Armor as DR+Class Defense+VP/WP? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Armor as DR+Class Defense+VP/WP? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
The_Fan
08-15-04, 11:16 AM How well do these three work together? I'm working on a very unusual campaign, and I thought that those three rules fit the feel I was trying to go for.

Also, another variant I'm considering, this one from the DMG, is the defense roll. I'm going for a very dynamic, swashbuckling combat style, and together those four variants seem to reflect what I'm going for. Anything I should look out for combining all four?
thugmeister
08-15-04, 12:03 PM One thing to consider is that by the mid levels critical hits are fatal. In that system they ignore DR and go straight to wound points. So anything that can average over 20 points a shot has just brought the target to 0. One crit and the dragon is disabled or dying. Which makes big power attacking two handed sword wielding types arguably more devasting. It also makes weapons with good crit ranges (like the Kukri) particularly attractive.

We've been playing a DR campaign with all those rules (including defense checks). It really makes combat a serious thing at any level. Even a goblin could get lucky and crit you.

Class Defense has the interesting side effect of reducing the effectiveness of touch attacks. So rays are less reliable. Which is arguably a good thing.

We're also using the Character Action Points rule. That is a good way to promote crazy stunts if you want that swashbuckling feel. Our two kurkri wielding good draconian is always doing cool crazy things. It also helps to limit some of the devastation that critical hits can inflict by making it easier to stabilize or to make that fortitude save to be disabled instead of dying.
Nifft
08-15-04, 12:10 PM They work great together -- they're all three from Star Wars d20, where you can see that they are all nicely intertwined.

Some stuff to keep in mind:
- Armor should only act as DR against WP damage.
- Mooks & some big, dumb monsters should have no VP at all.
- If you've taken any WP damage, you should be Fatigued.

-- N
PyR3f1y
08-15-04, 03:23 PM I would suggest adding a variant that DR provided by armor (and only DR provided by armor) still applies during a critical hit.
The_Fan
08-15-04, 08:26 PM Heck, I thought that was the standard rule. I'm definatley using that, applying DR to both VP and WP damage. That way tthe heavily armored Juggernaught (one of six base classes I'm building for this game) is truly invulnerable, unless someone can find a special way to crack his shell.

Note: Every character will have a special way, and every class will have the potential to be "nigh invulnerable unless..."

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
The_Fan 08-15-04, 11:16 AM	How well do these three work together? I'm working on a very unusual campaign, and I thought that those three rules fit the feel I was trying to go for. Also, another variant I'm considering, this one from the DMG, is the defense roll. I'm going for a very dynamic, swashbuckling combat style, and together those four variants seem to reflect what I'm going for. Anything I should look out for combining all four?
thugmeister 08-15-04, 12:03 PM	One thing to consider is that by the mid levels critical hits are fatal. In that system they ignore DR and go straight to wound points. So anything that can average over 20 points a shot has just brought the target to 0. One crit and the dragon is disabled or dying. Which makes big power attacking two handed sword wielding types arguably more devasting. It also makes weapons with good crit ranges (like the Kukri) particularly attractive. We've been playing a DR campaign with all those rules (including defense checks). It really makes combat a serious thing at any level. Even a goblin could get lucky and crit you. Class Defense has the interesting side effect of reducing the effectiveness of touch attacks. So rays are less reliable. Which is arguably a good thing. We're also using the Character Action Points rule. That is a good way to promote crazy stunts if you want that swashbuckling feel. Our two kurkri wielding good draconian is always doing cool crazy things. It also helps to limit some of the devastation that critical hits can inflict by making it easier to stabilize or to make that fortitude save to be disabled instead of dying.
Nifft 08-15-04, 12:10 PM	They work great together -- they're all three from Star Wars d20, where you can see that they are all nicely intertwined. Some stuff to keep in mind: - Armor should only act as DR against WP damage. - Mooks & some big, dumb monsters should have no VP at all. - If you've taken any WP damage, you should be Fatigued. -- N
PyR3f1y 08-15-04, 03:23 PM	I would suggest adding a variant that DR provided by armor (and only DR provided by armor) still applies during a critical hit.
The_Fan 08-15-04, 08:26 PM	Heck, I thought that was the standard rule. I'm definatley using that, applying DR to both VP and WP damage. That way tthe heavily armored Juggernaught (one of six base classes I'm building for this game) is truly invulnerable, unless someone can find a special way to crack his shell. Note: Every character will have a special way, and every class will have the potential to be "nigh invulnerable unless..."