Does UA's defense bonus stack w/wildshape [Archive] - Wizards Community

Does UA's defense bonus stack w/wildshape [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
smaugfrost
03-23-06, 08:03 PM Does anyone currently use defense bonus rules from UA? I mean the unmodified variant rules as listed where they cannot be stacked with armour bonus.

I know the intent of the variant rule was to grant defense to characters without the tremendous need of armour in a campaign (swashbucklers unite !), but I discovered a situation involving a wild shaping druid and I have heard different and conflicting things.

I would like to know how other DM's are running this rule. It is unclear to me what defense bonus one carry's over if one changes into, say, a dire bear? The bear would normally have a DB of zero due to the lack of normally worn armour, but the druid class grants a DB. Since it states under the section on DB that creatures only get a DB based on the type of armour they wear (+0 to +4 bonus) or based on their class levels, when you change into some other form, what goes?

This can make a difference of +2 to +10 or more depending on the character's level. I would like to hear feedback from anyone using this variant rule.
Degobah
03-24-06, 07:40 AM By the Rules As Written, your druid of course keeps their defense bonus and adds it on, since the bear has a natural armour bonus but no armour. But you knew that.

This could theoretically increase a druid's AC bonus somewhat. On the other hand, there's no reason why a bear can't wear armour...for example a druid can get magic armour that wild shapes with them. There's no exact rule I know of stopping regular bears wearing magic armour either, since it resizes.

I'd guess that by the time the defense bonus starts becoming very high, you're reaching levels where the druid would *probably* have stuff like the wilding armour anyway, so its not too much of a game balance issue.

All up, I'd leave the rules as they are. Its something for the GM to keep in mind, though.
greatamericanfolkhero
03-30-06, 06:45 PM If it's a really big issue just have them take a wildshape feat to keep the Defense bonus wile wildshaped. Preq: wildshape ability.
Bahriel
03-30-06, 08:42 PM It's pretty easy, the DB in UO is based off what training you normally recieve, ie the DB Is training, as such, the DB, will not be lost even if you are polymorphed into a frog (as long as you keep you'r mental capability)
AT-AT Assault
04-04-06, 06:29 PM I forget what its called, but their's an Item in the Druid, Barbarians, and Rangers book that attaches to an item. This keeps the item its attached from melding into your wildshaped body(so if you attach it to Armor the Armor doesnt meld). Its a medium level item(you could get it at like 7-10 levels), so the Defense Bonus Variant appliying while wildshaped isnt unbalancing.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
smaugfrost 03-23-06, 08:03 PM	Does anyone currently use defense bonus rules from UA? I mean the unmodified variant rules as listed where they cannot be stacked with armour bonus. I know the intent of the variant rule was to grant defense to characters without the tremendous need of armour in a campaign (swashbucklers unite !), but I discovered a situation involving a wild shaping druid and I have heard different and conflicting things. I would like to know how other DM's are running this rule. It is unclear to me what defense bonus one carry's over if one changes into, say, a dire bear? The bear would normally have a DB of zero due to the lack of normally worn armour, but the druid class grants a DB. Since it states under the section on DB that creatures only get a DB based on the type of armour they wear (+0 to +4 bonus) or based on their class levels, when you change into some other form, what goes? This can make a difference of +2 to +10 or more depending on the character's level. I would like to hear feedback from anyone using this variant rule.
Degobah 03-24-06, 07:40 AM	By the Rules As Written, your druid of course keeps their defense bonus and adds it on, since the bear has a natural armour bonus but no armour. But you knew that. This could theoretically increase a druid's AC bonus somewhat. On the other hand, there's no reason why a bear can't wear armour...for example a druid can get magic armour that wild shapes with them. There's no exact rule I know of stopping regular bears wearing magic armour either, since it resizes. I'd guess that by the time the defense bonus starts becoming very high, you're reaching levels where the druid would probably have stuff like the wilding armour anyway, so its not too much of a game balance issue. All up, I'd leave the rules as they are. Its something for the GM to keep in mind, though.
greatamericanfolkhero 03-30-06, 06:45 PM	If it's a really big issue just have them take a wildshape feat to keep the Defense bonus wile wildshaped. Preq: wildshape ability.
Bahriel 03-30-06, 08:42 PM	It's pretty easy, the DB in UO is based off what training you normally recieve, ie the DB Is training, as such, the DB, will not be lost even if you are polymorphed into a frog (as long as you keep you'r mental capability)
AT-AT Assault 04-04-06, 06:29 PM	I forget what its called, but their's an Item in the Druid, Barbarians, and Rangers book that attaches to an item. This keeps the item its attached from melding into your wildshaped body(so if you attach it to Armor the Armor doesnt meld). Its a medium level item(you could get it at like 7-10 levels), so the Defense Bonus Variant appliying while wildshaped isnt unbalancing.