D&D 5E Armor: damage reduction

[bid]

It is FAR harder to hit someone to *any* effect in full plate than someone who is unarmoured. And even if you *do* hit, it either needs to hit in a vulnerable spot (in the visor, palms of the hands, etc), OR it needs to hit exceptionally hard.. a direct hammer blow to the helmet that doesn't glance, for example. These two facets can be represented by AC and DR.

I don't know. Pick a modern gun and shoot at someone in armor. It won't be much harder to hit.

In fact, DR could be considered glancing blows. The weapon wastes some of its energy sliding on the armor.

 

[Diamabel]

I don't know. Pick a modern gun and shoot at someone in armor. It won't be much harder to hit.

In fact, DR could be considered glancing blows. The weapon wastes some of its energy sliding on the armor.

Medieval armour was not designed to protect against modern firearms-it was designed to protect against swords, axes, arrows, etc.. that comparison is inappropriate.

I think you are misinterpreting what "glance" means: "to hit something at an angle and bounce off obliquely." -the energy is not lost, but redirected(AC). Armour does this- it will also absorb and disperse impact over a larger area(DR)