Spell hindrance

System by which the use of heavier grades of armor interrupt the wearer's ability to use magic.

Elemental spells may only be cast without interference by adventurers wearing robes, light leather, or full leather armors.

Spiritual spells may only be cast without interference by adventurers wearing robes, light leather, full leather, reinforced leather, or double leather armors.

Casters wearing heavier armors than those listed here will experience a random chance of the spell failing to have any effect, but still expending mana. The percentage of chance is variable based on the type of spell and type of armor.

Spell hindrance can be reduced both by the spell Faith's Clarity (1603) and by the paladin's armor specialization Armored fluidity.

An active sanctuary negates all armor hindrance.

Chart of Armor Penalties and Hindrance

AG	AsG	Name	RT	AP	Spell Hindrance
					MnS	MjS	Cleric	MnE	MjE	Ranger	Sorcerer	Wizard	Bard	Empath	Paladin	Max
Cloth	1	Robes	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Soft Leather	5	Light leather	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	6	Full leather	1	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	7	Reinforced leather	2	-5	-	-	-	-	2	-	1	2	-	-	-	4
	8	Double leather	2	-6	-	-	-	-	4	-	2	4	2	-	-	6
Hard Leather	9	Leather breastplate	3	-7	3	4	4	4	6	3	5	6	3	4	2	16
	10	Cuirbouilli leather	4	-8	4	5	5	5	7	4	6	7	3	5	3	20
	11	Studded leather	5	-10	5	6	6	6	9	5	8	9	3	6	4	24
	12	Brigandine armor	6	-12	6	7	7	7	12	6	11	12	7	7	5	28
Chain	13	Chain mail	7	-13	7	8	8	8	16	7	16	16	8	8	6	40
	14	Double chain	8	-14	8	9	9	9	20	8	18	20	8	9	7	45
	15	Augmented chain	8	-16	9	11	11	10	25	9	22	25	8	11	8	55
	16	Chain hauberk	9	-18	11	14	14	12	30	11	26	30	15	14	9	60
Plate	17	Metal breastplate	9	-20	16	25	25	16	35	21	29	35	21	25	10	90
	18	Augmented plate	10	-25	17	28	28	18	40	24	33	40	21	28	11	92
	19	Half plate	11	-30	18	32	32	20	45	27	39	45	21	32	12	94
	20	Full plate	12	-35	20	45	45	22	50	30	48	50	50	45	13	96

Resources

• http://www.play.net/gs4/info/armory/armor.asp