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Question about Trailblazer statistical charts.
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<blockquote data-quote="Wulf Ratbane" data-source="post: 5329000" data-attributes="member: 94"><p>The TOTAL AC column is a good column for comparisons against a PC who <em>focuses </em>on keeping his AC high. Note, for example, that it includes a heavy shield; including a magic shield bonus as levels advance. For a character who doesn't use a shield, you're going to eventually fall behind by 7 AC (+2 for the shield and +5 in magic bonuses).</p><p></p><p>You may find that a more useful column is the Monster Attack Bonus. This column lists the average attack bonus for a monster at any given CR. If you want your PC to get hit only about 30% of the time (meaning the monster needs to roll a 15 or better to hit them) then the players want to get their AC to 15+ the number listed there. If you want the players to get hit about half the time (roll 11+) then shoot for an AC of 11+ the number listed there. </p><p></p><p>Note that there's an awful lot of wiggle room here. Not all monsters will have exactly that attack bonus (it is an average, after all); not all players should be expected to have tip-top gear at all times; not all monsters will attack AC directly (there's also touch AC to worry about). And depending on what kind of gear you give out (is mithril on your agenda?) some players will be able to exceed the ACs listed there.</p><p></p><p>I just make sure to dish out one set of top line gear, over time; let the players worry about whether they funnel it all to their party tank (putting all their eggs in one basket so to speak) or spread it around, how they handle hand-me-downs, and so on.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Yep, yep, yep, and yep.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Yes. The problem with saving throws, however, is not how the PCs perform on average against run-of-the-mills saves. It's that the time that the Saving Throw mechanic sucks the most is against the player with the worst save who just rolled a really low roll against an effect that is really really bad. At times like that: Gosh, the system seems really broken and unfair.</p><p></p><p>Action Points are really better at addressing "catastrophic edge cases."</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Yes.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Wulf Ratbane, post: 5329000, member: 94"] The TOTAL AC column is a good column for comparisons against a PC who [I]focuses [/I]on keeping his AC high. Note, for example, that it includes a heavy shield; including a magic shield bonus as levels advance. For a character who doesn't use a shield, you're going to eventually fall behind by 7 AC (+2 for the shield and +5 in magic bonuses). You may find that a more useful column is the Monster Attack Bonus. This column lists the average attack bonus for a monster at any given CR. If you want your PC to get hit only about 30% of the time (meaning the monster needs to roll a 15 or better to hit them) then the players want to get their AC to 15+ the number listed there. If you want the players to get hit about half the time (roll 11+) then shoot for an AC of 11+ the number listed there. Note that there's an awful lot of wiggle room here. Not all monsters will have exactly that attack bonus (it is an average, after all); not all players should be expected to have tip-top gear at all times; not all monsters will attack AC directly (there's also touch AC to worry about). And depending on what kind of gear you give out (is mithril on your agenda?) some players will be able to exceed the ACs listed there. I just make sure to dish out one set of top line gear, over time; let the players worry about whether they funnel it all to their party tank (putting all their eggs in one basket so to speak) or spread it around, how they handle hand-me-downs, and so on. Yep, yep, yep, and yep. Yes. The problem with saving throws, however, is not how the PCs perform on average against run-of-the-mills saves. It's that the time that the Saving Throw mechanic sucks the most is against the player with the worst save who just rolled a really low roll against an effect that is really really bad. At times like that: Gosh, the system seems really broken and unfair. Action Points are really better at addressing "catastrophic edge cases." Yes. [/QUOTE]
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Question about Trailblazer statistical charts.
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