Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zavule May 02, 2008 2:08:38	I'm considering starting a campaign soon. I won't go into great detail, but wandering around in full plate will draw way too much attention to the characters. Instead, I was considering implementing the Defense Bonus system in Unearthed Arcana (page 109). I checked around and unless I missed it completely I didn't see a single thread on the topic. I like the idea, and it provides a nice solution to the problem of what to do with a warblade who can't wear heavy armor. However, I'm not really sure that the system doesn't need a little tweaking before I'd really consider using it. talking points: 1. defense ratings. I'm considering bumping monks (or swordsage as the case may be) up to a column d or at least a column c defense bonus. Monks have crappy AC anyways. Any other suggestions for column swapping would be welcome. 2. Multiclassing and defense bonuses: I'm not sure how much I like the multi classing and defense bonuses. I was thinking of maybe averaging the two bonuses together somehow, maybe doing something involving percentages of the classes... say 1 level barbarian, 1 level fighter gets you a defense bonus of +5, but i can see that getting far too complex. 3. My last question is on the effects on dodge bonuses and touch attacks. Rays and various other touch attacks would be kinda useless, especially to a wizard or anyone else with a low BAB. Wizards are incredibly powerful anyway, what with the ability to be god and all.... but how much does taking away touch attacks really mess with them? Should I just turn the defense bonus into a straight AC bonus that doesn't apply to touch attacks, or leave it as is? That's really it folks. Thanks for the help in advance.
#2 beldar_mithos May 02, 2008 2:15:44	I'm considering starting a campaign soon. I won't go into great detail, but wandering around in full plate will draw way too much attention to the characters. Instead, I was considering implementing the Defense Bonus system in Unearthed Arcana (page 109). I checked around and unless I missed it completely I didn't see a single thread on the topic. I like the idea, and it provides a nice solution to the problem of what to do with a warblade who can't wear heavy armor. However, I'm not really sure that the system doesn't need a little tweaking before I'd really consider using it. talking points: 1. defense ratings. I'm considering bumping monks (or swordsage as the case may be) up to a column d or at least a column c defense bonus. Monks have crappy AC anyways. Any other suggestions for column swapping would be welcome. 2. Multiclassing and defense bonuses: I'm not sure how much I like the multi classing and defense bonuses. I was thinking of maybe averaging the two bonuses together somehow, maybe doing something involving percentages of the classes... say 1 level barbarian, 1 level fighter gets you a defense bonus of +5, but i can see that getting far too complex. 3. My last question is on the effects on dodge bonuses and touch attacks. Rays and various other touch attacks would be kinda useless, especially to a wizard or anyone else with a low BAB. Wizards are incredibly powerful anyway, what with the ability to be god and all.... but how much does taking away touch attacks really mess with them? Should I just turn the defense bonus into a straight AC bonus that doesn't apply to touch attacks, or leave it as is? That's really it folks. Thanks for the help in advance. I've had a few experiences with this defense bonus before and I have to say I sort of like it,but let's start by aswering your questions. 1-Monks could use the boost for certain,Swordsages do not..they get light armor in addition to the Wis bonus...still lower AC,but the class needs not a harder to hit me bonus,but once again your call. 2-I'd say just stack the bonuses like you do saves normally,less math,and it makes sense. Just because a fighter became a cleric doesn't mean he forgot all of that martial training. 3-Bah,touch attacks can be taken away from normal casters,but ones such as Warlock will take a huge hit. Either make it work like a normal AC bonus,or do something like add 1/4 or 1/2 of your defense bonus to your touch AC,heck. You can even make a feat that allows you to add the 1/4,and then 1/2 to the touch AC as a balancing measure. But then the caster will just cast a save or die non-touch spell and not care about AC.