T Better Armors for D&D 5e his supplement is intended to be dropped into an existing D&D 5e campaign quickly and easily. It adds new mechanics to the way armor behaves, as well as adding Properties to different armor types. This way, a player can have more choices to make about how their character is equipped. The armor given in this supplement is assumed to match with the technology level of the typical D&D setting, roughly equivalent to the late medieval to early renaissance periods in Europe. It can be used on its own or alongside either Better Shields or Better Weapons. To begin using Better Armors, simply select the armor from this supplement that most closely resembles the characteristics of the armor your players currently use. Mechanics This section explains the mechanical changes that Better Armors brings to the game. If a mechanic is not mentioned here, use the standard rules. Sleeping In Armor Armor is not suitable to sleep in unless it has the Comfortable property. If you sleep in armor without this property, you regain only a quarter of your hit dice and do not lose any levels of Exhaustion. Resizing Armor Armor is usually fitted to its wearer, and when you acquire some that was not made for you, it will need to be altered to fit. This is only possible if the armor is for a creature of your size or greater. To do this, you may take it to a relevant craftsperson to have alterations made to it, or with the appropriate tools, proficiency, and materials, you can make the alterations yourself. If you have a craftsperson modify the armor for you, it will cost one fifth the cost of the armor. Materials to do so will cost one tenth the price. If the armor was made for a creature of your size category, you may use it without alteration if it does not have the Bespoke property. If wearing armor that is incorrectly sized for you, you must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw at the end of every day or gain a level of Exhaustion. Dexterity Caps In standard 5e, medium armor has a cap on the dexterity bonus added to your armor class of +2. In this supplement, each armor has its own cap based on how much it impedes movement. The number listed reflects the maximum dexterity bonus you may add to your armor class. Heavy armor does not factor dexterity into AC calculation at all - so you suffer no penalty from negative dexterity while wearing it. Harsher Requirements As standard in 5e, failure to meet an armor's strength requirement only reduces movement speed by 10 ft. In this supplement, failing to meet an armor's strength requirement has the following consequences: Your speed is reduced by 10 ft. You have disadvantage on all Dexterity and Strength checks and saving throws. Improved Coverage Because of how completely heavy armor covers its wearer, you do not suffer any penalty to your Dexterity Saving Throw as a result of your Dexterity modifier while wearing heavy armor. For example: if you are a first level character with -2 Dexterity who is wearing heavy armor, your Dexterity Saving Throw bonus is 0 because your negative dexterity modifier is compensated for by your armor. 1 This is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
Armor Information Light Armor Armor Cost Armor Class (AC) Strength Stealth Weight Properties Padded 10 gp 11 — — 6 lb. Comfortable Layered 25 gp 11 — — 6 lb. Bespoke, comfortable, unassuming Leather 25 gp 12 — — 8 lb. Bespoke Mail vest 45 gp 12 — — 10 lb. Comfortable, unassuming Medium Armor Armor Cost Armor Class (AC) Strength Stealth Weight Properties Hide 10 gp 12 — — 12 lb. Comfortable, unassuming Haubergeon 100 gp 14 13 Disadvantage 20 lb. Flexible Breastplate 500 gp 14 — — 12 lb. Bespoke Jack of Plate 600 gp 14 13 — 15 lb. Bespoke, unassuming Brigandine 400 gp 15 13 Disadvantage 20 lb. Bespoke Half plate 750 gp 16 15 Disadvantage 25 lb. Bespoke Armor Cost Armor Class (AC) Strength Stealth Weight Properties Chain mail 200 gp 16 15 Disadvantage 30 lb. Flexible Splint 750 gp 17 13 Disadvantage 35 lb. Bespoke Plate 1500 gp 18 15 Disadvantage 50 lb. Bastion, bespoke, encumbering Armor Properties Bespoke. This armor is custom-made for its wearer. It cannot be worn by anyone else, and modifying it will be difficult. Modifying this armor to fit a new wearer of a smaller size category costs two-fifths the listed price of the armor, and modifying it for another creature of the same size category costs half the listed price. Comfortable. This armor is flexible and comfortable enough to sleep in - you do not suffer penalties associated with sleeping in armor. Unassuming. This armor is not obviously armor. As a result, it can be worn in situations where more overt armor would be inappropriate. This may be because it can be worn under clothing, or because of its appearance. Flexible. This armor is constructed so as to minimize awkwardness or restriction of movement. If you don't meet the armor's strength requirements, you do not suffer disadvantage on Dexterity or Strength checks and saving throws. Bastion. This armor offers almost total coverage. When making a Dexterity saving throw, you may use your Constitution bonus and weather the storm instead of using your Dexterity bonus to evade it. Encumbering. This armor is difficult to move swiftly in, either because it is inflexible, or because it distributes weight unevenly. Your speed is reduced by 5 ft when wearing it. 2 This is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
Armor Descriptions Light Armors Padded. Padded armor is any armor made of quilted or padded fabric. It is the cheapest form of armor, but does offer some modest protection. It is the most comfortable form of armor, and often forms the base layer of more expensive armor types. It is unique in that it can be worn underneath heavier armor types. It includes leather boots and basic gloves. Layered. Layered armor is armor made from layering together many layers of thin fabric. Due to the increased material requirements, it is considerably more costly than padded armor, but it is much harder to discern it as being protective gear - it can be fashioned into a form that closely resembles thick clothing. Leather. Leather armor is armor made from vegetable tanned leather boiled in wax, shaped for the user and worn over padding. It is relatively inexpensive compared to other kinds of armor and offers greater protection than padding alone. Armors made from wood, bamboo, or even more rigid cloth armors like the linothorax can behave very similarly to leather armor. This set includes basic leather gloves and is comprised of padded armor that has been reinforced with the addition of boiled leather elements. Mail vest. A mail vest is a sleeveless vest of chain mail that is intended to be worn between layers of ordinary clothing, which muffles any noise it may make. It is designed to offer protection without drawing attention, and is popular among nobles, spies, and diplomats. Medium Armors Hide. Hide armor is formed of thick hides and pelts. It is popular among nomads and others who dwell for long periods in the wilderness, as it is easily made from natural resources. It is intended as protection, but can often be mistaken for clothing. Scale. Scale armor consists of a long vest with metal scales attached to a substrate of leather or fabric as a backing that runs to the mid thigh. This then sits over the top of a layer of padded armor. This set includes leather gloves and boots. Haubergeon. A haubergeon is a shirt of chain mail that goes down to the mid thigh and has full sleeves. It is commonly used by fighters that prize mobility and cannot afford armor that uses plates. This set includes padded armor supplemented by an overlaid coat of chain mail that goes to the wrists and mid thighs. Breastplate. The breastplate is a metal plate that protects only the front of the user's torso, worn with supple leather straps on the shoulders. Worn by those that treasure mobility above all else or those not expecting to be in the thick of combat. This set includes leather gloves and boots. Jack of Plate. A jack of plate is constructed similarly to brigandine, but the metal in a jack of plate is sewn in to the fabric rather than riveted. The end result is a highly protective but subtle armor for the torso. This set includes leather gloves and boots. Brigandine. Brigandine consists of lamellar armor that is covered with a layer of cloth or leather affixed to the lames by metal studs. The leather or cloth cover is often adorned with heraldry or bright colours. This set includes a base layer of padded armor under a full cuirass covering the back and breast down to the waist, as well as pauldrons and vambraces of the same construction. Half plate. Half plate includes a plate armor cuirass, but is not a full harness. Due to the workmanship and cost required, it is used by those that can afford the best, but who want to prioritise freedom of movement and mobility over total coverage. This set includes a base layer of padded armor under a plate back and breast, set of spaulders, and a pair of gloves. They also sometimes include tassets or faulds. Heavy Armors Chain mail. This is a long coat of chain mail with full sleeves that reaches the knee, with a belt at the waist. It is the most common form of heavy armor, and is often worn under a heraldic surcoat or tabard. This set includes a base layer of padded armor over which a mail hauberk sits and includes a pair of mail gauntlets and chausses. Splint. Splint armor can be used to mean any suit of nonplate metal armor which includes splinted leg and arm protection, but in this case is a suit comprised of a brigandine-style cuirass and full splinted limb protection. This set includes padded armor over which sit a brigandine cuirass, a pair of splinted greaves and cuisses, and a pair of splinted gauntlets and rerebraces. Plate. Plate armor, depending on the setting, may mean plate armor over mail or may mean a full plate harness. This set includes padded armor as a base with a full suit of plate armor over the top - from sabatons to pauldrons. 3 This is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
A Materials and Modifications rmor is typically made from mundane and readily available materials and in a relatively standard form. But an adventurer practically lives in their armor, and they can often find creative and useful ways to modify it to suit their needs, and sometimes they may come across ancient relics made of exotic materials with special properties - or have such pieces made for them. To have an armor made from a material listed here, it must be looted or commissioned from a craftsperson. You will also need the necessary materials and funds for such a unique piece. Modifications are much simpler - these can be applied to any existing armor set for additional benefits, provided you either know a capable craftsperson or are one yourself and have access to the necessary supplies. Upgrades and materials impact the armor's value by the amounts specified. Materials Adamantine. Any armor that is commonly made of metal can be made of adamantine, the hardest substance known to exist. It is extremely hard to work. Any attack against you that would be a critical hit becomes a normal hit, but the Strength requirement for the armor increases by +2. Adamantine is so rare that armor from it does not have a predictable price and cannot be reliably bought, but you should expect to pay at least 1500 gp more than the armor's standard cost. Mithral. Any armor that is commonly made of metal can be made of mithral, a preternaturally strong, flexible, and lightweight metal. If the armor would usually impose a Stealth disadvantage, it does not when made of mithral. Mithral is so rare that armor from it does not have a predictable price and cannot be reliably bought, but you should expect to pay at least 3000 gp more than the armor's standard cost. Sea-steel. Any armor that is commonly made of metal can be made of sea-steel, a silvery alloy of mysterious composition created by cultures that dwell in the oceans and seas of the world. It is noteworthy for the fact that it does not rust or tarnish and can be worked at a relatively low temperature. Armor made of sea-steel is rust-proof and designed to make swimming and underwater locomotion easier - when underwater, you do not have disadvantage on any checks or saves relating to physical movement. Sea-steel is relatively inexpensive where it is made, but those with the knowledge of how to make it dwell almost exclusively underwater, so it can be significantly pricier on land. If you can find someone selling or making pieces from it, you can expect to pay around 500 gp more than the armor's base cost. Modifications Bladed. This armor is built to include a short blade, usually on a gauntlet or vambrace. When you make an unarmed strike, you do an additional 1d4 piercing damage. If the armor has the Unassuming property, it loses it when this upgrade is added. This upgrade costs 25 gp. Convenient. This armor has been built or modified such that it can be donned or doffed more easily than is typical. This is done through creative use of straps, latches, and hinges, or by joining pieces that might otherwise be separate. The armor gains the "Bespoke" property if it does not already have it, and takes half the usual time to don, doff, or strip down. This upgrade costs 25 gp. Decorated. This armor is expensively decorated. It could be beset with gems and stones, inlaid with gold, blackened, blued, painted, or include brass links in the mail. However you choose to have your armor decorated, it is immediately clear that such fine work was very expensive. Whenever you make a Persuasion check while wearing this armor, you have advantage due to the status implied by the fine quality of your armor. Only armor with a value of 50 gp or more can have this upgrade applied, and it is very expensive. Applying the upgrade costs as much as the total value of the armor. Reinforced. This armor is reinforced, whether with supplemental armor or with thicker materials. This upgrade increases the armor's AC by 2. The armor's Dexterity Cap, if it has one, decreases by 2. The Strength requirement for the armor goes up by 2, and the weight goes up by half of its current weight. Additionally, when wearing the armor, your speed is reduced by 5ft. Applying the upgrade costs half as much as the total value of the armor. Scary. This armor is decorated in a sinister or intimidating fashion, whether through gnarled spiked protrusions, painted grotesques, cleverly applied red pigments, or other intimidating enhancements. Whenever you make an Intimidation check while wearing this armor, you have advantage due to the intimidating nature of the armor's design. If the armor has the Unassuming property, it loses it when this upgrade is added. Applying the upgrade costs half as much as the total value of the armor. Spiked. This armor has been modified such that there are spikes, serrations, or sharpened edges on certain areas where they are unlikely to hinder the wearer. When a hostile creature attempts to grapple, shove, or otherwise directly touch you for example as part of an attack, it takes 1d4 points of piercing damage. If the armor has the Unassuming property, it loses it when this upgrade is added. Applying the upgrade costs one quarter of the armor's total value due to the skill required. 4 This is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
Changelog Version 4 Scale removed for redundancy Stripping down removed Version 3 Materials and modifications added Version 2 Total armor table rework Descriptions altered Harsher Requirements added Improved Coverage added Version 1 Splint armor reworded Helmets removed Inconspicuous -> Unassuming Underlayer removed Unassuming removed from Padded armor Half plate weight reduced Rebalanced medium armor stats Version 0 Minimum viable product for feeback: armor, new mechanics, helmets. This is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
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