Stacking Armour

[BlueWinds]

People have already covered the rules as written, but I wanted to pop in and provide an alternative I use at my table - apply the Withstand stacking rules. Take the highest armor / reduced damage from a single source, and each additional source of armor that applies to a given hit adds +1. I prefer my Mages to remain a bit more squishy than the normal "Mage armor stacks with worn armor stacks with thick skin" rules.

Just another option for STs to consider.

[KaiserAfini]

All thats good advice, so all I'll add is that you want solutions that don't remind you your in a game. Like, would spider-silk skin and kevlar *not* stack in a TV show from another IP?

But magical effects not stacking makes sense, not just for balance, but mostly because magic is about manipulating symbols, so a given symbol of "protection" in the Supernal probably only has one possible value, hence things can't stack cuz you only have the one symbol.

But using life armor and a spell ON your kevlar vest sounds sensible, cuz while the character is stacking armor, the magic involved is affecting two separate targets.

This also works well with Mages tendencies to work best when they have foresight, preparation, and resources.

Agreed, for example, if a Matter spell increases the effectiveness of kevlar armor and a Fate spell tries to do the same, only the strongest takes effect. By default I assume only Mage Armor stacks with anything else. But a spirit enhancing it and a mage doing it would stack, because one source is Supernal and another is ephemeral.

But if you used magic to craft better armor and then you enhanced it, I would say that stacks. Because in that case you have complications built in, like additional expenses to make, repair or resupply it.

[Scarlet Witch]

All thats good advice, so all I'll add is that you want solutions that don't remind you your in a game. Like, would spider-silk skin and kevlar *not* stack in a TV show from another IP?

But magical effects not stacking makes sense, not just for balance, but mostly because magic is about manipulating symbols, so a given symbol of "protection" in the Supernal probably only has one possible value, hence things can't stack cuz you only have the one symbol.

But using life armor and a spell ON your kevlar vest sounds sensible, cuz while the character is stacking armor, the magic involved is affecting two separate targets.

This also works well with Mages tendencies to work best when they have foresight, preparation, and resources.

[Heavy Arms]

The general advice from the CofD developers is:

Bonuses from the same source don't stack. If you're using two different forms of magic to general armor, you take the highest bonus. If you're wearing mundane armor and using Mage armor, you get both.

I find this generally works out. There are some cases where I might make an exception, but this has never steered me wrong at the table in the moment.

[Tessie]

Worn armour doesn't stack with worn armour. Any other armour is up for the group to decide. I'd recommend deciding on a case by case basis, choosing whatever makes sense for each situation. Just remember the choice for the future for consistency's sake.

[maryshelly]

If a Mage uses Life magic to enhance his form through Transform Life and add thick scales (2/1 armour). Does that stack with Mage armour or just use the greater of the two? How would Mage armour interact with regular armour like kevlar? Would that stack too?