damage reduction for armor?

[rdpalmer]

The beauty of d20 is that you can switch games without having to learn a whole new set of rules. However, I've found that many games now are using damage reduction for armor. I want to use a consistent system, so I've been looking into converting the D&D armor into damage reduction. Has anyone successfully implemented a damage reduction system for armor, rather than the standard armor class bonus? I welcome all opinions.

 

[Crothian]

I'm thinking of having the armor class bonus as well as DR. But the DR could be passed if you attack rool is 5 greater then the AC or your target.

 

[Tonguez]

Yes great idea

Simplest thing to do is just make the Armour Bonus = DR

Then make Defense a Class Skill for Fighter/Paladin/Barbarian/Monks/Ranger

Give Fighters a +1 Bonus to Defense Skill

 

[dema]

I just do the following.

Light armor DR 0
Medium armor DR 1/-
Heavy armor DR 2/-

I kinda like the 5+ hit rule, but I don't allow Armor DR to work against critical hits, or sneak attacks.

 

[Wolf72]

I just do the following.

Light armor DR 0
Medium armor DR 1/-
Heavy armor DR 2/-

I kinda like the 5+ hit rule, but I don't allow Armor DR to work against critical hits, or sneak attacks.

I'm 90% with dema! ... I upped the AC to medium/heavy and gave heavy a DR 1/-

just because I like putting on attachements here's a modified armor list:

 

[Wolf72]

[paw waving] BUMP [/paw waving]

whoa, playing around in my CP and found I could access all the attachements I put in. And then there was this old thread ...

then I remembered someone asking about changing properties of armor (specifically medium and heavy) ... and here was my contribution (above, use word to look at it, note pad skews the column tables) ...

*wolf goes back to check for some armor feats*

 

[sledged]

The beauty of d20 is that you can switch games without having to learn a whole new set of rules. However, I've found that many games now are using damage reduction for armor. I want to use a consistent system, so I've been looking into converting the D&D armor into damage reduction. Has anyone successfully implemented a damage reduction system for armor, rather than the standard armor class bonus? I welcome all opinions.

Well, if you did that with armor, I'd recommend you do it with natural armor, too.

 

[Vrecknidj]

If armor grants DR, doesn't that assume that the armor is absorbing some of the hits? And from this, doesn't it follow that the armor is taking damage? And from this, shouldn't the DM keep track of the armor's hardness and its hitpoints, and eventually wouldn't the armor become less and less protective?

Dave

 

[malebode]

If armor grants DR, doesn't that assume that the armor is absorbing some of the hits? And from this, doesn't it follow that the armor is taking damage? And from this, shouldn't the DM keep track of the armor's hardness and its hitpoints, and eventually wouldn't the armor become less and less protective?

Such rules are included in Swords & Sorcery's Advanced Player's Guide. Basically, armor has a hardness and a number of hit points. Repairing it takes a craft check. The amount of damage that can be repaired depends upon the armorsmith, so getting armor repaired expediently is paramount. I haven't used it, and I assume it would not be terribly difficult to record, but it certainly would slow down combat. Is it worth it?

 

[Greybar]

Unearthed Arcana has a suggestion for this.

If I remember correctly it runs something like this:

* For manmade armor, covert part of the +4 to DR on equal basis.
For instance chain may change from (base: +5 AC, DR 0/-) to (new: +3 AC, DR 2/-)
* Creatures with natural armor gain DR of 1/5 their nat armor bonus (and subtract that away to balance). So if a troll was Natural +8 AC, then convert it to +7 AC, DR 1/-.

john