D&D 5E Less armour but same protection

[Marc_C]

I'm doing a deep jungle campaign in which only leather, heavy leather and shields are available. How would you handle the lack of better protection? Magic items are the obvious work around but that would only makes sense to me at higher levels. Would you award an AC bonus, per X level, that varies with class?

 

[commandercrud]

I'd do nothing. Otherwise what's the point of limiting the armor available?

 

[BacchusNL]

I would look into alternative (rare) materials to craft heavier armor in that case. Umberhulk or Turtle shell and the like.

 

[J-H]

Magic beast hide armor.
Chitin/exoskeleton from Huge Scorpions, Devastation Centipedes, Ankhegs, etc. to make breastplates and plate armor.
Druid-crafted Bark Armor made from the Ironwood Tree (or something else suitably descriptive).

They could also just find an old buried tomb from 3,000 years ago that has metal stuff in it that's still in good shape.

 

[Remathilis]

Barbarians, monks, bladesingers, and a lot of high Dex PCs.

 

[Marc_C]

Barbarians, monks, bladesingers, and a lot of high Dex PCs.

I like the way you think.

 

[GMMichael]

I'm doing a deep jungle campaign in which only leather, heavy leather and shields are available. How would you handle the lack of better protection?

I'd attack at range.

I'd revel in it.

I'd not worry about it. 5e defense is about hit points, not AC.

 

[BacchusNL]

I'd attack at range.

I'd revel in it.

I'd not worry about it. 5e defense is about hit points, not AC.

I'm going to need an explanation on that logic because that makes zero sense.

 

[Remathilis]

I like the way you think.

Honestly, assuming you provide even just Light armor (12+dex) and shield, most classes have a way to boost ACs to a respectable level via magic or class features. That's not even considering races like lizardfolk, loxodon and tortle with natural armor. (and all seem appropriate to a jungle game).

Now if you want to run a low-magic AND no-armor game, I'd consider AC as 8 + Proficiency bonus + Dex. I did something like this in my never-completed Masque of the Red Death conversion. Most ACs started around 10-14, capped at 19 (20 dex, +6 prof). But I was going for a very specific feel (Victorian Earth, no armor). You will have to decide if that works for your game.

 

[Marc_C]

Honestly, assuming you provide even just Light armor (12+dex) and shield, most classes have a way to boost ACs to a respectable level via magic or class features. That's not even considering races like lizardfolk, loxodon and tortle with natural armor. (and all seem appropriate to a jungle game).

Now if you want to run a low-magic AND no-armor game, I'd consider AC as 8 + Proficiency bonus + Dex. I did something like this in my never-completed Masque of the Red Death conversion. Most ACs started around 10-14, capped at 19 (20 dex, +6 prof). But I was going for a very specific feel (Victorian Earth, no armor). You will have to decide if that works for your game.

I like your formula a lot. I'm going for a jungle aboriginal style campaign. In this case the PCs will all be Tabaxi.