What would be your preference for handling D&D Armor in a Swashbuckling Setting?
So we all know Swashbuckling Fantasy Setting (and some other types of fantasy like Wuxia, Stealth/Heist, and sometimes Intrigue) tend to favor light armor and no armor for the feel. But in D&D, the game is "balanced" around having archetypes that gain high AC or even the best AC in medium and heavy armor. So how would you prefer to alter 5e's Armor and AC system to match a Swashbuckling world?
No Change: Characters just take builds that work with light or no armor. Almost everyone is DEX based or has high DEX. STR is dead.
Class Defense: Every class gain Unarmored Defense with a calculation appropriated with their prime and secondary ability scores and their expectation of ow high their AC should be. For Example, a Fighter might have an unarmored AC of 10 + their Strength Modifier + the Dexterity Modifier
Heavy Substitution Defense: Classes with heavy armor proficiency can substitute their proficiency bonus for their Dexterity bonus when it applies to AC
Fighting Styles: New Fighting Styles are created. Each one has their own AC calculation with appropriate utility or offensive features. For example, Sea Dog might give you +2 to AC and damage rolls if you are wielding a two handed weapon and not wearing heavy armor nor encumbered.
Warrior Defense Charts: Armor is scrapped mechanically. AC is level based and class based. Each class or race is placed in a column on a C that determines their AC.
Heavy Sailor: Heavy armor is buffed somehow to compensate for setting inappropriateness. Perhaps with damage reduction or increased AC.
So we all know Swashbuckling Fantasy Setting (and some other types of fantasy like Wuxia, Stealth/Heist, and sometimes Intrigue) tend to favor light armor and no armor for the feel. But in D&D, the game is "balanced" around having archetypes that gain high AC or even the best AC in medium and heavy armor. So how would you prefer to alter 5e's Armor and AC system to match a Swashbuckling world?
No Change: Characters just take builds that work with light or no armor. Almost everyone is DEX based or has high DEX. STR is dead.
Class Defense: Every class gain Unarmored Defense with a calculation appropriated with their prime and secondary ability scores and their expectation of ow high their AC should be. For Example, a Fighter might have an unarmored AC of 10 + their Strength Modifier + the Dexterity Modifier
Heavy Substitution Defense: Classes with heavy armor proficiency can substitute their proficiency bonus for their Dexterity bonus when it applies to AC
Fighting Styles: New Fighting Styles are created. Each one has their own AC calculation with appropriate utility or offensive features. For example, Sea Dog might give you +2 to AC and damage rolls if you are wielding a two handed weapon and not wearing heavy armor nor encumbered.
Warrior Defense Charts: Armor is scrapped mechanically. AC is level based and class based. Each class or race is placed in a column on a C that determines their AC.
Heavy Sailor: Heavy armor is buffed somehow to compensate for setting inappropriateness. Perhaps with damage reduction or increased AC.