Mithral armor costs for small characters

[Legildur]

The equipment table states that full plate for a small sized character is half the weight (25 lbs) of a suit for a medium-size character (50 lbs).

The table for special materials states that you add 9000gp to the cost of a suit of heavy armor to make it from mithral.

Would that additional cost remain the same for a suit for small character given that the armor uses half the material for a medium-sized character? (working off SRD this morning, so not sure if DMG has some additional description)

(I'm looking at a gnome fighter in full plate and tower shield for a 4th level one-shot in a week or so. Current feats are Dodge, Titan Fighting (from Races of Stone), and Goad (Complete Adventurer), in an attempt to create a 'turtle' that the foe is forced to attack but can't hit. With +1 full plate, current AC is 30, with touch 17, and flat-footed 24. Attack bonus is miserable, but hey, can't have everything at 4th level.)

 

[silentspace]

sorry, i believe as written its a straight number, even if its for dimunutive or colossal creatures. a bit costly for a 4th level

 

[Jack Simth]

Somewhat unclear in RAW.

Does the size multiplier on costs comes after the cost for add-ons such as Mithral and Masterwork? Doesn't really matter, as the multiplier for small armor is 1, but still....

 

[Cedric]

The prices are based on weight, so I adjust them accordingly.

 

[BlackSeed_Vash]

Depending upon the DM, your either going to have to pay 9750gp (1500*1/2+9000) or 5250gp [1/2(1500+9000)].
By Raw you would be paying the 9750gp. IMO I feel you should pay at least 5250gp and at most 7500gp (average of the 2 prices).

 

[ValhallaGH]

95% of the cost of special materials comes from the workmanship, not the material.
95% of the cost of masterwork comes from the workmanship, not the material.

Mithral adds a set cost to the price of the armor, just like masterworking does. The price modifier is the same, regardless of size. This is true for game balance and themantic reasons.

 

[Cedric]

95% of the cost of special materials comes from the workmanship, not the material.
95% of the cost of masterwork comes from the workmanship, not the material.

Mithral adds a set cost to the price of the armor, just like masterworking does. The price modifier is the same, regardless of size. This is true for game balance and themantic reasons.

I do understand your logic and going from medium to small or medium to large it makes a certain amount of sense and isn't terribly unbalancing.

However, it breaks down completely when I'm making a set of Mithral Full Plate for a Storm Giant...or a set of Mithral Full Plate for a tiny sprite like a Grig.

Going with the more extreme examples makes it very clear to me that this cost should be adjusted accordingly by weight.

 

[ValhallaGH]

I do understand your logic and going from medium to small or medium to large it makes a certain amount of sense and isn't terribly unbalancing.

However, it breaks down completely when I'm making a set of Mithral Full Plate for a Storm Giant...or a set of Mithral Full Plate for a tiny sprite like a Grig.

Going with the more extreme examples makes it very clear to me that this cost should be adjusted accordingly by weight.

Well, since you accept my 95% statement without argument then you also agree that only 5% of the 9k gp will be adjusted. So 8,550 gp of the cost for heavy mithral armor is constant and the remaining 450 gp is adjusted by the weight multiplier of the armor.

Seems like too much complication for a minuscule issue, to me. But to each their own.

 

[Cedric]

Well, since you accept my 95% statement without argument then you also agree that only 5% of the 9k gp will be adjusted. So 8,550 gp of the cost for heavy mithral armor is constant and the remaining 450 gp is adjusted by the weight multiplier of the armor.

Seems like too much complication for a minuscule issue, to me. But to each their own.

Understanding your logic and saying that it makes "a certain amount of sense," in no way implies that I agree with you. If I agreed with you, I'd have said, I agree with you.

Instead what I am saying is that I can see what steps you took to arrive at your conclusion, but I feel you are wrong. Furthermore, there is no precedent, that I know of, for your 95% figure.

If so much of the cost was derived from the workmanship alone, I do not think there would be a 500gp/lb value for making non-armor/weapon items from Mithral.

 

[Legildur]

95% of the cost of special materials comes from the workmanship, not the material.
95% of the cost of masterwork comes from the workmanship, not the material.

Is there a reference that you can link this to? I couldn't find one in the SRD, and looking at my DMG/PHB will have to wait until I get home from work.