[RPG] Does magic armor automatically resize

armorcreature-sizednd-3.5emagic-items

I tought I was pretty sure this is not the case, but some discussion has arisen and I'm not so sure anymore.

What I know:

  • Most magical objects in the game auto-resize when worn by creatures of different sizes.
  • There is a table detailing weight and cost of non-medium armor. This could still be useful for mundane armor, even if magic armor automatically resized
  • Some spells explicitly tell us that armor does resize, as an exception to what happens normally. Again, this could be an exception for mundane armor only
  • No distinction is made between a huge creature trying to wear a medium magic ring or a magic-ring-wearing human becoming huge by some polymorph spell. Might a similar distinction be in order for armors? (See my previous point)

I'll only accept the answer that quotes some manual (or FAQs, but only if no manual solves the problem) on the matter.

Best Answer

Armor and Weapons do not resize

Rules Compendium (p 84-85) says it more explicitly than the core rules do (emphasis mine):

As long as you’re the same size category and the same general shape as the armor’s original owner, the armor functions normally for you. However, inappropriately sized or shaped armor can’t be worn. Armor doesn’t resize to fit a wearer of a different size category, nor does armor constructed for a humanoid-shaped creature fit a nonhumanoid-shaped creature. In cases where a nonhumanoid-shaped creature tries to wear armor created for another nonhumanoid, the DM should use his best judgment.

Shields don’t change size to match the wielder. You can’t use an inappropriately sized shield.

Weapons don’t change size to match the wielder. You can wield an inappropriately sized weapon with a penalty (see Inappropriately Sized Weapons, page 151). Regardless of a weapon’s size, as long as you can hold a weapon you can activate its magical abilities.

Related Topic