Armor Spell from UA Conversion

[Demiurge]

Armor was a favorite of mine in 1e from Unearthed Arcana. The general rule of thumb for new spells is that they should be on par with spells of a similar level and the closest I could find is the 1st level illusionist spell Dragon Armor.

At first look my conversion of Armor seems much better to me. Is Armor over powered for a 1st level wizard spell or is Dragon Armor underpowered?

Armor, Level 1 wizard
CT 1 Range Touch Duration special
SV no SR no Comp V,S,M

By means of this spell, the caster creates a magical field of force which serves as if it were leather armor (+2 AC). If the spell is cast upon a person who already has an armor bonus, it has no effect. The magic armor spell adds no weight or EV, nor does it prevent spell casting. It lasts until dispelled or until the wearer sustains cumulative damage totaling 8 points + 1 per level of the caster.

The material component is a piece of finely cured leather.

Source: Unearthed Arcana

[serleran]

I find both spells to be weak, to be honest.

I would probably go with something like:

This spell grants an armor class bonus of +3, increasing by an additional +1 for every 4 levels of the caster. Use of items (whether magical or not) which further increase armor class negate these benefits. The duration is one day, incapable of being extended.

[Omote]

I also think these spell is generally weak. +3 is a better bonus. I would have the duration at 10 mins / level or 1 hours per level. To keep the level 1 spell relevant to higher level casting, a +1 per X levels is needed. +1/4 seems about right. I would add that with such a spell the more AC that the spell provides, the the larger and more glamoured (shiny/brilliant) the armor appears. These differences keep the spell somewhat unique to the other spells which provide a bonus to AC.

~O

[Demiurge]

I believe you are both correct. The 2e version bumped it up to AC 6, which would equate to +4. It still has the 8+1/level before it goes poof. Not sure about that one.

UA also has a 1st level illusionist spell called Phantom Armor which is similar to (but a lot better than) Dragon Armor.

[Treebore]

I would do base AC of 13, +1/2 levels, maxed out at AC 18, DEX modifies, duration of 1 hour per level, caster only. Nothing else stacks with it, such as Cloaks or rings. A higher level spell (third level) would allow such things to stack and have a fixed duration of 1 day. Donning normal armor would negate this spell automatically.

Edit: I would allow spells, such as Protection form Evil, to stack with it. Just not items.

[serleran]

I can understand the desire to reduce duration. I decided on 1 day for my version because I hate tracking things.

[Treebore]

I can understand the desire to reduce duration. I decided on 1 day for my version because I hate tracking things.

Agreed. Which is why the 4E "once per encounter" idea appeals to me, I just don't like how it effects all other spells, so I go with such long durations for spells like this because it is just easier that way. Plus, if your willing to burn a third level spell for a better version of it, I may as well let you have it all day, unless dispelled. A lot of book keeping just isn't worth it.

[Mark Hall]

I just flat-out took my 2e Armor spell (+4 AC, disappears after 8+1hp/level). My players like it because it allows them to cast the spell before they go adventuring, and have that slot available the next day.