Damage Reduction (DRX/bashing) for Heavy armor?

[Angellis_ater]

I've been toying with an idea to make Heavy Armor both more viable and more realistic in some ways. First of all, all my players do is keep with the Light and possible Medium armors to avoid any kind of penalty to their precious skills. (Note, we do not use mithril in our campaign) Now, I want to make Heavy Armor a little more interesting and thought of adding a little Damage Reduction to the heavier types of armor?

For example:

Splint Mail - DR1/bashing or piercing
Banded Mail - DR2/bashing or piercing
Half-Plate - DR2/bashing
Full-Plate - DR2/bashing AND piercing

 

[Siberys]

As I recall, bows and crossbows were specifically made to penetrate plate-type armor, focusing all of the force on one small area. I'd go with slashing instead of piercing. Make chain good against piercing, as, IIRC, it was made to guard against piercing blows.

 

[Felnar]

As I recall, bows and crossbows were specifically made to penetrate plate-type armor, focusing all of the force on one small area. I'd go with slashing instead of piercing. Make chain good against piercing, as, IIRC, it was made to guard against piercing blows.

this is where D&D dmg reduction gets complicated

"Splint Mail - DR1/bashing or piercing" means that 1 damage is subtracted from attacks that arent "bashing or piercing" (ie. slashing)

and if i'm right, "Full-Plate - DR2/bashing AND piercing" would mean 2 damage is subtracted from attacks that arent both bashing AND piercing, so this armor would reduce damage from arrows and warhammers, but not from a morningstar.

 

[Angellis_ater]

this is where D&D dmg reduction gets complicated

"Splint Mail - DR1/bashing or piercing" means that 1 damage is subtracted from attacks that arent "bashing or piercing" (ie. slashing)

and if i'm right, "Full-Plate - DR2/bashing AND piercing" would mean 2 damage is subtracted from attacks that arent both bashing AND piercing, so this armor would reduce damage from arrows and warhammers, but not from a morningstar.

Which is exactly what I intended. A splint mail isn't as complex and powerful as a fullplate is and can be pierced more easily by maces (also known as helmbreakers) and spears, while the specific morningstar was favored because it was easier to damage knights in armor.

I am also thinking of allowing crossbows to count as both bashing and piercing for the purpose of piercing armor damage reduction, but then it could quickly get out of control.

What do people think?