Armor as DR? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Armor as DR? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
theotherdraxen
12-01-06, 06:19 PM Has anyone found a way to keep the DR scaling with high levels? I'm talking about the armor as DR variant in UA, of course.
memberZ
12-01-06, 10:27 PM The problem I noticed when I thought of this is all DR would then have to be scaled.
To get better Dr my player just go adamantine armor
We have gone to use of the defense bonus also, this seems to even the field.
The only change is we use the better score not a combining to the better scale. Example a wizard with one level dip in fighter (say 16W/1F) does not jump to the fighters table as the stated (+11) but rather uses the better of the scores (+7 the +7 for 16 levels of wiz beating out the +6 for 1 level of Fighter).
wordserpent
12-01-06, 10:29 PM Armor that gives Daage Reduction works best in low-magic settings where healing is rare, or at the very leat; uncommon.

Consider using the AC bonus as DR on a point-for-point basis with the armor type. Chain shirts will suddenly become more valuable to your players.
psionicbattousai
12-02-06, 04:46 PM I've actually found a pretty decent way to make it scale. Crafting. I'm currently using a house rule for masterworking that actually makes it useful, and when you masterwork something, you can add to it's ac, dr, max dex, etc. The rule was actually proposed somewhere on the boards, but i'm not sure where. Next time I can get on here with my laptop, i'll post the rules up here (and search for the original author of the rules so I can give him credit).
Ashanti
12-04-06, 10:15 AM We use a system where half of the AC goes to AC and the other half goes to DR (odd numbers round up for AC and down for DR.

We also use a system where characters add half of their BAB to their AC as a form of Defence Bonus. This seems to work well for us. It's harder to hit Fighters etc at higher levels.

The Defence Bonus effectivly adds to the touch AC (making Fighters etc better against worrysome grappling tenticled monsters), and counts in all situations.
Geoste
12-05-06, 09:34 PM I've merely combined the Defense bonus with Armor as DR rule, and to divide by half for the Defense AC just like armor does with DR.

Also, do what memberZ said: use the better score - do not combine.

If that is not enough for you, consider adding the highest BaB bonus as a DR bonus, and either drop the Defense AC bonus altogether, or use some combination of all three. I am considering using all three myself... but then again, I have a house ruled damage thingee.
theotherdraxen
12-06-06, 12:03 AM Okay, so the working rule seems to be the Armor as DR variant from UA. Add on to that a Base Defense Bonus equal to 1/2 Base Attack Bonus, and have enhancement bonuses to armor increase the DR. This way, a +5 suit of full-plate on a 20th level fighter offers a total bonus of +14, along with DR 9/-.

Since DR 9/- is pretty much useless at 20th level, it is practically neglible (sp?). The +14 armor class bonus is actually one higher than the normal rules, so more power to the melee-types. Plus, the touch AC is much better, so my player's can hardly argue about imbalance over this, and I keep the DR effect.

However, someone at 1st level in scalemail has AC +2 and DR 2/-. This is okay, because DR at low levels is worth more than AC (theoretically), so the players are still better protected, and at virtually all levels.

I think this works. Anyone see any problems?
Larz_Fang
12-07-06, 08:46 AM That wouldn't be my group. We just started to use the rule yesterday since it was the first session after I got UA. I'll be sure to post them if anything comes by. Other than assigning DR from Natural Armor of the monsters, that is.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
theotherdraxen 12-01-06, 06:19 PM	Has anyone found a way to keep the DR scaling with high levels? I'm talking about the armor as DR variant in UA, of course.
memberZ 12-01-06, 10:27 PM	The problem I noticed when I thought of this is all DR would then have to be scaled. To get better Dr my player just go adamantine armor We have gone to use of the defense bonus also, this seems to even the field. The only change is we use the better score not a combining to the better scale. Example a wizard with one level dip in fighter (say 16W/1F) does not jump to the fighters table as the stated (+11) but rather uses the better of the scores (+7 the +7 for 16 levels of wiz beating out the +6 for 1 level of Fighter).
wordserpent 12-01-06, 10:29 PM	Armor that gives Daage Reduction works best in low-magic settings where healing is rare, or at the very leat; uncommon. Consider using the AC bonus as DR on a point-for-point basis with the armor type. Chain shirts will suddenly become more valuable to your players.
psionicbattousai 12-02-06, 04:46 PM	I've actually found a pretty decent way to make it scale. Crafting. I'm currently using a house rule for masterworking that actually makes it useful, and when you masterwork something, you can add to it's ac, dr, max dex, etc. The rule was actually proposed somewhere on the boards, but i'm not sure where. Next time I can get on here with my laptop, i'll post the rules up here (and search for the original author of the rules so I can give him credit).
Ashanti 12-04-06, 10:15 AM	We use a system where half of the AC goes to AC and the other half goes to DR (odd numbers round up for AC and down for DR. We also use a system where characters add half of their BAB to their AC as a form of Defence Bonus. This seems to work well for us. It's harder to hit Fighters etc at higher levels. The Defence Bonus effectivly adds to the touch AC (making Fighters etc better against worrysome grappling tenticled monsters), and counts in all situations.
Geoste 12-05-06, 09:34 PM	I've merely combined the Defense bonus with Armor as DR rule, and to divide by half for the Defense AC just like armor does with DR. Also, do what memberZ said: use the better score - do not combine. If that is not enough for you, consider adding the highest BaB bonus as a DR bonus, and either drop the Defense AC bonus altogether, or use some combination of all three. I am considering using all three myself... but then again, I have a house ruled damage thingee.
theotherdraxen 12-06-06, 12:03 AM	Okay, so the working rule seems to be the Armor as DR variant from UA. Add on to that a Base Defense Bonus equal to 1/2 Base Attack Bonus, and have enhancement bonuses to armor increase the DR. This way, a +5 suit of full-plate on a 20th level fighter offers a total bonus of +14, along with DR 9/-. Since DR 9/- is pretty much useless at 20th level, it is practically neglible (sp?). The +14 armor class bonus is actually one higher than the normal rules, so more power to the melee-types. Plus, the touch AC is much better, so my player's can hardly argue about imbalance over this, and I keep the DR effect. However, someone at 1st level in scalemail has AC +2 and DR 2/-. This is okay, because DR at low levels is worth more than AC (theoretically), so the players are still better protected, and at virtually all levels. I think this works. Anyone see any problems?
Larz_Fang 12-07-06, 08:46 AM	That wouldn't be my group. We just started to use the rule yesterday since it was the first session after I got UA. I'll be sure to post them if anything comes by. Other than assigning DR from Natural Armor of the monsters, that is.