Armor Pieces

[HeavenShallBurn]

That is why, if you are doing piecemeal armor, you really need to do an Armor as DR-based system, *and* follow a different system, such as Mythus, where the *attacker's* hit location determines how much damage is done. Different locations have different levels of "importance," and the more important (the more vital), the more damage the attacker does. Completely throw out the AC system...snip...Armor as DR by itself (from UA, for example) accomplishes nothing for grittiness or "realism."

Maybe start with the Game of Thrones d20 Armor as DR system and their called shot mechanism too? It's already partially there and could probably be tweaked to work well enough.

 

[3catcircus]

Maybe start with the Game of Thrones d20 Armor as DR system and their called shot mechanism too? It's already partially there and could probably be tweaked to work well enough.

Dunno about it - haven't seen the mechanic. Is their mechanic OGL?

 

[HeavenShallBurn]

Dunno about it - haven't seen the mechanic. Is their mechanic OGL?

It's OGL and pilferable but the books are apparently becoming harder to find since Guardians of Order went under.

Basic Gist(very simplified) is like this
*armor gives no bonus to AC but has DR/- equal to what it's AC would have been. This is coupled with a defense bonus that works in armor.
*defense bonus as mentioned earlier, it's significantly smaller than the UA variant though.
*shields give a large AC bonus buckler=+4, small wood=+6, small steel=+8, large wood=+6
*rules for piecemeal armor combining multiple types
*called shots impose a varying BAB penalty based on how difficult the shot would be

 

[BRP2]

Wouldn't an easy way to do this is just make armor sets based on the possible combinations?

Like a set that has heavy armored legs/arms but weaker main body/head defense would give great mobility, but weaker defense? Also it may come with gauntlets as a weapon.

 

[Nikroecyst]

I agree with heaven shall burn, though I've never read the books. I played in a group that used the same basic idea for this system. The group found it more useful mostly due to the fact that none of us paticularly liked wearing armor. All the characters were made stealthy including the meat shield.

However I can dig BRP2's idea. It seems simplr from a dm POV but Im not so sure players would get into it when they find they have to do even more odd calculations for putting on armor.

All together I think the idea is needlessly complicated UNLESS you have a group that really gets into collecting thier gear. And whether or not they enjoy Armor as DR/- instead of AC bonuses.