Upgrading armor

[Evilhalfling]

Is it possible to start with one type of special or magical armor and add pieces until it is something else? If you can then can it be changed back, by leaving off pieces?
I am fairly certain there are no rules for this, what does common sense say?

leather -> studded leather
Chain shirt ->chainmail ->halfplate
Breast plate -> halfplate

These seem to be the only workable combinations, as all other armors are described as distictly differernt.

The case in question is a PC who is starting with adamantium medium armor and wants the option of upgrading it to heavy later.


The rule of thumb for magic upgrades (enchantments only) is to pay the difference between the two prices.
so adamantium chainmail to halfplate could be 450 + 5000 gp

 

[gtJormungand]

There are no core rules (or any others that I've heard of) that exist for this. The DM can decide to do whatever they want with it, but your idea so far seems good enough, but someone would have to actually spend time using the craft skill to make the armor.

 

[Bigwilly]

Looks about right

Looking at the difference in cost between the armors in the SRD, this is how I would rule it in my campaign. However, note that if the guy is crafting the stuff himself, he only needs 1/3 of the market price in raw materials.

By the rules, crafting would be:
Basic Half plate DC 17 (10+AC) to craft, 150 gp in materials.
Adamantium component (masterwork) DC 20, 1667 gp in materials

NSEDM crafting rules:
Upgrade to half plate in one easy step, DC 20, 1800-2000 gp in materials depending on mood (on second thoughts, 2000 is a nice round number).

Bigwilly

 

[TheEvil]

I would point out that leather armor generally refers to boiled or hardened leather, whereas studded leather armor is a softer leather covered in metal 'studs'.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

One of Wizards most recent books (AFAIK the Planar Handbook) had an armor that could be worn as light, medium or heavy (basically a full plate you could wear whole or only parts of)

 

[Khayman]

One of Wizards most recent books (AFAIK the Planar Handbook) had an armor that could be worn as light, medium or heavy (basically a full plate you could wear whole or only parts of)

Yep --- Planar Handbook, p. 69-70. It's called sectioned armor --- basically, MW full plate from which you can remove plates to sleep/sneak around/etc. It is statted for light, medium, and heavy.