Armor & Acrobatic Proficiencies

This system of modifiers for armor other than the usual leather may be used for non-thief characters as well as those thieves who may be found wearing heavier protection.

Elven chain mail is light and thin and can be worn under normal clothing. All other types of armor except simple leather are stiff or bulky, and can only be covered by a full body cloak.

Jumping

For an acrobat wearing armor and attempting a jumping maneuver other than pole vaulting, compute the height or length of the jump as described in the Jumping proficiency. Then adjust this distance according to the armor of the character, as shown on the table below. Should the resulting total be less than zero, the character fails the acrobatic feat entirely (probably by tripping and landing flat on his face).

Pole vaulting is a different matter. To successfully get off the ground in armor bulkier than leather requires a proficiency check, adjusted, as indicated on the table, according to the pole vaulter's armor. In addition, a pole vaulter with armor heavier or bulkier than studded or padded can vault no higher than the height of the pole.

Tightrope Walking

Adjustments listed on the table indicate the penalties associated with each sort of armor if it is worn while Tightrope Walking. The DM should also take into account how heavy the character and all his armor, weapons and equipment are, and whether the rope or beam or other surface on which the character walks is capable of supporting such weight.

Tumbling

Defensive and offensive tumbling maneuvers are limited by the use of armor. A character with the Tumbling proficiency can improve his armor class by 4 against attacks directed solely at him in any round of combat, provided he has the initiative and forgoes all attacks that round. The row "Tumbling—Defensive" on the table indicates what AC bonus, if any, the character can get when he is wearing various sorts of armor. When in unarmed combat, a character with tumbling proficiency is also normally able to improve his attack roll by 2. The bonus, if any, that the character has when in armor is shown in the row "Tumbling—Attack."

The third function of tumbling proficiency is the ability to avoid falling damage. If the character makes a successful proficiency check, he takes only half damage from falls of 60 feet or less, and none from falls of 10 feet or less. Modifiers to this proficiency check are listed in the row "Tumbling—Falling."

Effects of Armor on Acrobatic Proficiencies

Skill	No Armor1	Elven Chain	Studded or Padded	Hide	Ring or Chain	Brigandine or Splint	Scale or Banded	Plate Mail2	Plate Armor3
Broad Jump, Running	+1'	--	-1/2'	-3'	-5'	-7'	-10'	-15'	-20'
High Jump, Running	+1'	-1/2'	-1'	-2'	-4'	-8'	-10'	-20'	-18'
Broad Jump, Standing	+1/2'	--	-1/2'	-2'	-3'	-4'	-5'	-7'	-10'
High Jump, Standing	+1/4'	--	-1/2'	-1'	-2'	-2 1/2'	-2 1/2'	-3'	-3'
Pole Vaulting	--	-1'	-1'	-3'	-5'	-8'	-10'	-12'	-15'
Tightrope Walking	--	-1	-1	-3	-5	-6	-8	-10	-12
Tumbling, Defensive	+4	+4	+3	+1	+2	+1	0	0	0
Tumbling, Attack	+2	+2	+2	0	+1	+1	0	0	0
Tumbling, Falling	--	-1	--	-3	-5	-6	-8	-10	-12

General Notes

Leather armor is taken to be the standard, with no positive or negative adjustment to thief skills. No dexterity bonuses apply to thief functions (though penalties do) when wearing armor other than simple leather.

1. This category applies when wearing bracers of defense or a cloak, but no large protective devices.

2. Includes bronze plate mail.

3. Encompasses both field plate and full plate armor.