Implement Docent > Armor Altar

[Grimscore_Riffstorm]

I think Docents are important for the lore thingies, but I think we need a way to convert them to cloth, light, medium and heavy armor and a way to convert their corresponding armor pieces back to docents.

Forge of Adaptive Plating:

The concept is simple: the forge would convert a Docent into an equivalent piece of armor (Cloth, Light, Medium, or Heavy), or convert eligible armor into a Docent. The item's magical properties, minimum level, enchantments, and other statistics would remain exactly the same. Only the equipment type would change.

To prevent abuse and simplify implementation, the item would have to be completely "clean" before it could be converted. I think Mythic and Reaper bonuses should be transferable:

• No augments slotted.
• No curses.
• No attunement or binding changes beyond its original state.
• No crafting or other alterations.

This makes the forge a one-time reconfiguration device rather than a way to duplicate or manipulate modified items.

From a lore perspective, House Cannith already possesses the expertise to construct and repair Warforged, create Docents, and reshape magical equipment. The Forge of Adaptive Plating could be explained as an experimental Cannith device that transfers the magical matrix from one protective shell into another while preserving the item's enchantments.

This would:

• Give Warforged and Bladeforged access to many more itemization options.
• Allow players to use desirable named items regardless of whether they were originally dropped as armor or Docents.
• Reduce the need to farm separate Docent versions of every new armor item.

It seems like a lore-friendly quality-of-life improvement that could significantly reduce itemization gaps while remaining faithful to the world's established artificer and House Cannith technology.

 

[Wrensel]

I know this is the complete opposite opinion, but I kinda preferred docents better when they were NOT carbon copies of all the other armors in the game. It gave Warforged a more distinctive racial identity than being homogenized. It allowed for unique things the race could incorporate (Morleth's Docent, Docent of Defiance, Titanic Docent, Docent of Acid, Blademark's Docent for Life Shield that didn't block Evasion, etc).

 

[rabidfox]

I suspect converting them would actually be a complex system behind the hood to code. They'd probably be better off just doing work on the warforged race itself. Add a free racial feat at level 1 where they can pick their body type. Add in 2 new feats, one for medium armor stats via docents, and one for being able to wear regular armor (where it removes some of the warforged immunities/perks in exchange). I could be wrong, but that's just my assumption on how it'd be easier to do code-wise.

 

[Grimscore_Riffstorm]

I know this is the complete opposite opinion, but I kinda preferred docents better when they were NOT carbon copies of all the other armors in the game. It gave Warforged a more distinctive racial identity than being homogenized. It allowed for unique things the race could incorporate (Morleth's Docent, Docent of Defiance, Titanic Docent, Docent of Acid, Blademark's Docent for Life Shield that didn't block Evasion, etc).

It wouldn't apply to unique docents because they don't have a copy. I'm talkin about just converting set pieces and matching pairs.

 

[Grimscore_Riffstorm]

I suspect converting them would actually be a complex system behind the hood to code. They'd probably be better off just doing work on the warforged race itself. Add a free racial feat at level 1 where they can pick their body type. Add in 2 new feats, one for medium armor stats via docents, and one for being able to wear regular armor (where it removes some of the warforged immunities/perks in exchange). I could be wrong, but that's just my assumption on how it'd be easier to do code-wise.

This is a possible variance as well; however, I don't think they'd allow them to wear regular armor ever. They seem pretty stiff on baking that in because of the WF/BF unique traits. There's no legitimate lore reasons, though. And that is wherein I believe the problem is. It's either bloated tables or an equivalency outside of the chest.

 

[Darlyaa]

It wouldn't apply to unique docents because they don't have a copy. I'm talkin about just converting set pieces and matching pairs.

If I get you correctly, you're talking about things like "Great forge"[heavy/medium/light/outfit/docent"? Or "Gravekeeper's"[...]?

If that's what you're calling "set" here, and considering what Rabid says, I see a very simple solution which would be a trade, like with Fallen Age or Shining reliquary weapons.

Also, I know the forged races have an absolute restriction of what to wear. But in the end, that doesn't change much; if your toon is wearing light armor, finding a heavy one will be as useless for them as a docent or as any armor for a forged.
Which means a trading system or anyhow it would be done, would actually serve just everyone.

 

[Honkin]

Add two new body feats:

• Ironwood Body - counts as medium non-metal armor, allowing warforged to not break druidic oath.
• Unarmored Body - lose innate fortification and access to related enhancement line(s), but gain the ability to wear armor and robes.

Give warforged a free feat at level 1 to choose their body type between adamantine, ironwood, mithril, or unarmored. I think that would be a more elegant solution than introducing new crafting systems.

 

[Grimscore_Riffstorm]

If I get you correctly, you're talking about things like "Great forge"[heavy/medium/light/outfit/docent"? Or "Gravekeeper's"[...]?

If that's what you're calling "set" here, and considering what Rabid says, I see a very simple solution which would be a trade, like with Fallen Age or Shining reliquary weapons.

Also, I know the forged races have an absolute restriction of what to wear. But in the end, that doesn't change much; if your toon is wearing light armor, finding a heavy one will be as useless for them as a docent or as any armor for a forged.
Which means a trading system or anyhow it would be done, would actually serve just everyone.

This is a trade lol

 

[Grimscore_Riffstorm]

Add two new body feats:

• Ironwood Body - counts as medium non-metal armor, allowing warforged to not break druidic oath.
• Unarmored Body - lose innate fortification and access to related enhancement line(s), but gain the ability to wear armor and robes.

Give warforged a free feat at level 1 to choose their body type between adamantine, ironwood, mithril, or unarmored. I think that would be a more elegant solution than introducing new crafting systems.

I'm pretty sure they've stated they won't allow them to wear regular armor.

 

[Arkat]

• Ironwood Body - counts as medium non-metal armor, allowing warforged to not break druidic oath.

This feat needs to happen.

 

[Zvdegor]

I think Docents are important for the lore thingies, but I think we need a way to convert them to cloth, light, medium and heavy armor and a way to convert their corresponding armor pieces back to docents.

Forge of Adaptive Plating:

The concept is simple: the forge would convert a Docent into an equivalent piece of armor (Cloth, Light, Medium, or Heavy), or convert eligible armor into a Docent. The item's magical properties, minimum level, enchantments, and other statistics would remain exactly the same. Only the equipment type would change.

To prevent abuse and simplify implementation, the item would have to be completely "clean" before it could be converted. I think Mythic and Reaper bonuses should be transferable:

• No augments slotted.
• No curses.
• No attunement or binding changes beyond its original state.
• No crafting or other alterations.

This makes the forge a one-time reconfiguration device rather than a way to duplicate or manipulate modified items.

From a lore perspective, House Cannith already possesses the expertise to construct and repair Warforged, create Docents, and reshape magical equipment. The Forge of Adaptive Plating could be explained as an experimental Cannith device that transfers the magical matrix from one protective shell into another while preserving the item's enchantments.

This would:

• Give Warforged and Bladeforged access to many more itemization options.
• Allow players to use desirable named items regardless of whether they were originally dropped as armor or Docents.
• Reduce the need to farm separate Docent versions of every new armor item.

It seems like a lore-friendly quality-of-life improvement that could significantly reduce itemization gaps while remaining faithful to the world's established artificer and House Cannith technology.

I agree theoretically but there are already lotsa suggestions how to handle Robot's AC/Dodge/Docent vs Armor/etc... issues.
SSG already stated years ago Warforged get a new appearence but it has never happened.
Robots also could use a modern racial tree which includes for example light/medium/heavy armor plating, or even at character generation it should be an option (coming out of the Cannith WF factory with light/medium/heavy plating) and makes sence.
Many class feats are dumb and a trap for players without game knowledge.
There are so many issues with Robots nowdays that they need a compelte overhaul and redesigne to please modern DDO standards.
If it happens, super. But dont hold your breath...