Improving Heavy Armor

[Wolf72]

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Hey Wolf - Off topic:

How did you get the table pasted in? What are the commands in vB for the tables?

Thanks!

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I had to change the tabs and spaces about 7 or 8 times before it came out even (take space here, put one there ... etc)

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

The problem is that 'stat-gain' items are ridiculously cheap.
A Mithral Breastplate and DEX +6 item is just as good as full plate and doesnt encumber your mobility or saddle you with high ACP. That for a total of around 20Kgp.

Once you add in cheap Stat items, it doesnt matter if you have a low dex PC. He will enventually migrate to lighter armor. If for no other reason then to allow him to run away from fights where he is in over his head.

Nonsense. A +6 Dex item costs 36,000 gp.

Our intrepid hero could just buy Winged Boots for 12,000 gp. Or a custom combo Winged Boots of Speed for 28,000 and wear the heavy armor. That is a lot better than a +6 Dex item unless you really care about Dex-based skills.

 

[Michael Morris]

Go 2e

There are very few things in 2nd edition AD&D that is better than 3e. The lack of max dec AC bonus rules and movement constraints for armor is one of them.

 

[Fenes 2]

Do not forget another drawback of heavy armor - you have to wear it to be effective. It may not be a drawback in a standard dungeon crawl game, but in some campaigns, especially urban ones, PCs will get attacked in the middle of the night, during balls, in inns, in the baths, in short in situations where they won't be wearing armor.

 

[Khaalis]

Do not forget another drawback of heavy armor - you have to wear it to be effective. It may not be a drawback in a standard dungeon crawl game, but in some campaigns, especially urban ones, PCs will get attacked in the middle of the night, during balls, in inns, in the baths, in short in situations where they won't be wearing armor.

This is why d20 OGL Spells like Summon Armor, Armor Contingency and the like are the Armor wearer's best friend.

 

[Stalker0]

There was an interesting thread about helms a little while ago that I think could be applied to armor.

Why not give heavy armor a +x bonus against confirming critical threats? You have a AC 20 normally, but when the guy is rolling the crit confirm its 22 or something.

This makes a lot of sense, since heavy armor protects vital areas better than light armor.

 

[Stalker0]

I actually notice I have a different problem than most here. Most of my fighter types wear heavy armor. Most of my dex based guys go light armor, but nobody goes medium armor, and I can't blame them.

You get practically all of the penalties of heavy armor, and not much in return. And unless its mithral, which I do not give out as candy, its practically worthless imho.

 

[Khaalis]

There was an interesting thread about helms a little while ago that I think could be applied to armor.

Why not give heavy armor a +x bonus against confirming critical threats? You have a AC 20 normally, but when the guy is rolling the crit confirm its 22 or something.

This makes a lot of sense, since heavy armor protects vital areas better than light armor.

See Quintessential Dwarf Armor Crafting Techniques:

Quality: Reinforcement
Cost: +300gp
Benefit: Protects against critical strikes granting an added +5 AC bonus for the purpose of confirming critical hits only.

I actually notice I have a different problem than most here. Most of my fighter types wear heavy armor. Most of my dex based guys go light armor, but nobody goes medium armor, and I can't blame them.

You get practically all of the penalties of heavy armor, and not much in return. And unless its mithral, which I do not give out as candy, its practically worthless imho.

I whole heartedly agree. Most Medium armor is not worth the effort to wear. Those few OGL Medium armors that have been released that ARE worth wearing are more costly than decent Magical Light armor. I am really hoping that the new Equipment Guides that are comming out from WotC and other D20's will help to imporove this unbalancing in the armor system.

 

[haiiro]

This is why d20 OGL Spells like Summon Armor, Armor Contingency and the like are the Armor wearer's best friend.

These sound neat -- where can they be found?

 

[Ravellion]

Re: Go 2e

There are very few things in 2nd edition AD&D that is better than 3e. The lack of max dec AC bonus rules and movement constraints for armor is one of them.

You are kidding right? Everyone was just wearing the armour that gave the most plusses which thery were proficient with. Of course you were simply disallowed to wear certain armours, which made various armours desirable, but that seems something even worse than saying "Elves can't be bards".

Rav