Post by Tesla Ranger on Sept 2, 2015 23:29:57 GMT
Unless I missed something somewhere the DMG only lists Adamantine and Mithral as options for special materials. I can imagine they'd want to keep things simple (KISS is clearly 5e's creed) but I liked having a few options for special materials. I recently concocted a few homebrew options to supplement what's in the DMG and figured I might share them here too. Because I'm a Nerd (or Geek) I listed a "Real World Corollary" for each material mostly as a personal reference for the material's properties.
Adamantine
An incredibly dense and rare metal. It has a distinctive dark silver color that is difficult to cover with paints or enamels. Used in applications which require tremendous strength where adamantine's weight won't be a problem.
Mechanic: Medium or Heavy Armor made from adamantine protects the wearer from critical hits (a crit would just do normal damage).
Bludgeoning weapons made of Adamantine do +1 damage.
Items containing a significant amount of adamantine weigh double what they normally would.
Adamantine objects cannot be sundered by conventional means.
Cost Modifier: +500gp
RW Corollary: Iridium
Cold Iron
Chemically pure iron is used by artificers as a conduit for certain forms of energy. Aside from artificery, it is sometimes fashioned into charms since, according to legend, it wards off evil spirits.
Mechanic: Cold Iron weapons count as magic for bypassing DR.
Cold Iron is more brittle than steel and sunder attempts have advantage
Cold Iron weapons do -1 damage.
Cost Modifier: Most items can be made of Cold Iron by increasing the base cost by 5%
RW Corollary: Iron
Elenan Steel
Distinctive for having ripple and grain patterns throughout the metal, Elenan Steel is prized for ornamentation and weaponry. It is uncommonly ductile and keeps a keen edge far longer than other materials.
Mechanic: Weapons made of Elenan Steel do an additional +1 damage.
Attempts to sunder the weapon have disadvantage.
Cost Modifier: +500gp
RW Corollary: Damascus Steel
Ironwood
A specific type of wood can be worked to make a material with properties similar to steel. Ironwood is usually used for art or items which require the strength of steel not its weight, conductivity, or magnetism. A popular material for high-quality ship hulls.
Mechanic: Items have same properties as steel equivalents (including not burning easily).
If the items weight is over 20 lbs then the weight is reduced to 3/4 of its normal weight.
Cost Modifier: +25% the item's base cost
RW Corollary: Ironwood (yes, it's a thing)
Mithral
A white, silvery metal that has the novel property of being very lightweight and flexible when correctly worked. It is typically used to make medium armor that can be concealed under clothing without slowing the wearer.
Mechanic: Armor made of mithral doesn't have a STR requirement or give disadvantage to Stealth checks.
Items weigh 1/2 as much as normal.
Cost Modifier: +100 for light armor, +200 for medium armor, +300 for heavy armor
RW Corollary: Titanium
Spindel Glass
A particularly high grade of transparent glass. It is capable of being crafted into incredibly intricate patterns but it is generally prized for its resistance to high temperatures and corrosion. Stronger than regular glass is it commonly used for research instruments and portholes on ships.
Mechanic: Items made of Spindel Glass are immune to fire and acid damage.
Cost Modifier: +10% base cost
RW Corollary: Plexiglass or Tempered Glass
Tyrnas Cloth
A few centuries ago artificers invented a process to treat silk so that it became incredibly strong. Properly applied the new material was capable of resisting crossbow bolts. Most often used for clothing for officers or nobles.
Mechanic: Light armor made of Tyrnas Cloth grants the wearer resistance to Slashing and Piercing damage
Cost Modifier: +200gp
RW Corollary: Kevlar
Adamantine
An incredibly dense and rare metal. It has a distinctive dark silver color that is difficult to cover with paints or enamels. Used in applications which require tremendous strength where adamantine's weight won't be a problem.
Mechanic: Medium or Heavy Armor made from adamantine protects the wearer from critical hits (a crit would just do normal damage).
Bludgeoning weapons made of Adamantine do +1 damage.
Items containing a significant amount of adamantine weigh double what they normally would.
Adamantine objects cannot be sundered by conventional means.
Cost Modifier: +500gp
RW Corollary: Iridium
Cold Iron
Chemically pure iron is used by artificers as a conduit for certain forms of energy. Aside from artificery, it is sometimes fashioned into charms since, according to legend, it wards off evil spirits.
Mechanic: Cold Iron weapons count as magic for bypassing DR.
Cold Iron is more brittle than steel and sunder attempts have advantage
Cold Iron weapons do -1 damage.
Cost Modifier: Most items can be made of Cold Iron by increasing the base cost by 5%
RW Corollary: Iron
Elenan Steel
Distinctive for having ripple and grain patterns throughout the metal, Elenan Steel is prized for ornamentation and weaponry. It is uncommonly ductile and keeps a keen edge far longer than other materials.
Mechanic: Weapons made of Elenan Steel do an additional +1 damage.
Attempts to sunder the weapon have disadvantage.
Cost Modifier: +500gp
RW Corollary: Damascus Steel
Ironwood
A specific type of wood can be worked to make a material with properties similar to steel. Ironwood is usually used for art or items which require the strength of steel not its weight, conductivity, or magnetism. A popular material for high-quality ship hulls.
Mechanic: Items have same properties as steel equivalents (including not burning easily).
If the items weight is over 20 lbs then the weight is reduced to 3/4 of its normal weight.
Cost Modifier: +25% the item's base cost
RW Corollary: Ironwood (yes, it's a thing)
Mithral
A white, silvery metal that has the novel property of being very lightweight and flexible when correctly worked. It is typically used to make medium armor that can be concealed under clothing without slowing the wearer.
Mechanic: Armor made of mithral doesn't have a STR requirement or give disadvantage to Stealth checks.
Items weigh 1/2 as much as normal.
Cost Modifier: +100 for light armor, +200 for medium armor, +300 for heavy armor
RW Corollary: Titanium
Spindel Glass
A particularly high grade of transparent glass. It is capable of being crafted into incredibly intricate patterns but it is generally prized for its resistance to high temperatures and corrosion. Stronger than regular glass is it commonly used for research instruments and portholes on ships.
Mechanic: Items made of Spindel Glass are immune to fire and acid damage.
Cost Modifier: +10% base cost
RW Corollary: Plexiglass or Tempered Glass
Tyrnas Cloth
A few centuries ago artificers invented a process to treat silk so that it became incredibly strong. Properly applied the new material was capable of resisting crossbow bolts. Most often used for clothing for officers or nobles.
Mechanic: Light armor made of Tyrnas Cloth grants the wearer resistance to Slashing and Piercing damage
Cost Modifier: +200gp
RW Corollary: Kevlar