griffonwing
First Post
I started out, like many players, with ADnD2e. I then moved on to 3e. The D&D franchise seems to cater towards the AC. Heavier armor and Shields add to your target Armor number, making you harder to hit. It can be argued that the bonuses for armor and shileds should be interpreted NOT that you are harder to get hit, but that you are harder to get hit with a strike that actually causes damage. With this style, you either get hit with full damage, or you dont.
I then started playing games that used DR instead of AC, and I find that I actually prefer DR over AC. In HackMaster, and other systems, all armors make you easier to hit, and shields practically guarantee a hit, since you are actively blocking with it. You are much easier to hit, but the damage is greatly reduced. This, to me, seems a much more realistic approach, and it's one that I favor above AC.
I suppose that you can, perhaps, house-rule AC so that each armor type (light/med/heavy) gives a respective 2/4/6 point window of receiving half-damage. So, for example, if an orc misses your AC by 4 points or less, you take only half damage. While this isnt as realisatic as DR, it does help offset the "full or none" unrealistic approach to AC.
What are your thoughts on AC vs. DR? Which do you prefer?
I then started playing games that used DR instead of AC, and I find that I actually prefer DR over AC. In HackMaster, and other systems, all armors make you easier to hit, and shields practically guarantee a hit, since you are actively blocking with it. You are much easier to hit, but the damage is greatly reduced. This, to me, seems a much more realistic approach, and it's one that I favor above AC.
I suppose that you can, perhaps, house-rule AC so that each armor type (light/med/heavy) gives a respective 2/4/6 point window of receiving half-damage. So, for example, if an orc misses your AC by 4 points or less, you take only half damage. While this isnt as realisatic as DR, it does help offset the "full or none" unrealistic approach to AC.
What are your thoughts on AC vs. DR? Which do you prefer?