VARIANT ARMOR

Custom rules for crafting armor from creature remains

Variant Armor Calculator

Calculate crafting time, damage reduction, and selling price for variant armor

Note: Detailed mechanics and explanations for variant armor crafting can be found below the calculator.


Variant Armor Mechanics

These variant mechanics provide exciting opportunities for players to craft non-magical armor from creature remains. If a player chooses to enchant these items, they would follow the base rules for creating magic items.

Important: Materials from a creature cannot be used to craft an armor with a higher base AC than the original armor's base AC.

Crafting Time Requirements

Armor Type Crafting Time
Light Armor Creature's HP in hours
Medium Armor Creature's HP × 2 in hours
Heavy Armor Creature's HP × 4 in hours

Professional Assistance

If a professional is working on the armor, the time is reduced by a factor of 5. This can be further reduced if multiple professionals are working on it.

Example

If a player wants to create plate armor from the scales of an Adult White Dragon (HP 200):

  • To create the armor themselves: 200 HP × 4 = 800 hours
  • A professional would take: 800 ÷ 5 = 160 hours
  • Two professionals would take: 160 ÷ 2 = 80 hours

Crafting Requirements

  • Light armor and hide armor: Proficiency with leatherworker's tools
  • Medium or heavy armor: Proficiency with smith's tools and access to a forge

Base Damage Reduction

When crafting armor from creature remains, the armor gains a base damage reduction to a specific type of damage the creature was resistant or immune to:

  • If the creature was resistant: Damage reduction equals the creature's CR ÷ 2 (rounded up)
  • If the creature was immune: Damage reduction equals the creature's CR

If a creature had multiple resistances or immunities, the player and DM may discuss which benefit carries over to the newly crafted armor.

Example 1

A player is crafting studded leather from the hide of a Salamander. The creature's base AC is 15, so crafting studded leather is acceptable as studded leather's base AC is lower. Additionally, Salamanders have fire immunity, so the created armor would provide a base damage reduction to fire damage of 5 as its CR is 5.

Example 2

A player is crafting studded leather from the hide of a Triton Shorestalker. The creature's base AC is 12, so crafting studded leather is acceptable as its base AC is lower or equivalent. Additionally, a Triton Shorestalker has cold resistance, so the created armor would provide a base damage reduction to cold damage of 1 as its CR is 2 and 2 divided by 2 rounded up is 1.

Suitable Materials

Armor Type Suitable Materials
Light Armor Hide, pelt, or skin (DM's discretion)
Medium Armor Thick hide, scales, or similar (DM's discretion)
Heavy Armor Thick scales, metal body components, or similar (DM's discretion)

Selling Variant Armor

When selling variant armor, add the base armor cost to 100 × the damage reduction modifier.

Example

Selling plate armor with a fire reduction of 10 would be 1,500 + (100 × 10) = 2,500 GP