Regarding Mithril Armour

[HalifaxDM]

I have been putting together a Magical Treasure Index from Rivendell and so far I am liking what it will likely add to my campaign. There is one thing I am having a little trouble wrapping my head around and I was hoping some of you could help me get a narrative grasp on it.

One of the items I am putting together is a mithril coat of mail. The mithril quality identifies that the armour must first have the Cunning Make or Ancient Cunning Make quality. My confusion comes from the rules that surround revealing the qualities of an item. When acquired, the first quality is known but the character must then take actions to reveal the further qualities.

This would seem to imply that, when found, the character will know that the coat of mail is of Ancient Cunning Make and gain those benefits, but will only then further discover that the armour is of mithril and gain those additional benefits from that quality by taking the appropriate action during the Fellowship phase.

What I am having a difficult time grasping is how a character would not benefit from the mithril quality while wearing it, despite whether he knows it is made of mithril or not. How can this be rationalized? Or in a case like this should I allow both qualities to be known from the get-go?

Any suggestions or advice would be welcome.

[zedturtle]

Most armour is not worn next to the skin, but on top of padding. It might also be cinched with straps and otherwise encumbered. For normal armour, the padding is necessary... the armour may prevent the skin from being broken but the padding softens the blow. Mithril armour, being magical, might not need the padding. But it would be a rare warrior who would take a chance with their health and life with that, at least without consulting one of the Wise first.

Or, at least, that's my five minute fix for the issue.

[HalifaxDM]

That actually helps. Thanks.

I am looking forward to introducing these options to my players soon. I really like how the items require personal investment from the player to gain their full benefits.

[Morgoth]

Perhaps they know the armor is mithril, but they aren't accustomed to the properties of the new metal. Once they wear it for a while (and gain XP to upgrade it) they've become accustomed to it and can use the armor at it's full potential.

[Angelalex242]

Makes you wonder about Frodo, though. He must've started with a heck of a Valor score to make use of Bilbo's gear (Mithril shirt and famous weapon Sting...)

[Deadmanwalking]

Makes you wonder about Frodo, though. He must've started with a heck of a Valor score to make use of Bilbo's gear (Mithril shirt and famous weapon Sting...)

He didn't get those until he hit Rivendell. With Valour 3 (easy enough) he could have the Mithril fully activated and two of Sting's three qualities to boot.

[Angelalex242]

...Waaaait a minute. Valor does double duty if you have more then one weapon/armor of legend?

That's news to me. A guy with valor 4 can cruise around with fully activated sword, shield, and armor?

[Deadmanwalking]

...Waaaait a minute. Valor does double duty if you have more then one weapon/armor of legend?

That's news to me. A guy with valor 4 can cruise around with fully activated sword, shield, and armor?

No...but the first quality of any Magic Item is free (well, it costs the xp to get the item, but no Valour points), and Mithral generally only has two Qualities total.

So with Valour 3, assuming no other items, you can activate the second Quality on both the sword and the armor (or the second and third quality of one of them).

[Angelalex242]

...I hope you don't have to use Valor to use the One Ring's powers...it's only the most cursed item in Middle Earth...

[Deadmanwalking]

...I hope you don't have to use Valor to use the One Ring's powers...it's only the most cursed item in Middle Earth...

I imagine it falls more in line with the non-combat magical item rules.

A Greater Blessing to Stealth actually covers most of the power it bestows on the Hobbits, after all. Its drawbacks and curses are another matter entirely, of course.