How bad is the paladin going to be without armor in combat?

[Emirikol]

All, I've got a game coming up where the PC's will be without their armor (etc.). It's a WFRP scenario modified for D&D (HERE). Currently we have a hafling rogue (pistolier), human fighter (noble), human cleric (Sigmar), human wizard (fire) and a human paladin (Bretonnian of course)

Mostly it's about sneaking and bluffing your way around a castle, but there are a few expected combats. Since I intend to have them without armor, I'm wondering what the effects will be on PC game play (especially on the paladin).

Any thoughts?

jh

..

 

[Larry Hunsaker]

To avoid this problem, just give the paladin the same armor bonus he would have had in normal play but make the flavor of it different, like he is really good with his shield and weapon deflecting attacks (perhaps like a noble fencing type) or call it a divine aura of protection or whatever, that way you can have the no armor scenario and not have the mechanic issue involved of game balance being ruined. If the armor he normally uses reduces speed and skill checks, just impose those as well and give them a different flavor.

 

[Ravingdork]

A Defender without armor? Two things are going to happen: (1) Monsters will like attacking you a lot (which coincidentally makes you a better defender), and (2) you will need a lot more healing/HP/durability powers/etc.

Alternatively, you could jsut wear scale mail. No penalties means you can Stealth anywhere you want and STILL maintain a Defender's AC.

 

[burntgerbil]

An entire adventure about sneaking and bluffing our way around a castle with only a little planned combat would not go over well with my group - Especially with no armor on - we would either abandon this hook or find another way around it - as an attempt to not be railroaded into a low-combat adventure.

Our defender would be down with the quickness - it seems like altering the game that much will really upset the balance of things.

This also reminds me of our groups long discussion of sleeping in armor - apparently, in 4e, according to our CS rep, you can sleep in armor.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

Mostly it's about sneaking and bluffing your way around a castle, but there are a few expected combats. Since I intend to have them without armor, I'm wondering what the effects will be on PC game play (especially on the paladin).

Any thoughts?


..

Mostly that they're all going to die. The wizard isn't going to be too put out, but the paladin and cleric will, since they likely won't have nearly enough AC to survive.

Brad

 

[frankthedm]

That map looks very familiar...

OP, you sure the group is up for this kind of adventure?

 

[Saeviomagy]

Is there a particular reason that he will be armorless? Pure stealth isn't going to work for the typical paladin anyway (no stealth, no dex mod), so is he giving it up purely for a disguise? Or are you going with the "the party have been captured" plot hook?

 

[frankthedm]

Is there a particular reason that he will be armorless? Pure stealth isn't going to work for the typical paladin anyway (no stealth, no dex mod), so is he giving it up purely for a disguise? Or are you going with the "the party have been captured" plot hook?

The castle is not an enemy fortification, but the PCs may not be allowed in with tools of war.

 

[mattdm]

My current game has a castaways-on-a-desert-island theme, and for the first few sessions the entire party has been either without equipment at all or vastly underequipped. I haven't toned down the fights in particular to take this into account, and haven't killed any of the party yet.

This is still at first level, though, where items are a smaller part of the picture, though.

 

[nittanytbone]

I think he may become Paladin Kabob. One of his class features is that he gets Plate + Heavy Shields. Not being able to use them is akin to a wizard not being able to cast spells.