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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Water Bob" data-source="post: 5848683" data-attributes="member: 92305">Naw, the DM already has too much on his plate. Plus, you don't have to tell the player the AC. The player can simply use his eyes. The bad guy may have +3 Plate and a +2 Shield, but this still counts as plate + shield for the chart, so the player knows to use his -2 modifier vs. plate and shield. The bad guy's true AC is -4 (with DEX modifier), but the player has no way of knowing that. The player CAN SEE that his opponent is wearing plate and shield, so he uses the AC 2 modifier. Simple as that.     When using the 1E AD&D armor modifiers, you disregard any pluses the armor may have. For example, +3 Chain is still considered AC 5 as far as the weapon chart is concerned. The above +3 Plate with +2 Shield is still considered AC 2 as far as the weapon chart is used. IIRC (I'd have to look it up), the chart is not used vs. monsters that don't wear armor. It's only for those certain armor types.    The chart is scarier than it is. Once you start using it, it's really easy to use. I've already got the Longsword adjustment memorized just from writing in this thread: No armor at all is a +2. Shield only is a +1. Banded or Splint mail WITH shield, -1. Platemail is -1. Platemail with shield is -2. Anything else means no modifier.     So, if I describe an Orc wearing splint mail, you know that there's no modifier.  But, if the Orc is also using a shield, then you know you're -1 to hit against him. A goblin wearing chainmail means no modifier, but the human mercenary next to him, wearing plate and using a shield, you know you're -2 to hit against him...and it doesn't matter what the True AC of the target is.</blockquote>

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