Blunt damage question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Blunt damage question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ThyNecromancer
11-22-05, 01:20 PM When you use a slashing/peircing weapon you are going through the armor in order to hurt the enemy. So you need to penetrate the armor. But what about blunt damage? A mace doesn't go through armor, it only bashes it pretty good in order to do the damage.
So, do I really have to roll over the enemies armor in order to do my damage? Or is it a "touch" like attack since I'm only hitting the armor?
jaelis
11-22-05, 01:30 PM Are you asking the "real life" question "Would I be better off with a mace or a sword when fighting an opponent wearing armor?" or the game question "Does your armor bonus apply to attacks with bludgeoning weapons?"

I'm only qualified to answer the second question, and that answer is "yes". Furthermore, I think houseruling differently would make the game much less playable.
tarkin
11-22-05, 01:46 PM Which hurts more, being hit by a mace on your naked skin, or being hit by a mace through several layers of padding, chaindmail and platemail?

Clearly armor protects against blunt damage, including maces.

D20 choose to represent this by using a higher AC instead of creating a DR type effect, for simplicity's sake.

If you desire to reverse this case, the solution is simple: each +1 of Armor provides +2 DR (reversed Power Attack) instead of the plus one AC against Blunt attacks.

I think this needlessly complicates the situation.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ThyNecromancer 11-22-05, 01:20 PM	When you use a slashing/peircing weapon you are going through the armor in order to hurt the enemy. So you need to penetrate the armor. But what about blunt damage? A mace doesn't go through armor, it only bashes it pretty good in order to do the damage. So, do I really have to roll over the enemies armor in order to do my damage? Or is it a "touch" like attack since I'm only hitting the armor?
jaelis 11-22-05, 01:30 PM	Are you asking the "real life" question "Would I be better off with a mace or a sword when fighting an opponent wearing armor?" or the game question "Does your armor bonus apply to attacks with bludgeoning weapons?" I'm only qualified to answer the second question, and that answer is "yes". Furthermore, I think houseruling differently would make the game much less playable.
tarkin 11-22-05, 01:46 PM	Which hurts more, being hit by a mace on your naked skin, or being hit by a mace through several layers of padding, chaindmail and platemail? Clearly armor protects against blunt damage, including maces. D20 choose to represent this by using a higher AC instead of creating a DR type effect, for simplicity's sake. If you desire to reverse this case, the solution is simple: each +1 of Armor provides +2 DR (reversed Power Attack) instead of the plus one AC against Blunt attacks. I think this needlessly complicates the situation.