Now Armor=DR not AC bonus! READ THIS!!!

[Kaptain_Kantrip]

Anybody have any information on how exactly the revised Star Wars RPG is going to make armor provide DR instead of an AC bonus? I'm thinking I might want to incorporate that idea into my D&D game (along with SW's WP/VP, which make a lot more sense than just plain old HP). Also, anybody who has ideas on how this should be done (or why it shouldn't), please post. Also welcome are posts by those who have already created such a system (preferably playtested, LOL)...

 

[MythandLore]

Anybody have any information on how exactly the revised Star Wars RPG is going to make armor provide DR instead of an AC bonus? I'm thinking I might want to incorporate that idea into my D&D game (along with SW's WP/VP, which make a lot more sense than just plain old HP). Also, anybody who has ideas on how this should be done (or why it shouldn't), please post. Also welcome are posts by those who have already created such a system (preferably playtested, LOL)...

They were talking about this for a while, It's all very simple really.
Lets say your using Heavy blast armor, and we'll say it gives you DR of 5, then when you get shot by a blaster rifle for 2d6 and the guy rolls 8, you only take 3 points of damage.
Quick and simple really. (I don't know if it's like this but it would be an easy way to do it)
If you wanted to use a system like that for your DnD game it could be pretty easy too.
Just use the "Armor Bonus" of the armor as the DR.
Like Leather armor would be DR2 and Full plate would be DR8.
You'll find melee combat can end up lasting a lot longer if you do this.
You could also have monsters with "Natural Armor" do the same thing.
But beware, things like dragons with +30 Natural AC would become many times more dangerous with DR30/-
I hope this gave you a few ideas.

 

[Ranger REG]

Actually the DR rating will be much lower than the armor bonus of that particular armor. So making a straight converstion from armor bonus to DR would be inaccurate.

 

[MythandLore]

Actually the DR rating will be much lower than the armor bonus of that particular armor. So making a straight converstion from armor bonus to DR would be inaccurate.

I really hope your wrong.
If I'm playing SW and using heavy battle armor and I get no bonus to my AC and only a DR3 when I'm forced to have a Max Dex bonus of +0 an armor check penlty of -7 and a movement reduced to 6, it just would not be worth it.
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Not to metion it would be even less realistic.


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[Kaptain_Kantrip]

So what will the DR be then, if not equal to the AC bonus?

 

[Plane Sailing]

Who knows what the eventual system they propose will be? I don't.

But if you would like to see a d20 variant which currently uses armour as DR and has for over a year, take a look at http://www.starguild.freeserve.co.uk/frp/3ednd_combat.htm

Cheers

 

[UofMDude]

The problem with this kind of system is that it shifts the balance even more toward 2-handed weapons and high strength characters.

Witness:
(ignoring criticals)

No damage reduction:

Strength 14 character w/ rapier
damage: 3-8
average: 5.5

Strength 18 character w/ greatsword
damage: 8-18
average: 13

Damage reduction 4:

Strength 14 character w/ rapier
damage: 0-4
average: 1.6

Strength 18 character w/ greatsword
damage: 4-14
average: 9

Before DR the greatsword did a little over twice the damage. After DR the greatsword did 4 times the damage. This change would make alot of finesse characters worthless.

A system like this will work well in a firearms/blaster based game where every weapon is going to do at least 2d6 damage (unless it is wimpy and really SHOULDNT go through armor). I don't think it is going to work well in a fantasy game though.

UofMDude

 

[Thorvald Kviksverd]

I really hope your wrong...

Here's what one of the designers has to say about it...

SWRPGNETWORK

 

[EricNoah]

From what I recall...

All classes get Defense ratings (this is apparently new).

Armor provides Damage resistance (this is also new).

The "formula" they gave in "Shadow Chasers" in Polyhedron was to take D&D armor's armor bonus, divide by 2, and that's the damage resistance of the armor.

 

[kenjib]

The problem with this kind of system is that it shifts the balance even more toward 2-handed weapons and high strength characters.

This was our exact experience when my group tried out Ken Hood's Grim-n-Gritty system and was the primary reason why we decided not to use it. In addition to finesse characters having trouble, low level monks really got slammed as well. It's more realistic, but it's not heroic and, for us, it's not as fun.

EDIT: I think it's a great system, however, and worth looking at for those who want a different feel to the game - just playtest it and see if the fit is right for your group first.