or an existing dweomermetal can be removed entirely, or removed and replaced with a different dweomermetal. See the reforging rules referenced from the Dweomermetals page.
Campaign Level
Heroic tier characters (characters from level 1 to level 20) can wear armor with an enhancement bonus up to +5, and can have up to +5 pluses worth of Magic Armor properties applied to their armor, though there must always be at least +1 Enhancement bonus on the armor before any magic armor properties can be applied. As a result, heroic tier characters can wear armor with an absolute bonus of anything from +1 to +10.
Epic tier characters (characters level 21 to level 35) can wear armor with an enhancement bonus up to +9, and can have a total of up to +9 pluses-worth of Magic Armor properties applied to their armor (resulting in an Absolute Bonus as high as +18). However, the enhancement bonus of the armor must be raised to at least +6 before it can have any Epic magic armor properties applied to it.
Any attempt to wear armor more magically enchanted than your level allows results in the character taking a non-proficiency penalty with the armor (-4 to attack rolls), and the possibility of even more dire consequences (such as insanity, or being controlled by the armor).
At level 36 and higher (apotheosis) all restrictions on enhancement bonuses and the magic item properties are lifted, at which point the armor may be enchanted in any way the characters can afford.
Upgrading and Changing Magic Armor Properties
Magic armor properties can be removed from a suit of magic armor, replaced with altogether new properties, or upgraded to a higher version of the existing magic armor property (when applicable). The cost to do so is the difference in cost between the old Absolute Bonus and the new Absolute Bonus. However, if the Absolute Bonus goes down, there is no refund of money unless you can convince the craftsman performing the alterations why he should actually pay you for the privilege of doing that work. Performing magic armor property swaps and upgrades takes one full day of work per change in the Absolute Bonus, with a minimum of 1 full day. Even if this work isn't performed by a player, the player must wait for the alterations to be performed, and they cannot make use of the armor while the craftsman is working on it. Some craftsmen might offer to lend or rent out a suit of armor while their customers wait, though they would expect the loaner armor to return to them in good condition.
Enhancement bonuses cannot be removed from magic armor once applied, but the enhancement bonus can be increased. If the armor is made from a dweomermetal that offers an alternate way of allocating the enhancement bonus, this can also be changed by a craftsman (or a character with the Creator feat), but performing this work also takes one full day of work per change in the Absolute Bonus, with a minimum of 1 full day.
Magic Armor which is altered in such a way as to violate the limitations of the campaign level will inflict a non-proficiency penalty on the wearer, or worse.
+1 Armor Magic Properties
| Magic Item Name | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Benevolent | Increase Aid Another bonus to armor by +2. | +1 |
| Bitter | This armor is yucky, making bite-grapples and swallow attacks more difficult | +1 |
| Deathless | Gain ER 10/positive and ER 10/negative, and ignore one point of Essence Suppression or Essence Omission per day. | +1 |
| Fortification, Light | Gain limited, stacking, Damage Reduction that only protects against critical hits or precision damage. | +1 |
| Grinding | Enemies grappling you take damage | +1 |
| Impervious | The armor is much harder to destroy | +1 |
| Spell Storing | Stores a single spell of up to 3rd level, which can be used as a free action. | +1 |
| Stanching | Reduce bleed effects by the armor's enhancement bonus | +1 |
+2 Armor Magic Properties
| Magic Item Name | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Expeditious | Gain brief bursts of incredible movement. | +2 |
| Glamered | Change your armor to appear as clothing | +2 |
| Invulnerability, Lesser | Gain Damage Resistance (DR) versus common physical damage types. | +2 |
| Jousting | Gain a +5 bonus on Ride skill checks | +2 |
| Shadow | Shadow (Armor Magic Property) | Shadow (Armor Magic Property) |
| Slick | Gain a +3 on Escape Artist skill checks | +2 |
| Spell Resistance, Minor | Wearer gains spell resistance | +2 |
| Spell Storing, Abundant | Stores up to two spells of up to 3rd level, which can be used as a free action. | +2 |
+3 Armor Magic Properties
| Magic Item Name | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Adhesive | Wearer gains a Lesser Climb speed of 20 feet, and bonuses to some Maneuver Offense checks. | +3 |
| Arcanist | Lowers the spell failure chance by fifteen percent. | +3 |
| Delving | Wearer gains a Burrowing speed of 10 feet | +3 |
| Diving | Wearer gains a Lesser Swim speed of 20 feet and can breathe underwater | +3 |
| Fortification, Moderate | Gain limited, stacking, Damage Reduction that only protects against critical hits or precision damage. | +3 |
| Graceful | Graceful (Armor Magic Property) | Graceful (Armor Magic Property) |
| Hosteling | Store mounts, familiars, and/or animal companions safely within your armor | +1 |
| Jousting, Improved | Gain a +5 bonus on Ride skill checks and access to a Jousting Pool | +3 |
| Radiant | Armor gives off light on command and can reveal nearby concealed or invisible creatures | +3 |
| Scratching | Enemies grappling you take damage | +3 |
| Spell Resistance, Lesser | Wearer gains spell resistance | +3 |
| Spell Storing, Improved | Stores a single spell of up to 5th level, which can be used as a free action. | +3 |
| Stanching, Improved | Reduce bleed effects by the armor's enhancement bonus and gain Cure Light Wounds once per day. | +3 |
| Titanic | Gain some of the benefits of being one size category larger | +3 |
+4 Armor Magic Properties
| Magic Item Name | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Adhesive, Improved | Wearer gains a Lesser Climb speed of 40 feet, and bonuses to some Maneuver Offense checks. | +4 |
| Delving, Improved | Wearer gains a Tunneling speed of 30 feet, is surrounded by breathable air, immune to poisons and diseases, and gains bonuses against Environmental Effects. | +4 |
| Diving, Improved | Wearer gains a Lesser Swim speed of 50 feet and can breathe underwater | +4 |
| Expeditious, Improved | Gain brief bursts of incredible movement. | +4 |
| Fluid | Fluid (Armor Magic Property) | Fluid (Armor Magic Property) |
| Innkeepers | Armor functions as a secure and comfortable retreat. | +4 |
| Invulnerability, Common | Gain Damage Resistance (DR) versus common physical damage types. | +4 |
| Jousting, Greater | Gain a +5 bonus on Ride skill checks and access to a 9d6 Jousting Pool | +4 |
| Martyring | Heal your allies when you get critically hit | +4 |
| Scraping | Enemies grappling you take corrosion (physical, uncommon) damage | +4 |
| Shadow, Improved | Shadow, Improved (Armor Magic Property) | Shadow, Improved (Armor Magic Property) |
| Slick, Improved | Once per day, escape from a grapple | +4 |
| Spell Resistance, Improved | Wearer gains spell resistance | +4 |
| Spell Storing, Ample | Stores up to two spells of up to 4th level, which can be used as a free action. | +4 |
| Zephyr | Wearer gains a lesser flight speed of 30 feet | +4 |
+5 Armor Magic Properties
| Magic Item Name | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Adhesive, Greater | Wearer gains a Lesser Climb speed of 60 feet, and bonuses to some Maneuver Offense checks. | +5 |
| Determination | Armor restores wearer to their bloodied value of hit points when they are reduced to 0 or fewer hit points | +3 |
| Diving, Greater | Wearer gains a Greater Swim speed of 60 feet and can breathe underwater | +5 |
| Etherealness | Etherealness (Armor Magic Property) | Etherealness (Armor Magic Property) |
| Fortification, Heavy | Gain limited, stacking, Damage Reduction that only protects against critical hits or precision damage. | +5 |
| Invulnerability, Improved | Gain Damage Resistance (DR) versus common physical damage types. | +5 |
| Reactive I | Removes all armor penalties, adds +1 to many skills, adds +5 feet movement. | +2 |
| Righteous | Righteous (Armor Magic Property) | Righteous (Armor Magic Property) |
| Shadow, Greater | Shadow, Greater (Armor Magic Property) | Shadow, Greater (Armor Magic Property) |
| Slick, Greater | Wearer cannot be grappled | +5 |
| Spell Resistance, Greater | Wearer gains spell resistance | +5 |
| Spell Storing, Greater | Stores a single spell of up to 7th level, which can be used as a free action. | +5 |
| Stanching, Greater | Reduce bleed effects by the armor's enhancement bonus and gain curing when injured or bloodied. | +5 |
+6 Epic Armor Magic Properties
| Magic Item Name | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Adhesive, True | Wearer gains a Greater Climb speed of 60 feet, and bonuses to some Maneuver Offense checks. | +6 (epic) |
| Delving, Greater | Wearer gains a Tunneling speed of 60 feet, is surrounded by breathable air, immune to poisons and diseases, and gains bonuses against Environmental Effects. | +6 (epic) |
| Diving, True | Wearer gains a Greater Swim speed of 90 feet and can breathe underwater | +6 (epic) |
| Dimensional | Once per encounter (or once per minute) the wearer may use Dimension Door | +6 (epic) |
| Expeditious, Greater | Gain brief bursts of incredible movement. | +6 (epic) |
| Force Armor | Wearer is immune to being Flat-footed, more easily resists touch attacks, and gain ER 50/force. | +6 (epic) |
| Grating | Enemies grappling or moving you take corrosion (physical, uncommon) damage | +6 (epic) |
| Invulnerability, Strong | Gain Damage Resistance (DR) versus common physical damage types. | +6 (epic) |
| Jousting, True | Gain a +5 bonus on Ride skill checks and access to a 15d6+30 Jousting Pool | +6 (epic) |
| Reactive II | Removes all armor penalties, adds +2 to many skills, adds +10 feet movement. | +3 |
| Spell Storing, Capacious | Stores up to three spells of up to 6th level, which can be used as a free action. | +6 (epic) |
+7 Epic Armor Magic Properties
| Magic Item Name | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Delving, True | Wearer gains an Earth Glide speed of 60 feet, is surrounded by breathable air, immune to poisons and diseases, and gains bonuses against Environmental Effects. | +7 (epic) |
| Expeditious, Perfected | Gain brief bursts of incredible movement. | +7 (epic) |
| Fortification, Absolute | Gain limited, stacking, Damage Reduction that only protects against critical hits or precision damage. | +7 (epic) |
| Reactive III | Removes all armor penalties, adds +3 to many skills, adds +15 feet movement. | +4 |
| Shadows, Absolute | Shadows, Absolute (Armor Magic Property) | Shadows, Absolute (Armor Magic Property) |
| Slick, Absolute | Slide to nearby squares as a swift action. | +7 (epic) |
| Spell Storing, True | Stores a single spell of up to 9th level, which can be used as a free action. | +7 (epic) |
| Stanching, True | Reduce bleed effects by the armor's enhancement bonus and gain curing when injured or bloodied. | +7 (epic) |
+8 Epic Armor Magic Properties
| Magic Item Name | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Adhesive, Perfect | Wearer gains a Greater Climb speed of 100 feet, and bonuses to some Maneuver Offense checks. | +8 (epic) |
| Diving, Perfect | Wearer gains a Greater Swim speed of 150 feet and can breathe underwater | +8 (epic) |
| Expeditious, Absolute | Gain brief bursts of incredible movement. | +8 (epic) |
| Eroding | Enemies grappling or moving you take squamous (physical, rare) damage | +8 (epic) |
| Invulnerability, Greater | Gain Damage Resistance (DR) versus common physical damage types. | +8 (epic) |
| Jousting, Perfect | Gain a +5 bonus on Ride skill checks and access to a 30d6+180 Jousting Pool | +8 (epic) |
| Reactive IV | Removes all armor penalties, adds +4 to many skills, adds +20 feet movement. | +5 |
| Shadows, True | Shadows, True (Armor Magic Property) | Shadows, True (Armor Magic Property) |
| Spell Storing, Amazing | Stores up to three spells of up to 8th level, which can be used as a free action. | +8 (epic) |
+9 Epic Armor Magic Properties
| Magic Item Name | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Changeless | The wearer is immune to ability damage, essence damage, and fatigue. | +9 (epic) |
| Delving, Perfect | Wearer gains an Earth Glide speed of 120 feet, is surrounded by breathable air, immune to poisons and diseases, and gains bonuses against Environmental Effects. | +9 (epic) |
| Expeditious, Mighty | Gain many brief bursts of incredible movement. | +9 (epic) |
| Invulnerability, True | Gain Damage Resistance (DR) versus Common physical damage types. | +9 (epic) |
| Reactive V | Removes all armor penalties, adds +5 to many skills, adds +30 feet movement. | +6 (epic) |
| Shadows, Perfect | Shadows, Perfect (Armor Magic Property) | Shadows, Perfect (Armor Magic Property) |
| Spell Storing, Perfect | Stores up to five spells of up to 9th level, which can be used as a free action. | +9 (epic) |
| Stanching, Perfect | Reduce bleed effects by the armor's enhancement bonus and gain curing when injured or bloodied. | +9 (epic) |
| Traveler | Grants Dimension Door as move actions and Shades, 1/encounter. | +9 (epic) |