D&D 5E is the dodge action broken?

[ArchfiendBobbie]

After as many Dark Souls cosplays as I've seen, I could imagine someone in full plate using Dodge not to hunker down behind a shield, but to drop down and roll in a circle around the enemy. In that case, the disadvantage comes from trying to hit someone rolling in a circle around you. That would also add an in-game explanation as to why acrobatics ranks could provide a dodge bonus even for people in heavy armor in prior editions.

It's definitely not broken.

 

[SkidAce]

Enemies don't know that, unless they are intelligent or insightful. Combat is an abstraction, so even fighting defensively involves dodging, parrying, shield blocking, and light attacks that don't break your opponent's guard. At no point does an enemy think an armed and armored man getting up in their face is "No Threat". That's a good way to suddenly get stabbed.

Thats what I was trying to convey.