Mithril

Source: PRG:CRB

HP/inch 30; Hardness 15; Cost Weapons or armors fashioned from mithril are always masterwork items as well; the masterwork cost is included in the prices given below.; Weight 1/2 normal; Weight (Longer Wording) An item made from mithral weighs half as much as the same item made from other metals. In the case of weapons, this lighter weight does not change a weapon's size category or the ease with which it can be wielded (whether it is light, one-handed, or two-handed). (see FAQ below.)

Description

Type of Item	Item Cost Modifier	Light armor	+1,000 gp
Medium armor	+4,000 gp
Heavy armor	+9,000 gp
Shield	+1,000 gp
Other items	+500 gp/lb.

Mithril is a very rare silvery, glistening metal that is lighter than steel but just as hard.

When worked like steel, it becomes a wonderful material from which to create armor, and is occasionally used for other items as well. Most mithril armors are one category lighter than normal for purposes of movement and other limitations. Heavy armors are treated as medium, and medium armors are treated as light, but light armors are still treated as light. This decrease does not apply to proficiency in wearing the armor. A character wearing mithril full plate must be proficient in wearing heavy armor to avoid adding the armor's check penalty to all his attack rolls and skill checks that involve moving. Spell failure chances for armors and shields made from mithril are decreased by 10%, maximum Dexterity bonuses are increased by 2, and armor check penalties are decreased by 3 (to a minimum of 0).

Items not primarily of metal are not meaningfully affected by being partially made of mithril. (A longsword can be a mithral weapon, while a quarterstaff cannot.) Mithril weapons count as silver for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.

FAQ

What weight do I use to determine the price of a mithril weapon or non-armor item? To determine the additional price for the mithril (as compared to the normal item's price), use the non-mithril item's original weight and multiply that by 500 gp per pound.

For example, a steel dagger for a Medium creature weighs 1 pound. For its mithril equivalent, multiply that weight (1 lb.) times 500 gp/pound, or +500 gp. When added to the original item's cost (2 gp), the mithril dagger's total price is 502 gp.

There are likely some inconsistent mithril item prices in print, and these will be addressed in future printings of these books, as appropriate.

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