Armor Optimization Feats

IcyCool · Mar 21, 2005

I'm proposing the following feats for Living EnWorld. I had heard talk of a possible gladiator prestige class and or feats, and I thought these might fit in nicely. If this is stepping on someone's toes, please post here and we'll work out something. Suggestions and comments are welcome.

Without further ado:

LIGHT ARMOR OPTIMIZATION [GENERAL, FIGHTER]
Through focused training and practice, you are able to get more benefit out of light armor.
Prerequisites: Armor Proficiency (Light), BAB +1
Benefit: When wearing light armor, increase its Max Dex bonus by 1 and decrease its Armor Check penalty by 1. Increase the Armor bonus of the armor by 1 instead of reducing the Armor Check penalty if this reduction would reduce the penalty below 0.
Special: A fighter may select this feat as one of his bonus feats. Medium armor made of mithril counts as light armor for the purpose of interacting with this feat.

GREATER LIGHT ARMOR OPTIMIZATION [GENERAL, FIGHTER]
Through focused training and practice, you are able to get more benefit out of light armor.
Prerequisites: Armor Proficiency (Light), Light Armor Optimization, BAB +3
Benefit: When wearing light armor, increase its Max Dex bonus by 1 and decrease its Armor Check penalty by 1. Increase the Armor bonus of the armor by 1 instead of reducing the Armor Check penalty if this reduction would reduce the penalty below 0. These reductions and bonuses are cumulative with (stack with) those granted by Light Armor Optimization.
Special: A fighter may select this feat as one of his bonus feats. Medium armor made of mithril counts as light armor for the purpose of interacting with this feat.

MEDIUM ARMOR OPTIMIZATION [GENERAL, FIGHTER]
Through focused training and practice, you are able to move more easily in medium armor.
Prerequisites: Armor Proficiency (Light), Armor Proficiency (Medium), BAB +1
Benefit: When wearing medium armor, reduce its Armor Check penalty by 1 and increase the Speed in the speed column by 5ft, to a limit of their unarmored base speed. For example, a human fighter with this feat and wearing chainmail would have an adjusted speed of 25ft, but a dwarf fighter with this feat would still have a speed of 20ft. A dwarven barbarian with fast movement would have a speed of 25ft.
Special: A fighter may select this feat as one of his bonus feats. Heavy armor made of mithril counts as medium armor for the purpose of interacting with this feat. Medium armor made of mithril counts as light armor for the purpose of interacting with this feat.

GREATER MEDIUM ARMOR OPTIMIZATION [GENERAL, FIGHTER]
Through focused training and practice, you are able to move more easily in medium armor.
Prerequisites: Armor Proficiency (Light), Armor Proficiency (Medium), Medium Armor Optimization, BAB +3
Benefit: When wearing medium armor, reduce its Armor Check penalty by 1 and increase the Speed in the speed column by 5ft. For example, a human fighter with this feat and wearing chainmail would have an adjusted speed of 30ft, but a dwarf fighter with this feat would still have a speed of 20ft. A dwarven barbarian with fast movement would have a speed of 30ft. These bonuses are cumulative (stack with) those granted by Medium Armor Optimization.
Special: A fighter may select this feat as one of his bonus feats. Heavy armor made of mithril counts as medium armor for the purpose of interacting with this feat. Medium armor made of mithril counts as light armor for the purpose of interacting with this feat.

nimisgod · Mar 22, 2005

I suggest you should put out some low BAB reqs (+1 to +3) so nobody gets them too early in the game. At least, that's what they did in Races of Stone.

I really like these feats.

Question: Are Medium armor Opt. and Greater Medium Armor opt. usable on mithral heavy armor?

IcyCool · Mar 22, 2005

nimisgod said:
I suggest you should put out some low BAB reqs (+1 to +3) so nobody gets them too early in the game. At least, that's what they did in Races of Stone.

I really like these feats.

Question: Are Medium armor Opt. and Greater Medium Armor opt. usable on mithral heavy armor?

That's more of a question for what mithral heavy armor classifies as. I thought WOTC finally came out and said that mithral heavy counted for all intents and purposes as medium armor. What is Living EnWorld's stance on this?

Also, I'm thinking my wording on the Medium optimization feats is off. As it stands, according to the feat, a dwarf in medium armor with both feats has a speed of 30ft. Anyone have a suggestion on how to word this so that it doesn't make you faster than your normal speed? My brain doesn't want to work today.

IcyCool · Mar 22, 2005

Ok, I've made a couple of changes, and am now satisfied with the wording. What do the judges think?

Knight Otu · Mar 23, 2005

The speed thing was the only problem I had. It's a bit unfortunate that faster creatures won't get to their full speed with this feat, but there is no easy way to do that.
Also, technically the Fighter category is not necessary, as that is covered by the sentence in Special. I think I can give my seal of Approval on that.