Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Aryxbez 10-19-07, 07:50 PM	I doubt anyone cares for this subject, however what is with armor variants? Most RPGs use Armor for DR, Is it more realistic that armor absorb damage? I'm assuming others believe that armor should merely that you did get hit, just it may not have actually hurt ye. Also I think some people favor that rule as well, I would like to know why. Really the only problem of armor that I have that I can think of at this time is that every RPG, has Full-plate being pretty much the armor to always wear.
runestar 10-19-07, 09:42 PM	They don't like the all-or-nothing effect that armour confers. I however, find it the lesser (http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/rants/armorasdamagereduction.html) of 2 evils.:)
Talisman 10-20-07, 12:02 AM	Most RPGs use Armor for DR, Is it more realistic that armor absorb damage? I'm assuming others believe that armor should merely that you did get hit, just it may not have actually hurt ye. Also I think some people favor that rule as well, I would like to know why. In a word: yes. Specifically, that is exactly what armor does in the real world: it absorbs some or all of the impact from a blow, spreading it out over a larger area and preventing the full kinetic force from reaching your precious flesh. If I'm just trying to hit someone, I'f much rather face a guy in full plate than a guy in a T-shirt and jeans. On the other hand, if I'm trying to hurt someone, I'll avoid Mr Tin Suit. D&D uses a simplfied, abstract, speeded-up version of "reality," especially in combat. The default rules are all-or-nothing. You either get hit (and take X damage) or it's a "miss"--meaning the attack didn't affect you, for whatever reason. And if you care, I use the default rules, not the "armor-as-DR" variant, despite the fact that I find the latter to be more realistic.
Aryxbez 10-20-07, 09:06 PM	Well Talisman , of course I care, I did post that I wonder one's reasons after all. I have thought about going about using the Armor as DR system in the Unearthed Arcana. Which there was some AC, and some DR, although it will likely cause problems. My only problem is how Rogues have little to no chance of hitting those with super heavy armor, you would think there is some weak points in fullplate? Oh well, I guess Brute force and magics is everything in D&D.
Talisman 10-21-07, 02:05 PM	Well Talisman , of course I care, I did post that I wonder one's reasons after all. I use the default armor rules for two reasons. First, it's simpler...D&D is already complicated enough that any variants had better be worth the extra level of detail. Second, as one of my players puts it, "When Lord Smasho is doing 25 points of damage per hit, 3 points of DR is pretty meaningless." I don't agree with him 100%, but I do see his point, and it's not worth the debate to me. My only problem is how Rogues have little to no chance of hitting those with super heavy armor, you would think there is some weak points in fullplate? It's been my experience that a well-crafted rogue will hit fequently...not every time, but not even full-BAB warrior-types hit every time. The trick with a rogue, more than any other class, is to pick your attacks carefully. If you're fighting 8 armored guards and two wizards...go for the wizards! Grab flanks whenever possible; in addition to allowing SA, they give you a decent attack bonus. My favorite roguish trick is to take Spring Attack...your iterative attacks are unlikely to hit anyway, so this lets you dart in, get the flank + sneak attack, then dart back behind the fighter. Oh well, I guess Brute force and magics is everything in D&D. Sadly, this is more true than not.
Kraz 10-26-07, 03:05 PM	One thing you could do is change around the way bonuses to the armor would work. One method would be having each bonus give +1 and +1 DR, so +5 full plate would grant an additional +5 bonus to AC and +5 more DR. Alternatively each bonus instead gives double DR. So a +5 full plate would get an additional +10 DR. Not sure how well that would actually work, but you never know. :P
Slapstick87 10-26-07, 06:56 PM	Armor does one of two things. In case of a sword clash against a plate armor, it deflects the blow entirely. Should the sword instead strike between the plates, the sword goes just as deep as if there where no plate there at all. In this case the core rules work perfectly. But if a morningstar is pummeled into the chest of someone with a chainmail, the chainmail will take some of the damage, but certainly not all of it. In this case the DR variant works better. Personally I use a combination. Armor gives both AC and DR. On a critical hit however, it completely bypass any armor DR. Some hits are just that good. - Slapstick