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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Remathilis" data-source="post: 3341665" data-attributes="member: 7635">IMHO it doesn't. Lets see. A 2nd level fighter attacks a chainmail wearing orc. In 3.X, the fighters bab (+2) plus str (+2 for sake of argument) is added to a 1d20.  This is compared to the Orcs AC (10 +5 chain total 15). The player knows the first half of the equation (1d20 +4) the DM knows the other half (15). Neither side is static (the fighter charges, the orc goes on the defensive, etc). Hence, the PC only has to worry about one side, the DM the other.In 2e (its still is the subject of the thread) the fighters THAC0 is 19, and he still has a +2 to hit. The orc's AC is now 5. The PC rolls 1d20+2, subtracts that from 19, and determines if his remainders is <5. There are still modifiers for both sides of the combat, and the PC is doing 1/2 the work still. In 1e (by your discussion) the PC rolls a 1d20 and adds his +2 bonus. He gives a total. The DM now determines (by chart) what that answer equates to (17 for a ftr2 is AC 2) and cross-references that against the orcs AC (2 >5, so a hit). The DM now is handling the bulk of the work. The PC has no idea if he missed the Orc due to poor ability or good AC. However, the DM has to constantly be doing that math for all players all the time. Quick! A fireball explodes on a group of PCs. A 5th level fighter, a 3rd/3rd level fighter/mage, a 6th level thief, and a 4th level cleric all have to save vs. spell. What do they have to roll higher than to succeed? Can you do it without looking? That is why at least 2nd edition took the mystery of the saving throw tables and thac0 tables and PUT THEM IN THE PHB (pages 91 and 101 of the first printing, I can find them in the dark). Because it made the DM's life simpler. 3e just streamlined those numbers so that they aren't so arbitrary. I couldn't see looking up every characters to hit and to save every level, every time its needed. However, if you can, more power to you.</blockquote>

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