UA's class-based defence bonus. Your thoughts?

[Desdichado]

I think the class based defense bonus is a great rule, but there really may not be a need for it in D&D. If you have access to magic AC-pumping items, what's the point? Unless you want to discourage heavy armor somewhat and encourage swashbuckly hijinks, you also don't necessarily want to go there.

What I've done is utilize the progressions from WoT (because I like them better than UA; UA's are too flat), the damage conversion rules (to give armor an arguably different purpose than simply boosting AC) and eliminated most any chance of "magical" armor of any type. But that fits the feel of my game; it wouldn't work for a more standard D&D type game.

 

[Mac Callum]

I know why you think that Rogues & Rangers should have the best Defense Bonus: They're fast, quick on their feet, react well under pressure.

Well, I say that's why they have Evasion and Uncanny Dodge. Same for the Barbarian. Good reflexes.

But that doesn't mean they know how to fight, how to anticipate an enemy's next move. Rogues aren't terribly good fighters you know. Sneaky sure, but not very good fighters.

Now Fighters - they know how to fight. Even the clumsy ones can read an opponent, or anticipate the momentum of a sword's weight with more accuracy than a Rogue. It's what they live for. It's what they do.

You can make the same rationalities for the other classes. Rangers are so concerned with finding the weak spots of their enemies, they neglect their own. Barbarians, like Bill Murray in Space Jam, don't do defense.

You can even imagine that Clerics prize preservation over attack, so that's why their defenses are stronger than their attacks. They're the Aikido Masters of D&D (the opposite of Barbarians).

You want someone who will anticipate the knife in the dark, or dodge what no sane person should be able to dodge? Play a Rogue. You want to weave a blurring web of steel between yourself and your enemies - play a Fighter. No one handles a sword like they do.

(By the way, this is just a rationalization that is very analagous to the Conan rules. Dodge =! Parry.)

 

[Qualir]

Personally, I loved the the idea as presented in WoT. Yes, it has problems, but nothing is perfect.

My problem with class defense rating is that I prefer lower AC PCs when I DM. This keeps me from having to rationalize constant #s of High CR encounters in order to actually touch the party. The UA system seems to be based on having the greatest armor within your price range. Every level 20 fighter effectively has +4 full plate. Why should I send the exttra cash for actual +5 full plate that limits my speed to 20?

I would prefer a much lower (+1) bonus granted every so many levels or possibly from feats (stackable Dodge)

 

[Goblyn]

Barbarians, like Bill Murray in Space Jam

I don't think I've ever concieved of Bill Murray as a Barbarian; I'm not dissing your argument, I agree with what you say here; It's just somewhat humourous picturing him in place of Krusk in the PHB.