How well does Armor as Damage Reduction work?

[Oates]

In the UA rules, enhancement bonuses to armor apply just to the AC, not DR. You could make the armor out of adamantine for additional DR (as per the DMG).

Thanks thats what I thought. Therefore a +3 Leather armor would have a DR of 1/- with a +3 armor bonus to AC.?

(RE: I am working on a conversion of MERP to d20 and looking for Ideas for all the different material types)

 

[DrNilesCrane]

Thanks thats what I thought. Therefore a +3 Leather armor would have a DR of 1/- with a +3 armor bonus to AC.?

(RE: I am working on a conversion of MERP to d20 and looking for Ideas for all the different material types)

+3 Leather Armor would have a +4 AC bonus (one initially, three from the magic) and DR 1/- as per the UA rules:
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/adventuring/armorAsDamageReduction.htm#armorDamageReductionValues

 

[Storyteller01]

The only DR system I've seen that really works at all levels is the one presented in OGL Ancients. The problem is that the system is overly complex (a different DR for each weapon type!?) and the system doesn't have magical healing to save the characters. It was built to be used by the realism crowd (myself included ).

The section on cautery was well done though...

 

[Oates]

+3 Leather Armor would have a +4 AC bonus (one initially, three from the magic) and DR 1/- as per the UA rules:
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/adventuring/armorAsDamageReduction.htm#armorDamageReductionValues

That seems to be getting the best of both worlds... how does it work in the conan setting? I am at work (or is that at hardly working) and don't have the book here ( 8) 0

 

[Staffan]

Iron heroes also uses armor as DR. It also uses a class-based defense bonus (which goes up to either +15, +17 or +20 at level 20 - although none of the classes actually use that +20 column, which has to be an oversight), and the armor DR is random: 1 for padded, 1d2 for leather, 1d3 for studded, 1d4 for scale, 1d6 for chain, and 1d8 for plate (there are feats you can take to increase this).
Note that IH does not assume the high amounts of magic gear that D&D does, so the class-based defense bonus is more or less assumed to cover for the absence of amulets of natural armor, rings of protection, and assorted other AC-increasing items as well as just armor. Oh, and shields still give AC, not DR.

 

[Mortis]

how does it work in the conan setting? I am at work (or is that at hardly working) and don't have the book here

Likewise . I could look it up though..

The only thing I should add for Conan is that magical armour is a rare as 'rocking horse do-do'

Regards,
Mortis

 

[freebfrost]

I've used this rule in the Conan campaign I ran earlier this year, and it worked quite well. It made warriors in armor really tough, but at the same time the Conan rules worked in favor of one lucky blow being capable of taking down even the best fighter.

It's also worthwhile to note that in Conan you do have a Defense bonus for either Parrying or Dodging and a similar mechanic needs to be in place if you are hoping to keep balance at higher levels.

 

[Laman Stahros]

I am using Armor as DR from the Unearthed Arcana book and it works fine. The players are a little more cautious about combats, but that is a good thing imho. So far the campaign has only reached 4th level but they seem to be enjoying themselves.

The only problem I see right now is how to handle things like the Mage Armor spell and Bracers of Defense. Should they add only to AC or should they also grant DR? Decisions, decisions.

 

[DrNilesCrane]

The only problem I see right now is how to handle things like the Mage Armor spell and Bracers of Defense. Should they add only to AC or should they also grant DR? Decisions, decisions.

Good point - UA doesn't mention that (unless I missed it).

I'm playing Iron Heroes currently and it's got a very interesting system, although rolling DR for each hit gets a little annoying (and hard for some players to remember a little later in the gaming evening). On the positive side, it give players something to do rather than just record damage: a negative is that it slows things down a bit as the DM has to do the same when the bad guys are hit.

I've decided on using the UA system for AC/DR and am thinking whether I should add a way for a character to increase his/her AC beyond the standard PHB rules of fighting defensively. I'm not opposed to a class defense bonus, but I'd like to do something else than just a flat AC bonus.

What do folks think of adding a move action called "Actively Defending" that grants a bonus to the character's AC (but not DR) equal to their BAB (base attack bonus)? As a move action, using this would preclude full attacks at higher levels - essentially a character could make a full action, all out attack with two or more attacks (in the case of two weapons or a BAB of +6 or higher) or could fight conservatively with a single attack (or standard action, such as cast a spell) and gain a significant bonus to AC for the round?

(I don't know if another gaming system uses this option; if so, I'm curious how it works).

 

[Oates]

(I don't know if another gaming system uses this option; if so, I'm curious how it works).

Rolemaster/Harp uses a system of Offensive Bonus (attack bonus) and Defensive Bonus (armor+quickness-armorquickness pen+magic+shield). Your 'DB' can be increased by taking away from your 'OB'. i.e. you are using your offensive ability to augment your defensive capability.