Super Simple Armor

[mrpopstar]

That seems a bit extreme. Heavy armor is incredibly vital to certain character concepts. Denying all heavy armor to a level 1 character means that those characters would never last long enough to acquire heavy armor. You can't be a tank with an AC of 14 (including shield).

A level 1 fighter equipped with medium armor and shield would have AC 17 before considering Dexterity modifiers using my table.

It would make Dexterity significantly more important than it already is. It would basically become the new Constitution, where everyone needs it at least above average, or else you will die.

I don't think denying a level 1 character a single point of AC until they raise enough funds to access heavier armor is as extreme as you imply. There's a significant cost barrier to accessing heavy armor AC 18 in the present rules as they stand.

 

[mrpopstar]

Oh, that reminds me. The OP ought to note that a dwarf's speed isn't reduced by wearing medium armor, the way it isn't for heavy armor.

Noted!

 

[The Crimson Binome]

A level 1 fighter equipped with medium armor and shield would have AC 17 before considering Dexterity modifiers using my table.

My level 1 fighter equipped with medium armor and a shield would have AC 14 after considering Dexterity modifiers.

 

[mrpopstar]

My level 1 fighter equipped with medium armor and a shield would have AC 14 after considering Dexterity modifiers.

Your level 1 fighter has a -3 Dex modifier?

 

[The Crimson Binome]

Your level 1 fighter has a -3 Dex modifier?

Yes. Eldritch Knight is a very stat-dependent sub-class, and it would have gone against the character concept to put that 5 into Charisma; nor did it seem like a good idea to dump Wisdom.

That's why I say that it would become the new Constitution, because everyone would need it at least above-average. Nobody could get away with low Dexterity, because everyone would need it to calculate their AC.

 

[mrpopstar]

Yes. Eldritch Knight is a very stat-dependent sub-class, and it would have gone against the character concept to put that 5 into Charisma; nor did it seem like a good idea to dump Wisdom.

That's why I say that it would become the new Constitution, because everyone would need it at least above-average. Nobody could get away with low Dexterity, because everyone would need it to calculate their AC.

Let's stay super simple for the purposes of this exercise in super simplicity and assume the standard array.



That being said, I've settled on not being at all concerned with cost as a differentiator, so the corner case of Dex 5 tanks are served just the same.

 

[jaelis]

My level 1 fighter equipped with medium armor and a shield would have AC 14 after considering Dexterity modifiers.

To be fair, your level 1 fighter with scale mail and shield would have AC 13 in the current rules, so I don't know what you are complaining about

 

[The Crimson Binome]

To be fair, your level 1 fighter with scale mail and shield would have AC 13 in the current rules, so I don't know what you are complaining about

Access to terrible heavy armor is an innate right of every person. If nothing else, I should be able to weigh myself down with animal pelts to the point that my Dexterity is irrelevant!

 

[jaelis]

I would agree in general that heavy armor should be available for starting characters. If you want cost to be an issue, some form of masterwork is a better way to go IMO.

 

[mrpopstar]

To be fair, your level 1 fighter with scale mail and shield would have AC 13 in the current rules, so I don't know what you are complaining about

Corner cases, I tell ya!

Access to terrible heavy armor is an innate right of every person. If nothing else, I should be able to weigh myself down with animal pelts to the point that my Dexterity is irrelevant!

LOL When I think heavy hide armor I think more along the lines of dragon pelts.