D&D 5E A Campaign "Houserule" Idea - Armor Proficiency is based on the armor "donner" not wearer.

[Blue]

I've fought in heavy armor back in the day in the SCA. While adjusting it is important, there's a lot more to that than wearing it effectively. Knowing how to take a blow on it, how you can move and not-move in it, etc. This would break my verisimilitude.

Looking at it strictly from a mechanical point of view, I can't see a party not having a heavy armor proficient character, so everyone will be able to wear it if enough exists. This makes DEX a bit less important, which is a good thing. Assuming PCs build around that (and since they grew up in that world so it is in character for them to do so) that's a lot more competition for magical heavy armor.

It dilutes the differences between the classes, and takes something special given to only a few classes and gives it to everyone, weakening them relative to the other classes.

 

[Stormonu]

Yeah, as think about this more, it becomes a worse and worse idea.

If this was allowed to work this way, why doesn't the Wizard just hand the Fighter his spellbook? The Fighter can read, can't he? He'd just need to read the directions on what to say, wiggle fingers and what components to hold.

 

[the Jester]

Do it.

I'm just not a fan of making all the pcs more the same instead of more different. Shrug. To each their own.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I can see the fighter just dressing everyone in the party each morning.

I bet we can find this in Baldurs Gate slash fiction right now.

 

[jasper]

People proficient in armour know better than to do jumping jacks in chain mail without a cup. People who just wear what they are given don't.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

Best yet: the donner can dress the Druid in traditional plate with no repercussions

/ducks

 

[Vaalingrade]

I'm just not a fan of making all the pcs more the same instead of more different. Shrug. To each their own.

Having the proficiency isn't the same as using it.

 

[Muso]

I don't like it. Use an armor means that you can deal with the weight and you can move and stand up from a prone position and so on. This rule is just a way to have more wizards in armor. Not a good choice for me.

 

[the Jester]

Having the proficiency isn't the same as using it.

If you had the option to have an AC of 18 or an AC of 10, and the only difference is whether you spend 30 minutes taking the armor off a defeated hobgoblin and putting it on, why wouldn't you?

 

[Vaalingrade]

If you had the option to have an AC of 18 or an AC of 10, and the only difference is whether you spend 30 minutes taking the armor off a defeated hobgoblin and putting it on, why wouldn't you?

Because it doesn't look cool and there's other ways to get AC?