D&D 5E Shield Saltiness

[Undrave]

This won't prevent too many challenges other than normally armored/shielded PC's will lose an action which means they'll risk an extra hit compared to others. This is not a big deal really and so long as it isn't ambush after ambush by heavily equipped foes, its fine.

As an aside, D&D would benefit from a proper buckler. It was the main personal defense for walking about and in cities for many many centuries. Its like a pan lid kind of and serves as weapon and armor both and is easy to carry hung from the belt.

We used to have Light Shield and Heavy Shield in 4e, one granted +1 and the other +2 and not all classes got both.

What we need is Shrodinger's Armor, an armor that's only armor when in combat (which, BTW was also a magic item in 4e... I think it was a minor (bonus) action to turn armor 'on' from its normal clothes look).

 

[Flamestrike]

You're conflating two completely different things IMHO. I probably spend half the time in my game session (or more) on RP and character development. Yet people walk around in full armor. That may not be your style, but trying to make D&D "realistic" is a fools errand. Reality adjacent or action movie logic is fine, but realistic? Nah.

If you want realistic, it should be incredibly difficult to hurt someone in quality plate mail with a sword unless you wrestle them to the ground first. Meanwhile that half naked barbarian should be sliced and diced like julian fries. But that's not the game we play.

It is hard to hurt them. They're at full hit point the next day, suffering only minor cuts and bruises.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

What we need is Shrodinger's Armor, an armor that's only armor when in combat (which, BTW was also a magic item in 4e... I think it was a minor (bonus) action to turn armor 'on' from its normal clothes look).

In 5e you have Cast-off armors that do the same thing, as an Action.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

No its not false.

Have you worn a plate carrier and helmet around Asia for a day? When you have, come back and let me know.

At the end of the day all you want to do is take it off.

lol This ain't how life works, bud.

But while I haven't been to Asia (an eye-roll inducingly specific requirement to get the very special privilege of speaking on a subject that has nothing to do with Asia, but okay), I have worn actual recreation plate armor all day, in the heat (I live in a place where 110+ is part of every summer), and the sweat is the main reason I needed to take it off at the end of the day. I had the privelege of clean underclothes to change into, and clean water to cat-bathe with, but then again my dnd characters often have a friend with prestidigitation.

But yes, the idea a suit of medieval armor would necessarily be a huge chore to wear around is false. It's nice to take it off at the end of the day, but so are my shoes, but I'm not gonna walk around town without them.

 

[Azuresun]

So what I'm taking away from this thread is, if I want to play a STR-based fighter, check if the DM is a weapons nerd. If he is, roll up a DEX-based fighter or a caster instead to avoid getting pummelled with "realistic" consequences for using my class abilities.

 

[Oofta]

Better than what? A man in full plate? Or me, sitting here eating Cheetos?

Nobody's challenging the effectiveness of armor. We're discussing whether or not a character's equipment should have any bearing on how other people react to them. Will the locals react with fear, or awe? Will the guards get nervous and assume they are up to no good, or will they ask for the name of the armorsmith who made their breastplate?

Some players expect (or insist) the DM ignore or handwave this stuff, but I never do. I think it's an important part of roleplaying.

The problem that I see is that non armor options are too good.

But different strokes for different folks and all.

 

[Flamestrike]

lol This ain't how life works, bud.

But while I haven't been to Asia (an eye-roll inducingly specific requirement to get the very special privilege of speaking on a subject that has nothing to do with Asia, but okay), I have worn actual recreation plate armor all day, in the heat (I live in a place where 110+ is part of every summer), and the sweat is the main reason I needed to take it off at the end of the day. I had the privelege of clean underclothes to change into, and clean water to cat-bathe with, but then again my dnd characters often have a friend with prestidigitation.

But yes, the idea a suit of medieval armor would necessarily be a huge chore to wear around is false. It's nice to take it off at the end of the day, but so are my shoes, but I'm not gonna walk around town without them.

I raise Asia because I've also worn Armor. There. For real. Specifically a plate carrier with ceramic inserts and a helmet. Something like this:

And it's heavy, cumbersome and hot and sweaty. And just like you, I looked forward to taking it off at the end of the day, despite its ability to actually keep me alive.

There is no way I would wear armour, even modern motocross armour or a plate carrier etc around all day, every day. There is no way (and no historical precedent) for a person to wear medieval armour around all day, every day.

Warriors don their armour only for battle or ceremonial reasons, because (compared to normal clothes) it's heavy, hot, cumbersome and socially inappropriate to wear in most other situations. Knights didn't just wander around town in chain mail hauberks doing their shopping, any more than Samurai wear their armour while doing the same thing, or modern special forces wear their plate carriers when doing it.

There is a reason warriors do (and have always) only ever wear heavy armour (or indeed any armour at all) when preparing for battle, or for ceremonies.

It's because armour is a pain in the ass to wear for extended periods of time (it's hot, cumbersome and heavy, and it pinches and chafes you), and its socially (and in many places legally) inappropriate to do so.

 

[Flamestrike]

Like seriously; if you and I were magically teleported to Barovia I't would be weird for us to find an Inn (after weeks of wandering around the countryside in armour fighting stuff) and for you not to take it off, have a bath, put your feet up, chuck on comfortable normal clothes and sit by the fire (armour and weapon nearby).

Even wandering about town, you'd likely only wear a stripped down version (if anything at all).

Which reflects actual reality.

 

[tommybahama]

I have hard time imagining how a battle could routinely materialise in the middle of a town, particularly so fast that the characters don't have even one turn to get ready.

We were attacked by some monstrosity or maybe it was a demon that I think we released upon accident in a church. Later a bunch of vampires attacked us at the same church. There is another town where a werewolf is jumping the wall and killing townsfolk. I assume we will run into the werewolf at some point.

Yeah an important question that was raised that probably needs an answer before people can really address this.

Was the party in the town of Vallaki at the time the DM said this?

Twice in Vallaki, once on a lake as we were crossing in rowboats. We aren't hassled by the town guards about walking around with weapons, but our wizard did set off the townsfolk when he cast a spell in the village. We got no criticism when we fought the demon/monster or vampires.

 

[Flamestrike]

We were attacked by some monstrosity or maybe it was a demon that I think we released upon accident in a church. Later a bunch of vampires attacked us at the same church. There is another town where a werewolf is jumping the wall and killing townsfolk. I assume we will run into the werewolf at some point.

Twice in Vallaki, once on a lake as we were crossing in rowboats. We aren't hassled by the town guards about walking around with weapons, but our wizard did set off the townsfolk when he cast a spell in the village. We got no criticism when we fought the demon/monster or vampires.

Tell the Paladin player when he suspects trouble to whip out his shield.

Literally in all of the above encounters there was a telegraphed encounter.