Wearing a helmet

[RamYaz]

Hi everybody,
I know the PHB describes what every armour is supposed to include but, like in many areas, I think it neglects to emphazise the importance of wearing a helmet in melee. So that said, I would like to have some feedback on how you would or had addresed this issue in your game.

 

[clarkvalentine]

Honestly, I've pointedly ignored it. D&D is high heroic fantasy to me; if a player wants his character's long flowing locks blowing in the wind, I don't penalize them.

 

[Alzrius]

The only mention I've ever seen was the section in Nodwick #16 where it discusses the Henchman NPC class. It mentioned (IIRC) that if they were struck with a critical hit, if the critical confirmation roll was a natural 20, then it hit their helmet, and it was treated as a normal hit. In essence, like a very, very weak armor of fortification.

 

[shilsen]

Honestly, I've pointedly ignored it. D&D is high heroic fantasy to me; if a player wants his character's long flowing locks blowing in the wind, I don't penalize them.

Same here. If I wanted realism I wouldn't be playing D&D.