Is magical armor UNencumbering?

[Steverooo]

Am I crazy? (Don't answer that!) I could swear that, SOMEWHERE, I read a 3e rule that stated magical armor weighs as much as normal armor, but is unencumbering, counting only against the Maximum Weight Carried... In other words, a PC in Adventurer's Clothes (8#), +1 Studded Leather Armor (20#), a +1 Buckler (5#), and with a +1 Longsword (4#) has an effective Enc. of 0# (the first suit of clothes is free, and doesn't count against your weight), but has his/her Maximum Weight Carried reduced by 29#. Ergo, the above PC could swim just as well as one with no equipment!

Is this right? I have searched the Equipment & Adventuring chapters of the PHB, as well as the Magic Items chapter of the DMG, and have been unable to find this rule, anywhere!

Anyone else ever see this rule? Is it in 3e AT ALL??? If so, WHERE?

Help! (Please!)

 

[Thresher]

Not as far as I know.
About the only 'un-encumbering' armour and weapons I can think of is the metal ones made of Mithral.
Heavy becomes medium, Medium Mithral armour counts as light, light armour still counts as light and theres a better dex check and less chance of spell failure.
So I guess you could work out the numbers there for weight, plate weighs as much as chain, chain as studded etc.
As for weapons, the non shield ones that are primarily made of mithral weigh 50% less, but they have to be mostly made of metal so that rules out stuff like a polearm.

 

[shilsen]

You're remembering the 2e rule. In 3e, this does not apply. +1 studded leather armor weighs just as much as normal leather armor.

 

[trentonjoe]

You're remembering the 2e rule. In 3e, this does not apply. +1 studded leather armor weighs just as much as normal leather armor.

I second that. I stll make that mistake sometimes though.

For 14 years +1 chain was unencumbering, now it puts my Str 8 cleric right into medium load.

 

[Dingleberry]

Maybe you're thinking of the rule that your normal clothing doesn't count toward your encumbrance?

 

[Steverooo]

Encumbrance, not weight...

You're remembering the 2e rule. In 3e, this does not apply. +1 studded leather armor weighs just as much as normal leather armor.

I think you meant normal STUDDED leather... Just as I said, above, the WEIGHT is the same. The question is whether or not that weight counts against your Encumbrance... I can't believe that I am remembering a rule from 2e, which I played ONCE, 20 years ago! No one else seems to have ever heard of this rule, though, so I guess I dreamt it.

Water-pit Trap = Death. SAD Reality Check!



(Yes, I realize you get to roll to see if you can hold your breath long enough to get out of the armor, but still...)

 

[trentonjoe]

Re: Encumbrance, not weight...

I can't believe that I am remembering a rule from 2e, which I played ONCE, 20 years ago!

It was a 1st edition rule too!

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Am I crazy? (Don't answer that!) I could swear that, SOMEWHERE, I read a 3e rule that stated magical armor weighs as much as normal armor, but is unencumbering, counting only against the Maximum Weight Carried.

Is this right? I have searched the Equipment & Adventuring chapters of the PHB, as well as the Magic Items chapter of the DMG, and have been unable to find this rule, anywhere!

Anyone else ever see this rule? Is it in 3e AT ALL??? If so, WHERE?

Help! (Please!)

There is no such rule in 3e. What you may be remembering is one sentence in the 3e Conversion Manual (remember that?). On page 6 it says "Armor worn does not affect a character's encumbrance." This statement obviously reflects an earlier version and is not accurate. According to the PH and DMG, armor, magical or not, affects encumbrance.

 

[Steverooo]

There is no such rule in 3e. What you may be remembering is one sentence in the 3e Conversion Manual (remember that?). On page 6 it says "Armor worn does not affect a character's encumbrance." This statement obviously reflects an earlier version and is not accurate. According to the PH and DMG, armor, magical or not, affects encumbrance.

Yes, I DO remember the Conversion Manual (I still have two of them)! Bless you, Dr. Zoom!



(I'm NOT crazy! I'm NOT!!)

 

[Kae'Yoss]

On a related note, magic armor is always masterwork, and therefore the armor penalty will be 1 better.