Clockwork Armor - how does it work?

[ProfessorCirno]

So, clockwork armor

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/cw/20070212a

The clockwork armor is...weird.  I'm guessing it's a heavy armor, but it almost looks like, if you have proficiency in heavy armor and make the craft/spellcraft check, it's more or less just a free 8 AC and +4 strength/dex with no ASF or ACP, and no dexterity limit.  Um.  What?  Would it also be enchantable?  This armor is "what" all over the place.

So uh, how does it work?

[Solo]

Enchantable. Runs on magical gears. No listed Dex bonus allowable.

[snakeman830]

If meet requirements: +8 armor bonus, 0 Armor Check Penalty, 0% Arcane Spell Failure, no max Dex bonus, +4 circumstance bonus to Str and Dex

If not meet requirements: +8 armor bonus, -8 Armor Check Penalty, 90% Arcane spell Failure, no max Dex bonus +4 circumstance bonus to Str, -4 Circumstance penalty to Dex

[Negative Zero]

By flavor (and RAW), I'd say it has no ASF, ACP, or dex limit. The point is that it's crazy-good armor, but it's fragile and annoying to deal with. It's heavily implied (although not stated) to be heavy armor, and it does list penalties if you aren't proficient (pretty massive penalties, too). I don't see why you couldn't enchant it.

[PlzBreakMyCampaign]

if it isn't heavy and has no max dex it rules. Hell just that last one is enough. If it max dex=0, then its just meh

[bearsarebrown]

This isn't armor. Meaning monks should be in it.

[Negative Zero]

This isn't armor. Meaning monks should be in it.

Where do you get that idea? The article calls it armor several times. The fact that it uses modified rules doesn't negate the fact that it's armor, methinks.

[BowenSilverclaw]

Only thing that I keep wondering about, is there a way to make an item immune to cold damage?

This might be fun for my Kobold Artificer

[A_Shadow_of_Life]

...Cleric/Rogue/ (That one class in the Complete Adventurer...) You have found the love! Prepare to be attacked by 42 Great Wyrm White Dragons.

[snakeman830]

Only thing that I keep wondering about, is there a way to make an item immune to cold damage?

This might be fun for my Kobold Artificer

The damage the armor takes is irrelevant to if it freezes up or not.  Only the damage you take.

So, if you're immune to Cold and fail your save against a cold effect, then you have to take 0 fire damage to thaw out again.

[ProfessorCirno]

Only thing that I keep wondering about, is there a way to make an item immune to cold damage?

This might be fun for my Kobold Artificer

Medium creatures only, I'm afraid ;p

[BowenSilverclaw]

Only thing that I keep wondering about, is there a way to make an item immune to cold damage?

This might be fun for my Kobold Artificer

Medium creatures only, I'm afraid ;p

Ow crap...

[PhaedrusXY]

Only thing that I keep wondering about, is there a way to make an item immune to cold damage?

This might be fun for my Kobold Artificer

Medium creatures only, I'm afraid ;p

Bah, Alter Self. Next problem.

[BowenSilverclaw]

Only thing that I keep wondering about, is there a way to make an item immune to cold damage?

This might be fun for my Kobold Artificer

Medium creatures only, I'm afraid ;p

Bah, Alter Self. Next problem.

Into what, a Dragon? That'll help with wearing armor

Is there a way to explicitely shrink items one size category?
Otherwise I need to see if I can get my hands on an item of Expansion or something...

[PhaedrusXY]

Only thing that I keep wondering about, is there a way to make an item immune to cold damage?

This might be fun for my Kobold Artificer

Medium creatures only, I'm afraid ;p

Bah, Alter Self. Next problem.

Into what, a Dragon? That'll help with wearing armor

Is there a way to explicitely shrink items one size category?
Otherwise I need to see if I can get my hands on an item of Expansion or something...

Is he a dragon? If he's a humanoid, just about anything would work. If he's a dragon it's a bit trickier, but I think a spellscale might work. With all the dragon-flavored races, there's got to be one that's medium sized and generally humanoid shaped, right?

[BowenSilverclaw]

Only thing that I keep wondering about, is there a way to make an item immune to cold damage?

This might be fun for my Kobold Artificer

Medium creatures only, I'm afraid ;p

Bah, Alter Self. Next problem.

Into what, a Dragon? That'll help with wearing armor

Is there a way to explicitely shrink items one size category?
Otherwise I need to see if I can get my hands on an item of Expansion or something...

Is he a dragon? If he's a humanoid, just about anything would work. If he's a dragon it's a bit trickier, but I think a spellscale might work. With all the dragon-flavored races, there's got to be one that's medium sized and generally humanoid shaped, right?

Kobold with Dragonwrought feat, so Dragon Type.

I'd prefer to keep him Small for flavor purposes (heresy, I know ), which is why I asked for a way to explicitely shrink items one size category

[JaronK]

Because of the proficiency thing I assume it's heavy armor.  The part about attacking the armor is annoying but can be dealt with... make it Dwarvencraft Quality for +2 hardness, cast the Harden spell on it to add half your caster level to the hardness, then once every caster level days cast Augment Object on it to double the hardness.  That should be enough to get the job done, protecting your armor from the majority of damage.

JaronK

[BowenSilverclaw]

Because of the proficiency thing I assume it's heavy armor.  The part about attacking the armor is annoying but can be dealt with... make it Dwarvencraft Quality for +2 hardness, cast the Harden spell on it to add half your caster level to the hardness, then once every caster level days cast Augment Object on it to double the hardness.  That should be enough to get the job done, protecting your armor from the majority of damage.

JaronK

Source on those things, if you'd be so kind?

[Thaosyr23]

I don't see why an art. with enough ranks in engineering couldn't build his own suit after seeing one. It could have even "come to him in a dream" ooooOOOooOoo spooky.


art infusions should keep the armor running smoothly.

[BowenSilverclaw]

Heh, the dream thing actually fits pretty well with the campaign I'm currently playing in, but I'd like to have a backup plan just in case