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Decoupling Ability Scores from Offense
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<blockquote data-quote="NotAYakk" data-source="post: 8271692" data-attributes="member: 72555"><p>Low level characters have inferior armor. High level don't. That is 1 point of AC scaling.</p><p></p><p>Light armor PCs in dex usually gain +2 AC from level 1, so a +3 swing.</p><p></p><p>Medium armor PCs gain 0 to 1 AC, and 1-2 from armor quality, so a +2-3 swing.</p><p></p><p>Heavy armor PCs gain 2-4 AC from armor quality.</p><p></p><p>The proficiency calculation there is on the same order of magnitude as the existing swings. The stats I chose (except heavy armor) are low enough that a level 1 PC can probably hit them. Heavy armors 15 str/con is intended as a neat stretch, and is the best AC for a low-dex PC.</p><p></p><p>But sure, I can strip out the proficiency bonus.</p><p></p><p><strong>Light Armor:</strong> 12 AC, +4 AC if 15 or higher Dexterity.</p><p><strong>Medium Armor:</strong> 14 AC, +1 AC for each of 13 Strength or Dexterity</p><p><strong>Bulky Medium Armor:</strong> 15 AC, +1 AC for each of 13 Strength or Dexterity (disadvantage on stealth)</p><p><strong>Heavy Armor:</strong> 16 AC, +1 AC for each of 15 Strength or Constitution (disadvantage on stealth)</p><p></p><p>"Superior" versions of each armor is worth +1 AC.</p><p></p><p>Superior Leather is studded</p><p>Superior Medium is a breastplate</p><p>Superior Bulky Medium is half-plate</p><p>Superior Heavy is full plate</p><p></p><p>Baseline at level 1:</p><p>12 AC in light</p><p>14 AC in medium</p><p>15 AC in bulky medium</p><p>16 AC in heavy</p><p></p><p>this ensures that "heavier armor" for a class is actually a feature. Also, if you don't invest in physical attributes, medium is better than light.</p><p></p><p>Optimal:</p><p></p><p>15 Dex: 17 AC in superior light</p><p>13 Dex/13 Str: 17 AC in superior medium</p><p>Disadvantage Stealth:</p><p>13 Dex/13 Str: 18 AC in superior medium</p><p>15 Str/15 Con: 19 AC in superior heavy</p><p></p><p>also, heavier armor gives more AC.</p><p></p><p>If you invest in dexterity and care about stealth, medium armor isn't useful, as intended.</p><p></p><p>Losing stealth gives you 1 point of AC, and heavy armor gives you another. Getting the bonus AC from heavy armor requires more physical training.</p><p></p><p>A 15 strength/10 con/10 dex PC will get more protection from heavy armor than from medium, however.</p><p></p><p>At 15 strength/13 dex/10 con, medium matches heavy. You lack the endurance to wear heavy enough armor, and your dexterity is best suited to less weight to move around better.</p><p></p><p>At 15 strength/15 con heavy wins, regardless of dexterity.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="NotAYakk, post: 8271692, member: 72555"] Low level characters have inferior armor. High level don't. That is 1 point of AC scaling. Light armor PCs in dex usually gain +2 AC from level 1, so a +3 swing. Medium armor PCs gain 0 to 1 AC, and 1-2 from armor quality, so a +2-3 swing. Heavy armor PCs gain 2-4 AC from armor quality. The proficiency calculation there is on the same order of magnitude as the existing swings. The stats I chose (except heavy armor) are low enough that a level 1 PC can probably hit them. Heavy armors 15 str/con is intended as a neat stretch, and is the best AC for a low-dex PC. But sure, I can strip out the proficiency bonus. [B]Light Armor:[/B] 12 AC, +4 AC if 15 or higher Dexterity. [B]Medium Armor:[/B] 14 AC, +1 AC for each of 13 Strength or Dexterity [B]Bulky Medium Armor:[/B] 15 AC, +1 AC for each of 13 Strength or Dexterity (disadvantage on stealth) [B]Heavy Armor:[/B] 16 AC, +1 AC for each of 15 Strength or Constitution (disadvantage on stealth) "Superior" versions of each armor is worth +1 AC. Superior Leather is studded Superior Medium is a breastplate Superior Bulky Medium is half-plate Superior Heavy is full plate Baseline at level 1: 12 AC in light 14 AC in medium 15 AC in bulky medium 16 AC in heavy this ensures that "heavier armor" for a class is actually a feature. Also, if you don't invest in physical attributes, medium is better than light. Optimal: 15 Dex: 17 AC in superior light 13 Dex/13 Str: 17 AC in superior medium Disadvantage Stealth: 13 Dex/13 Str: 18 AC in superior medium 15 Str/15 Con: 19 AC in superior heavy also, heavier armor gives more AC. If you invest in dexterity and care about stealth, medium armor isn't useful, as intended. Losing stealth gives you 1 point of AC, and heavy armor gives you another. Getting the bonus AC from heavy armor requires more physical training. A 15 strength/10 con/10 dex PC will get more protection from heavy armor than from medium, however. At 15 strength/13 dex/10 con, medium matches heavy. You lack the endurance to wear heavy enough armor, and your dexterity is best suited to less weight to move around better. At 15 strength/15 con heavy wins, regardless of dexterity. [/QUOTE]
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