So a shield +1 is an uncommon magic item, but armor +1 is rare? Neither requires attunement and both do the same thing. A weapon +1 is uncommon...just seems like there's a bit of an imbalance here.
Ok, just hypothetical...say your DM says you can have 2 uncommons or 1 rare item during character creation. Seems like the person that picks the rare +1 armor loses out as the other player that picks a +1 shield and a +1 weapon.
Generally, it means that if you're using random loot tables, the party will find magical weapons and shields sooner than they will find magical armors, which kind of makes sense, doesn't it?
Yeah, I'd say it's this. A +1 shield will take up one of your hands, preventing you from dual wielding, or having a free hand for somatic components/spellcasting focus. +1 Armor leaves you with both hands free.
A couple of posters have already hit this point in one way or another, so I'm really just posting to make what they already said as clear as it can be: a +1 to AC that only applies under the conditions that a particular thing be in your hand is less potent, and thus reasonable to have be less rare, than a +1 to AC that applies whenever you are full dressed for adventure.
While I can’t speak to the mechanics and the reasoning behind the difference, I can speak to my story interpretation of it. A shield when complete is one chunk of metal, you enchant that piece and you’re done. A suit of armor is not that. Enchantments on everything from the helmet to the breastplate to the bracers. And you have to make them sync up so you can’t use half of the armor and get the same benefit. Armor is simply more work than a shield.
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
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Hello,
So a shield +1 is an uncommon magic item, but armor +1 is rare? Neither requires attunement and both do the same thing. A weapon +1 is uncommon...just seems like there's a bit of an imbalance here.
I think it's the opportunity cost.
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Ok, just hypothetical...say your DM says you can have 2 uncommons or 1 rare item during character creation. Seems like the person that picks the rare +1 armor loses out as the other player that picks a +1 shield and a +1 weapon.
Imbalanced in what way?
Generally, it means that if you're using random loot tables, the party will find magical weapons and shields sooner than they will find magical armors, which kind of makes sense, doesn't it?
A couple of posters have already hit this point in one way or another, so I'm really just posting to make what they already said as clear as it can be: a +1 to AC that only applies under the conditions that a particular thing be in your hand is less potent, and thus reasonable to have be less rare, than a +1 to AC that applies whenever you are full dressed for adventure.
Ah yes, of course. Thanks. Dunno why I missed out on this obvious answer.
While I can’t speak to the mechanics and the reasoning behind the difference, I can speak to my story interpretation of it. A shield when complete is one chunk of metal, you enchant that piece and you’re done. A suit of armor is not that. Enchantments on everything from the helmet to the breastplate to the bracers. And you have to make them sync up so you can’t use half of the armor and get the same benefit. Armor is simply more work than a shield.
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"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett