Dex rules question

[Ricochet]

Okay, a character with 16 dex

When wearing heavy armor that allows max + 1 dex, does this penalty (for the character in question) apply to all these: Reflex Saves, Initiative, Ranged Attacks, AC?

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Heavy Armor doesn't give you a dex penalty, it merely caps your dex bonus to AC.

The 16 dex PC could only add +1 to his AC from dex. But all the other effects of dex (such as what you mentioned) remain +3.

 

[Ricochet]

Okay, so we have been playing it the right way then

 

[Asmo]

But we have been plaing it the wrong way
Well, you live as long as you learn.

Asmo

 

[Drawmack]

I've been playing it the wrong way too, I think I'll keep playing it the wrong way though as I feel that heavy armor would slow you down on reflex save.

 

[shilsen]

I've been playing it the wrong way too, I think I'll keep playing it the wrong way though as I feel that heavy armor would slow you down on reflex save.

I considered doing that, but one could argue that heavy armor prvides more protection than light armor from most effects requiring a reflex save, so it evens out. Would a person in full plate be better protected from a fireball than someone in leather armor? Probably. And what about initiative? Or ranged weapons? In real life it's a lot easier to fire a longbow in light than heavy armor, but making rules changes on that basis would just make things unnecessarily complicated, IMO.

 

[Drawmack]

I considered doing that, but one could argue that heavy armor prvides more protection than light armor from most effects requiring a reflex save, so it evens out.

Most things that require a reflex save get an attack roll. So if they get an AC bonus from the heavy armor and their rull reflex save that's a boudle bonus.

Would a person in full plate be better protected from a fireball than someone in leather armor?

Leather woudl catch fire and burn up. Plate would get super heated causing additional damage every round. Metal armor provides no protection from fire and is actually a hinderance.

And what about initiative?

Moves slower, less likely to get first strike, added AC bonus means less likely to take damage from an initial strike, seems balanced to me.

Or ranged weapons?

Since the dex bonus is added to the attack if you limit this by the armor's penalty then you have effectivly modeled this. No complexity added.

I honestly think it's more realistic and makes more sense to just apply the dex penalty all around.

 

[Ricochet]

Your entire post is practically my argumentation for the initial question Drawmack. That's why I asked it

Good points though, it can definetely be played both ways, but one would assume that the "rules-right" way is the way its meant to be played (found out through playtesting).

 

[hong]

Most things that require a reflex save get an attack roll.

A fireball needs an attack roll? That's the canonical Ref save attack.

 

[Drawmack]

A fireball needs an attack roll? That's the canonical Ref save attack.

I was thinking more along the lines of traps as they get used a lot more IMC then magic since the party does not have a magic user.