There is elven chain mail in the game. If you look at the magical items thread I think it has the CLUA console command for it. Unfortunately it is coded wrong right now and doesn't drop during its encounter.
Oh, and the Elven Chain in the game is just normal, non-magical, AC 5. Making it pretty much only useful for bards, because mages can wear robes of the archmagi.
No. If it was elven chainmail, it would be called, "Elven Chainmail +4" and you'd be able to cast arcane spells while wearing it. Elven chainmail is also made from mithral, but is crafted in a particular fashion by elves such that it is extremely light and non-restrictive. Drizzt's armor was made by dwarves.
Drizzt's chainmail was made by Bruenor, a dwarf. It's mithril, so it allows thief skills, but it's not as finely made as elven mail, so it prevents spellcasting.
Elven chainmail is better....it's 1 better then armor, and you could use the +2 RoP with it later for the same overall AC as the +2 chainmail. You could do better still with spirit armor, but it's not really needed at that point.
Use the Armor spell (AC6). It last 9 hours in game which is like 54 minutes real time.
I prefer shield (AC4, AC2 versus missiles, immune to magic missile) - only lasts 5 turns, but just cast it when you need it, or even buy the Shield Amulet, which is available early on, is quite cheap and can be recharged.
I still prefer the idea of being able to wear elven chain to save a spell slot and not to have to buff for "ordinary" encounters
Drizzt's chainmail was made by Bruenor, a dwarf. It's mithril, so it allows thief skills, but it's not as finely made as elven mail, so it prevents spellcasting.
Elven chainmail is better....it's 1 better then armor, and you could use the +2 RoP with it later for the same overall AC as the +2 chainmail. You could do better still with spirit armor, but it's not really needed at that point.
BTW elven chain (well, *all* chain mail) has modifiers for different weapon types, which alters its AC (unlike the Armour and Shield spells or Robes):
Base AC = 5 vs. Missile: +0 vs. Blunt: +2 vs. Piercing: +0 vs. Slashing: -2
So against blunt, it's actually only AC 7, but against slashing it's AC3...
Sure, but it seems a bit pointless since you can rest up between encounters and always have your spells ready. However, I think if it's a choice between armour or magic then magic wins out on most occasions I expect.
Sure, but it seems a bit pointless since you can rest up between encounters
Though that's not always possible (and even if it is, you can get interrupted), or you might not want to because of having characters with a good potion or scroll in effect
Use the Armor spell (AC6). It last 9 hours in game which is like 54 minutes real time.
I prefer shield (AC4, AC2 versus missiles, immune to magic missile) - only lasts 5 turns, but just cast it when you need it, or even buy the Shield Amulet, which is available early on, is quite cheap and can be recharged.
I still prefer the idea of being able to wear elven chain to save a spell slot and not to have to buff for "ordinary" encounters
Uhm they stack. Shield creates a magical shield and Armor a magical Armor so they do stack. Together with mirror Image and Blur your mage becomes a great tank even without Stone Skin.
Use the Armor spell (AC6). It last 9 hours in game which is like 54 minutes real time.
I prefer shield (AC4, AC2 versus missiles, immune to magic missile) - only lasts 5 turns, but just cast it when you need it, or even buy the Shield Amulet, which is available early on, is quite cheap and can be recharged.
I still prefer the idea of being able to wear elven chain to save a spell slot and not to have to buff for "ordinary" encounters
Uhm they stack. Shield creates a magical shield and Armor a magical Armor so they do stack. Together with mirror Image and Blur your mage becomes a great tank even without Stone Skin.
You're thinking 3rd edition. Shield creates an armor bonus of 4 and gives an additional amount vs missile weapons. Armor just creates a 6 armor bonus. And only the highest armor bonus is used.
Now in 3rd edition, shield DOES create a shield bonus which stacks with an armor bonus.
BTW a fighter/mage (or Bard with a Buckler) can of course use a physical shield (the item) with either the Armour or Shield spell, and this *does* stack
Comments
Thats the best armour you can get for a bard.
I don't know about the one in the game, but if it's a simple AC 5 elven chain, it's just as simple to cast the spell "armor", ac 6.
Before the advent of elven chain, just learn the Armor spell, and use it in lieu of armor until such time as the chain drops or you console it in.
Elven chainmail is better....it's 1 better then armor, and you could use the +2 RoP with it later for the same overall AC as the +2 chainmail. You could do better still with spirit armor, but it's not really needed at that point.
I still prefer the idea of being able to wear elven chain to save a spell slot and not to have to buff for "ordinary" encounters
Base AC = 5
vs. Missile: +0
vs. Blunt: +2
vs. Piercing: +0
vs. Slashing: -2
So against blunt, it's actually only AC 7, but against slashing it's AC3...
Details here:
http://www.pocketplane.net/volothamp/chap6.htm
Now in 3rd edition, shield DOES create a shield bonus which stacks with an armor bonus.