Armor Proficiency A character can spend a weapon proficiency slot to buy the armor proficiency, which indicates that he has become used to wearing a protective shell. Unlike the shield proficiency, the armor proficiency does not improve armor class. Instead, it reduces the encumbrance penalties for the wearing of a particular kind of armor. Thus, a character who is fully proficient with the use of his plate mail, for example, can move around a lot more easily and quickly than can a character who does not have this proficiency.

A character with the armor proficiency suffers only half the normal encumbrance load of his armor. For example, full plate armor weighs 70 pounds. However, if a character is proficient with that type of armor, the armor has the encumbrance effect of only 35 pounds. Naturally, the armor retains its full weight for all other purposes—such as swimming!

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