So the properties of Mithril in 5E are described as...
"Mithral is a light, flexible metal. A mithral chain shirt or breastplate can be worn under normal clothes.
If the armor normally imposes disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks or has a Strength requirement, the mithral version of the armor doesn't."
Soo does that mean NO mithril armor has stealth disadvantage or strength requirements?
And what about Plate Armor? Would it still be considered "Heavy" armor?
What I'm hoping to do is visit Bahamut's castle which has walls made of Mithril and get my DM to make Bahamut gift me a Mithril armor set *fingers crossed*
When in doubt, look at what the text of the description says, and what it does not say.
* It says that if the normal version imposes Disadvantage on Stealth checks, the mithral version doesn't
* It says that if the normal version has a Strength requirement, the mithral version doesn't.
* It says that if the mithral armor is a chain shirt or breastplate, it can be worn under normal clothes. Which doesn't mean much mechanically, but can be useful for RP, letting you walk around in civvies concealing the fact that you have armor on.
* It doesn't say anything about the armor's category changing because it's mithral instead of the normal version of the armor. If it would normally be Heavy, it's still Heavy. Same with Medium. This matters both for determining if you're proficient, and for abilities that have restrictions about what kind of armor you can be wearing(such as a Barbarian's Rage). For a similar item, look at Elven Chain. Nothing about its description changes it from being Medium armor, but it explicitly says you're proficient with it even if you aren't usually proficient with Medium armor.
Always keep in mind that the 5E rules are a lot like wedding vows in The Princess Bride. If it doesn't say it, it doesn't do it. :)
Something to remember is that not all heavy armor has a strength requirement. Ring Mail has no strength requirement to wear, but is still considered Heavy Armor and requires Heavy Armor Proficiency to be worn.
Curious why Mithral Plate still lists at 65 Ib for weight in Encumbrance when it behaves and has a description of being much lighter.
The simple answer is because while the description of Mirthal armor says it's made of a "light, flexible metal", there's nothing in that description about an actual adjusted weight. If I were to come up with a formula for doing so, I'd keep it simple and say that Mithral armor weighs half as much as the regular armor of the same type.
dose Mithral Armor weight change its suppose to be lighter
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I have the 3 core rule books PH, DMG, MM and I have a lot of print outs for reference. Just wish I could find a group to play with last time I played was 08 with v3.5 1st thing the DM said was he was going to kill us...lol
So, anyone can technically wear armor, having proficiency just means you "know how to wear it effectively." The way I am reading the PHB, if your character wears amor without being proficient the effects are:
Disadvantage on any ability check using STR or DEX
Disadvantage on any saving throw using STR or DEX
Disadvantage on any attack roll using STR or DEX
Unable to cast spells
Since, Mithral has the bonus that "if the armor normally imposes disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks or has a Strength requirement, the mithral version of the armor doesn't."
So, if my rogue who is not proficient in heavy armor wears mithril chain mail -- I want to say it would not matter that their STR is 10 (chain mail requires 13), and they would not have disadvantage on Stealth checks... but they would still have disadvantage on all other ability checks, all saving throws, and all attack rolls, and be unable to cast spells. Is that right?
So, anyone can technically wear armor, having proficiency just means you "know how to wear it effectively." The way I am reading the PHB, if your character wears amor without being proficient the effects are:
Disadvantage on any ability check using STR or DEX
Disadvantage on any saving throw using STR or DEX
Disadvantage on any attack roll using STR or DEX
Unable to cast spells
Since, Mithral has the bonus that "if the armor normally imposes disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks or has a Strength requirement, the mithral version of the armor doesn't."
So, if my rogue who is not proficient in heavy armor wears mithril chain mail -- I want to say it would not matter that their STR is 10 (chain mail requires 13), and they would not have disadvantage on Stealth checks... but they would still have disadvantage on all other ability checks, all saving throws, and all attack rolls, and be unable to cast spells. Is that right?
Mithral removes penalties imposed by the armor. Those are penalties imposed by proficiency rules. Basically the disadvantage comes from you, not the armor in this case. That's how I see it anyway.
I’ve never heard that interpretation before, but I could get behind it, creative! Splitting a hair on whether “the armor” is imposing a disadvantage or “wearing the armor” is doing so instead feels pointless and requires a lot of unwritten RAI quibbling, so just let the unproficient rogue sneak in peace (while suffering all the other various unproficient armor penalties that Mithral doesn’t alleviate).
I definitely think that route is not RAI, but honestly, I agree, if they are willing to be subjected to all of the remaining penalties for a slightly higher AC, I'd let them wear it and sneak, do acrobatics, and pick pockets without penalty.
I don't think I will ever find a player who thinks that's a fair tradeoff.
So, anyone can technically wear armor, having proficiency just means you "know how to wear it effectively." The way I am reading the PHB, if your character wears amor without being proficient the effects are:
Disadvantage on any ability check using STR or DEX
Disadvantage on any saving throw using STR or DEX
Disadvantage on any attack roll using STR or DEX
Unable to cast spells
Since, Mithral has the bonus that "if the armor normally imposes disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks or has a Strength requirement, the mithral version of the armor doesn't."
So, if my rogue who is not proficient in heavy armor wears mithril chain mail -- I want to say it would not matter that their STR is 10 (chain mail requires 13), and they would not have disadvantage on Stealth checks... but they would still have disadvantage on all other ability checks, all saving throws, and all attack rolls, and be unable to cast spells. Is that right?
I don’t think that was the intent but could see letting that stand. You still have disadvantage on your attacks roll and no sneak attack for your rogue (or disadvantage just on your attack roll if you have a feature that allows sneak attack without needing advantage like the swashbuckler’s Rakish Audacity)
I don’t think that was the intent but could see letting that stand. You still have disadvantage on your attacks roll and no sneak attack for your rogue (or disadvantage just on your attack roll if you have a feature that allows sneak attack without needing advantage like the swashbuckler’s Rakish Audacity)
By default, you can sneak attack:
When you have advantage; or
When your ally is within 5 feet AND you don't have disadvantage
Subclasses like Swashbuckler add additional ways:
Swashbuckler: you are within 5 feet of it AND no other creatures are within 5 feet of you, AND you don’t have disadvantage on the attack roll
Inquisitor: take a Bonus Action Insight check against them AND don't have disadvantage on the attack roll
Even with those subclasses, still no sneak attacks with Disadvantage, which you'll have in unproficient armor even if it's Mithril.
I don’t think that was the intent but could see letting that stand. You still have disadvantage on your attacks roll and no sneak attack for your rogue (or disadvantage just on your attack roll if you have a feature that allows sneak attack without needing advantage like the swashbuckler’s Rakish Audacity)
By default, you can sneak attack:
When you have advantage; or
When your ally is within 5 feet AND you don't have disadvantage
Subclasses like Swashbuckler add additional ways:
Swashbuckler: you are within 5 feet of it AND no other creatures are within 5 feet of you, AND you don’t have disadvantage on the attack roll
Inquisitor: take a Bonus Action Insight check against them AND don't have disadvantage on the attack roll
Even with those subclasses, still no sneak attacks with Disadvantage, which you'll have in unproficient armor even if it's Mithril.
This was some great feedback, thanks all! I did decide to interpret the rule that way-- he can stealth normally but all other skills checks, attacks, and saves are disadvantage. Funny enough my PC's rogue is a swashbuckler, but as ThriKreen said, no sneak attack. He decided to be nice and give the Mithral to the cleric anyway, but it was a fun exploration of rules, for me anyway.
Question came up at my table from the Aarakocra Ranger. He wouldn't wear Medium Armor because he said it would not allow him to fly. Would the Mithral mitigate this by default? I homebrewed something to address the issue already, but seeing this, it makes me wonder if he could have just worn some Mithral Medium Armor.
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So the properties of Mithril in 5E are described as...
"Mithral is a light, flexible metal. A mithral chain shirt or breastplate can be worn under normal clothes.
If the armor normally imposes disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks or has a Strength requirement, the mithral version of the armor doesn't."
Soo does that mean NO mithril armor has stealth disadvantage or strength requirements?
And what about Plate Armor? Would it still be considered "Heavy" armor?
What I'm hoping to do is visit Bahamut's castle which has walls made of Mithril and get my DM to make Bahamut gift me a Mithril armor set *fingers crossed*
No mithril armor has stealth disadvantage or STR requirements.
Mithril armor still requires armor proficiency for the type of armor (plate is still heavy armor).
The classification of medium and heavy armor still counts for armor proficiency. But for stealth and strength, you are correct.
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When in doubt, look at what the text of the description says, and what it does not say.
* It says that if the normal version imposes Disadvantage on Stealth checks, the mithral version doesn't
* It says that if the normal version has a Strength requirement, the mithral version doesn't.
* It says that if the mithral armor is a chain shirt or breastplate, it can be worn under normal clothes. Which doesn't mean much mechanically, but can be useful for RP, letting you walk around in civvies concealing the fact that you have armor on.
* It doesn't say anything about the armor's category changing because it's mithral instead of the normal version of the armor. If it would normally be Heavy, it's still Heavy. Same with Medium. This matters both for determining if you're proficient, and for abilities that have restrictions about what kind of armor you can be wearing(such as a Barbarian's Rage). For a similar item, look at Elven Chain. Nothing about its description changes it from being Medium armor, but it explicitly says you're proficient with it even if you aren't usually proficient with Medium armor.
Always keep in mind that the 5E rules are a lot like wedding vows in The Princess Bride. If it doesn't say it, it doesn't do it. :)
Something to remember is that not all heavy armor has a strength requirement. Ring Mail has no strength requirement to wear, but is still considered Heavy Armor and requires Heavy Armor Proficiency to be worn.
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As long as you have the proficiency to wear it, anything that does have a STR requirement is not calculated for wearing the mithral version.
Curious why Mithral Plate still lists at 65 Ib for weight in Encumbrance when it behaves and has a description of being much lighter.
The simple answer is because while the description of Mirthal armor says it's made of a "light, flexible metal", there's nothing in that description about an actual adjusted weight. If I were to come up with a formula for doing so, I'd keep it simple and say that Mithral armor weighs half as much as the regular armor of the same type.
dose Mithral Armor weight change its suppose to be lighter
I have the 3 core rule books PH, DMG, MM and I have a lot of print outs for reference. Just wish I could find a group to play with last time I played was 08 with v3.5 1st thing the DM said was he was going to kill us...lol
The rules don't change the weight of the armor.
They do say that it is much easier to move in, so removing the penalty to Stealth and removing the STR requirement.
So, anyone can technically wear armor, having proficiency just means you "know how to wear it effectively." The way I am reading the PHB, if your character wears amor without being proficient the effects are:
Since, Mithral has the bonus that "if the armor normally imposes disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks or has a Strength requirement, the mithral version of the armor doesn't."
So, if my rogue who is not proficient in heavy armor wears mithril chain mail -- I want to say it would not matter that their STR is 10 (chain mail requires 13), and they would not have disadvantage on Stealth checks... but they would still have disadvantage on all other ability checks, all saving throws, and all attack rolls, and be unable to cast spells. Is that right?
Mithral removes penalties imposed by the armor. Those are penalties imposed by proficiency rules. Basically the disadvantage comes from you, not the armor in this case. That's how I see it anyway.
I’ve never heard that interpretation before, but I could get behind it, creative! Splitting a hair on whether “the armor” is imposing a disadvantage or “wearing the armor” is doing so instead feels pointless and requires a lot of unwritten RAI quibbling, so just let the unproficient rogue sneak in peace (while suffering all the other various unproficient armor penalties that Mithral doesn’t alleviate).
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
I definitely think that route is not RAI, but honestly, I agree, if they are willing to be subjected to all of the remaining penalties for a slightly higher AC, I'd let them wear it and sneak, do acrobatics, and pick pockets without penalty.
I don't think I will ever find a player who thinks that's a fair tradeoff.
I don’t think that was the intent but could see letting that stand. You still have disadvantage on your attacks roll and no sneak attack for your rogue (or disadvantage just on your attack roll if you have a feature that allows sneak attack without needing advantage like the swashbuckler’s Rakish Audacity)
By default, you can sneak attack:
Subclasses like Swashbuckler add additional ways:
Even with those subclasses, still no sneak attacks with Disadvantage, which you'll have in unproficient armor even if it's Mithril.
dndbeyond.com forum tags
I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
Yep. I missed that. Thanks for the correction
This was some great feedback, thanks all! I did decide to interpret the rule that way-- he can stealth normally but all other skills checks, attacks, and saves are disadvantage. Funny enough my PC's rogue is a swashbuckler, but as ThriKreen said, no sneak attack. He decided to be nice and give the Mithral to the cleric anyway, but it was a fun exploration of rules, for me anyway.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/magic-items/mithral-armor
Read the last 5 chapters or so of The Hobbit
Question came up at my table from the Aarakocra Ranger. He wouldn't wear Medium Armor because he said it would not allow him to fly. Would the Mithral mitigate this by default? I homebrewed something to address the issue already, but seeing this, it makes me wonder if he could have just worn some Mithral Medium Armor.
Talk to your Players. Talk to your DM. If more people used this advice, there would be 24.74% fewer threads on Tactics, Rules and DM discussions.