Mass Effect 5e - Player's Handbook
Armor
Armor is much more customizable in ME5e than in the base 5e ruleset.
There are 2 major armor changes:
- Armor types can be mixed
- Armor can be custom made or modified with powerful augmentations.
Just like 5th edition, anyone can put on armor. However, only those proficient in the armor type know how to wear it effectively. Your class gives you proficiency with certain types of armor (light, medium, or heavy). If you are wearing 2 or more pieces of armor that you lack proficiency with, you have disadvantage on any ability check, saving throw, or Attack roll that involves Strength or Dexterity. If you are wearing 4 pieces of armor you lack proficiency with, you cannot cast Biotics or Tech and Combat powers.
In Mass Effect 5e, there are 4 armor placements: Head, Chest, Arms, and Legs. Your base AC is 10 and each piece of armor provides a +AC bonus depending on its type and placement as listed in the Armor/AC table below. Additionally, there are bonuses and limitations for the combination of armor types you are wearing, explained in the Bonues and Limitations table.
For simplicity's sake, you cannot mix armor within placements. I.e., you cannot have a heavy piece of on your right arm and a light piece of armor on your left.
Armor / AC
| Placement / Type | Light | Medium | Heavy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chest | +1 | +2 | +3 |
| Arms & Legs | +0 | +1 | +2 |
| Head | Unless otherwise listed, headware provides no bonus | ||
Bonues and Limitations
If you are wearing...
| DEX bonus | Min STR | Stealth | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ...one or more pieces of Heavy armor | none | 14 | disadvantage |
| ...one or more pieces of Medium armor | Max +2 bonus from Dexterity modifier | 12 | - |
| ...light or no armor | Add Dexterity modifier to your AC | - | - |
Variant: Encumberance
If using the Variant: Encumbrance rule, use the following to calculate your armor weight.
| Placement / Type | Light | Medium | Heavy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chest | 3 | 6 | 10 |
| Arms & Legs | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Head | 2 | ||
Armor Customization is a new feature and provides a lot of the options that would be handled by Magical Items in traditional 5e. It costs a pretty penny, so creating armor might not be available to new characters, but as they progress, you should be able to afford custom jobs.
Creating Armor from Scratch
When you create a piece of armor from scratch, you need to select:
- The armor placement (Head, Chest, Arms, Legs).
- The armor type (Light, Medium, Heavy)
- Additional mod slots, if any.
| Slot / Type | Light | Medium | Heavy | Mod Slots (max) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest | 8,000 | 10,000 | 12,000 | 2 (3) |
| Arms & Legs | 2,000 | 3,000 | 4,000 | 0 (2) |
| Head | 5,000 | 1 (3) | ||
- Additional Mod Slots: 20,000 credits
Example
Medium Head Armor w/ 2 mod slots
| Medium Head | 4000 |
| Additional Mod Slot (starts with 1) | 20000 |
| Total | 24000 credits |
Looted armor
You can sometimes apply custom mods and additional mod slots to armor you've looted from the battlefield. The same prices apply. If the awarded armor is a manufactured Armor Set, it cannot be customized.