Armor and Shields
*****************
D&D worlds are a vast tapestry made up of many
different cultures, each with its own technology level.
For this reason, adventurers have access to a variety
of armor types, ranging from leather armor to chain
mail to costly plate armor, with several other kinds of
armor in between. The Armor table collects the most
commonly available types of armor found in the game
and separates them into three categories: light armor,
medium armor, and heavy armor. Many warriors
supplement their armor with a shield.
The Armor table shows the cost, weight, and other
properties of the common types of armor worn in the
worlds of D&D.
**Armor Proficiency.** Anyone can put on a suit of armor
or strap a shield to an arm. Only those proficient in the
armor‘s use know how to wear it effectively, however.
Your class gives you proficiency with certain types of
armor. If you wear armor that you lack proficiency with,
you have disadvantage on any ability check, saving
throw, or attack roll that involves Strength or Dexterity,
and you can’t cast spells.
**Armor Class (AC).** Armor protects its wearer from
attacks. The armor (and shield) you wear determines
your base Armor Class.
**Heavy Armor.** Heavier armor interferes with the
wearer’s ability to move quickly, stealthily, and freely.
If the Armor table shows “Str 13” or “Str 15” in the
Strength column for an armor type, the armor reduces
the wearer‘s speed by 10 feet unless the wearer has a
Strength score equal to or higher than the listed score.
**Stealth.** If the Armor table shows “Disadvantage” in
the Stealth column, the wearer has disadvantage on
Dexterity (Stealth) checks.
**Shields.** A shield is made from wood or metal and
is carried in one hand. Wielding a shield increases
your Armor Class by 2. You can benefit from only one
shield at a time.
Light Armor
-----------
Made from supple and thin materials, l1ght armor favors
agile adventurers since it offers some protection without
sacrificing mobility. If you wear light armor, you add
your Dexterity modifier to the base number from your
armor type to determine your Armor Class.
**Padded.** Padded armor consists of quilted layers of
cloth and batting.
**Leather.** The breastplate and shoulder protectors of
this armor are made of leather that has been stiffened
by being boiled in oil. The rest of the armor is made of
softer and more flexible materials.
**Studded Leather.** Made from tough but flexible
leather, studded leather is reinforced with close—set
rivets or spikes.
Medium Armor
------------
Medium armor offers more protection than light armor,
but it also impairs movement more. If you wear medium
armor, you add your Dexterity modifier, to a maximum
of +2, to the base number from your armor type to
determine your Armor Class.
**Hide.** This crude armor consists of thick furs and
pelts. It is commonly worn by barbarian tribes. evil
humanoids, and other folk who lack access to the tools
and materials needed to create better armor.
**Chain Shirt.** Made of interlocking metal rings. a chain
shirt is worn between layers of clothing or leather. This
armor offers modest protection to the wearer’s upper
body and allows the sound of the rings rubbing against
one another to be muffled by outer layers.
**Scale Mail.** This armor consists of a coat and leggings
(and perhaps a separate skirt) of leather covered with
overlapping pieces of metal, much like the scales of a
fish. The suit includes gauntlets.
**Breastplate.** This armor consists of a fitted metal
chest piece worn with supple leather. Although it leaves
the legs and arms relatively unprotected, this armor
provides good protection for the wearer’s Vital organs
while leaving the wearer relatively unencumbered.
**Half Plate.** Half plate consists of shaped metal plates
that cover most of the wearer’s body. It does not include
leg protection beyond simple greaves that are attached
with leather straps.
Heavy Armor
-----------
Of all the armor categories, heavy armor offers the best
protection. These suits of armor cover the entire body
and are designed to stop a wide range of attacks. Only
proficient warriors can manage their weight and bulk.
Heavy armor doesn’t let you add your Dexterity
modifier to your Armor Class, but it also doesn't
penalize you if your Dexterity modifier is negative.
**Ring Mail.** This armor is leather armor with heavy
rings sewn into it. The rings help reinforce the armor
against blows from swords and axes. Ring mail is
inferior to chain mail, and it's usually worn only by those
who can’t afford better armor.
**Chain Mail.** Made of interlocking metal rings, chain
mail includes a layer of quilted fabric worn underneath
the mail to prevent chafing and to cushion the impact of
blows. The suit includes gauntlets.
**Splint.** This armor is made of narrow vertical strips
of metal riveted to a backing of leather that is worn over
cloth padding. Flexible chain mail protects the joints.
**Plate.** Plate consists of shaped, interlocking metal
plates to cover the entire body. A suit of plate includes
gauntlets, heavy leather boots, a visored helmet, and
thick layers of padding underneath the armor. Buckles
and straps distribute the weight over the body.
Getting Into and Out of Armor
-----------------------------
The time it takes to don or doff armor depends on the
armor’s category.
**Don.** This is the time it takes to put on armor. You
benefit from the armor's AC only if you take the full time
to don the suit Of armor.
**Doff:** This is the time it takes to take off armor. If you
have help, reduce this time by half.
.. csv-table::
:header: "Category", "Don", "Doff"
"Light Armor", "1 minute", "1 minute"
"Medium Armor", "5 minutes", "1 minute"
"Heavy Armor", "10 minutes", "5 minutes"
"Shield", "1 action", "1 action"
Armor Summary
-------------
.. csv-table::
:header: "Armor", "Cost", "Armor Class (AC)", "Strength", "Stealth", "Weight"
"**Light Armor**", "", "", "", "", ""
"Padded", "5 gp", "11 + Dex modifier", "", "Disadvantage", "8 lb"
"Leather", "10 gp", "11 + Dex modifier", "", "", "10 lb"
"Studded leather", "45 gp", "12 + Dex modifier", "", "", "13 lb"
"**Medium Armor**", "", "", "", "", ""
"Hide", "10 gp", "12 + Dex modifier (max 2)", "", "", "12 lb"
"Chain shirt", "50 gp", "13 + Dex modifier (max 2)", "", "", "20 lb"
"Scale Mail", "50 gp", "14 + Dex modifier (max 2)", "", "Disadvantage", "45 lb"
"Breastplate", "400 gp", "14 + Dex modifier (max 2)", "", "", "20 lb"
"Half Plate", "750 gp", "15 + Dex modifier (max 2)", "", "Disadvantage", "40 lb"
"**Heavy Armor**", "", "", "", "", ""
"Ring Mail", "30 gp", "14", "", "Disadvantage", "40 lb"
"Chain Mail", "75 gp", "16", "Str 13", "Disadvantage", "55 lb"
"Splint", "200 gp", "17", "Str 15", "Disadvantage", "60 lb"
"Plate", "1,500 gp", "18", "Str 15", "Disadvantage", "65 lb"
"**Shield**", "", "", "", "", ""
"Shield", "10 gp", "+2", "", "", "6 lb"
Variant: Equipment Sizes
------------------------
In most campaigns, you can use or wear any equipment that
you find on your adventures, within the bounds of common
sense. For example, a burly half-orc won’t fit in a halfling’s
leather armor, and a gnome would be swallowed up in a
cloud giant’s elegant robe.
The DM can impose more realism. For example, a suit of
plate armor made for one human might not fit another one
without significant alterations, and a guard’s uniform might
be visibly ill-fitting when an adventurer tries to wear it as a
disguise.
Using this variant, when adventurers find armor, clothing,
and similar items that are made to be worn, they might need
to visit an armorsmith, tailor, leatherworker, or similar expert
to make the item wearable. The cost for such work varies
from 10 to 40 percent ofthe market price ofthe item. The
DM can either roll 1d4 x 10 or determine the increase in cost
based on the extent of the alterations required.