Effects on low-armor/no-armor campaign?

[Zzyzx]

I'm thinking of setting up a new campaign, and it works out that armor will probably be rarely worn.

Reasons: frequently shipborne/aquatic setting and PCs will often be winged/unusually-shaped/shapechanging (going to discuss this part on a different thread).

What effects should I expect to see in play? Two specific ideas:

1. Will classes that rarely use armor (swashbuckler, duelist, monk) be more the default?

2. Will higher level play be more unbalanced if the PCs' ACs don't scale up as fast as "usual"?

 

[frankthedm]

They will be sliced to ribbons by the two for one trade off from power attack used with a 2 handed weapon.

 

[Rkhet]

If you start at higher levels it becomes lesser of a problem. The problem is generally in the low/mid levels when PCs don't have the resources for alternate forms of AC. Bracers of Armor are expensive.

Classes that are intended to be wearing armor definitely suffers more, of course. So expect to see more monks and less paladins.

 

[green slime]

Well, if light armour is still available, you can expect to see more Dexterity based fighters, which means rogue-fighter combos. Some may try for TWF to squeeze the most out of a full attack action (with sneak attack damage).

Dexterity becomes even more important. With a point buy system, you may be less likely to see extreme Str values at the starting levels.

Wizards will remain the same.

The effect on Clerics is harder to predict.

 

[Archimedes314]

I would suggest, strongly, that you use some sort of class-based AC bonus (like the one here, though that one has its own problems *cough*level-dipping*cough*). That solves both of your possible problems.

 

[DarkKestral]

I would suggest, strongly, that you use some sort of class-based AC bonus (like the one here, though that one has its own problems *cough*level-dipping*cough*). That solves both of your possible problems.

Like level-dipping isn't already a "problem" in med-high level play?

It's not anything new.

 

[Moon-Lancer]

I didn’t know it was a problem. Does level dipping have some sort of eternal conscience I have neglected to hear about?

 

[Archimedes314]

I didn’t know it was a problem. Does level dipping have some sort of eternal conscience I have neglected to hear about?

It isn't a problem normally, I don't give a crap if someone wants to take two levels of fighter or whatever. The problem is that the UA defense bonus variant sets you progession to the highest of any of your classes, regardless of how many levels you have in them.

 

[Pinotage]

Well, if light armour is still available, you can expect to see more Dexterity based fighters, which means rogue-fighter combos. Some may try for TWF to squeeze the most out of a full attack action (with sneak attack damage).

This would probably be the way to go, coupled with higher level play where other forms of enhancements to AC become available. Mithral Breastplates would probably still be around and one of the better armors to take. Shields would become even more valuable for the added AC boost. Overall though, Dex based fighters tend to have roughly the same ACs as heavy armored fighters, but are largely not Power Attackers. Hence the need for perhaps two-weapon fighting and rogue levels with sneak attack.

Pinotage

 

[Mortis]

Another option is to pick up a copy of AEG's Swashbuckling Adventures - it has a series of 3 feats for Unarmored Defense which increase the base 10 AC by varying amounts.

IIRC the first feat gives +1 AC for every 4 levels, the second +1 AC for every 3 levels and the third gives +1 AC every other level.

A word of warning though the book is certainly not balanced with DnD and is 3.0

Regards
Mortis