Question: Is there Partial / Composite Armor in 3E

[TheElf]

Do you know any rules that would allow partial armor, etc? I do remember some from 2nd edition. It had a table with armor parts, and it also allowed a bit more than partial armor: It also allowed using different parts to make a composite suit. Do you know any option that can allow similar tricks or more in D&D 3 or 3.5?

[Raynon]

I don't know any, but there's something similar in Unearthed Arcana: armor as damage reduction. I know it's not what you're looking for, but in any case...

Maybe you can find something in Dragon Magazine.

[TheElf]

That is for full armor I need custom armor for better looks, etc.

[zergnase]

afaik nope

ask your DM, i want this set of stats, but i want that it looks like ....

the DM is your Friend ~

Z

[TheElf]

I don't know what stats I should ask for :P But d20 system is OGL, I wonder why noone said: "I know no rules for it, but if AD&D had rules for this purpose, we know d20, and can come up with a new rule instead of conversion, we can make an ebook" d20 system is this rigid?

2nd edition was Advanced for a reason.

[TheElf]

Good point, but sadly old point We already know it

[[-Rogy-]]

if your DM allows it you may re-addapt the list from 2nd to 3ed/3.5

personaly you can use location armor rating consider the hitting system used in fallout PNP.

[TheElf]

And there are many other things to consider, this is why I hope we can build our own rule for it

[[-Rogy-]]

ok consider this :

first you need to anderstend that if you build a composit armor you impruve/reduce the defence of some part of your body
(for the resons of look/ story or coolness).

so we first have to look at the diffrent parts of the human body and understend them.
a normal human in d20 has AC of 10 (disrigard dexteraty for a sec)
so what does that 10 mean ?!?
it represent the chance to hit that person in his main mass.
now what is main mass ?!? main mass is the cheast and stomech of a person its a large target that is easy to hit making aim to the main mass or not direct aim is considerd an aim to the main mass.

the other parts to consider are the hands, lags and head.

arms and legs are smaller target and thus incure a penelty to hit them i think -4 to hit is good value.
the head is even smaller and harder to aim at so a -6 to -8 is in order.
if you want you can split the main mass to front and back but i wont go to that detail.
now if our aspiering fighter is using a breast plate and adds some padded armor leggings and long lether gloves his hit chart should be like this (dex = 10)
main mass : 10+4 = 14
legs : 10+4+1= 15
hands : 10+4+2= 16
head : 10+8= 18
as you see hitting his main mass is still a good option but consider this this same person is wering a full plate armor with +2 magic enchantment
but with no helm then he will be
main mass: 10+8+2= 20
legs : 10+8+2+4= 24
hands : 10+8+2+4= 24
head : 10+8= 18
as you see this power house can be taken by a head shot.

as general concept you can say that for every armor type you can by separete parts of equal protection of that part of body.
on the matter of price ill go like this the main mass of the armor is 60% of its price, the hands are 20%, the lags are 15% and the helm is 5%.

as you can see this concept opens up the posability of using aimd atacks and amputations.
basicly hitting the body stays the same but trying to do fancy fighting or tactical fight incures peneltys.