Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So lore of metal goes off a targets unmodified armor save for what it needs to wound. In this case, would, say, a sarus 5+ scaly skin count as a modifier?

That is to say, is a sarus wounded on a 5+ (light armor and shield) or a 3+ (Light armor, shield, and scaly skin)

Saurus don't have light armor, but yes the scaly skin counts in the total.

Had a local Dark Elf player arguing that the corsair armor save shouldn't account for the sea dragon cloak when targeted by lore of metal spells (since those "modified" his armor save). Didn't like it, and didn't agree, but had to admit there was something of an argument there.

Lore of Metal spells are treated as missile weapons, yes? Then the extra +1 from the Sea Dragon Cloak counts.

As the rules currently are written, and many Army Books are, yes it does count and there's no way around it.

At the same time, if the rules were changed some to make Scaly Skin purely something from, well, Scaly Skin (as opposed to some cases wherein it involves magical enchantments, or straight-up armor), I would not have any issue with House Ruling that it doesn't count. I mean, it does seem odd that it can burn a Wyvern to death for being naked. But at the same time, outside FAQing every book and spell to take into account this change (and properly classify what is or isn't a "safe" save), it'd be too much work to even house rule ATM (especially since new books keep coming out).

Sadly you got duped, aslong as the spells says "is a magic missle" it will wreck the corsairs proper. The same thing goes to white lions who also get that tastey +1 from missles.