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General Tabletop Discussion
*TTRPGs General
Who puts the "class" in Armor Class?
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<blockquote data-quote="WheresMyD20" data-source="post: 5611759" data-attributes="member: 60772"><p>The term "armor class" goes all the way back to the Chainmail game. In Chainmail, not only is there a numbered armor class, but there is also a numbered weapon class. Cross-indexing weapon class with armor class on a table gives the number that needs to be rolled to score a hit. Certain weapons are more effective against certain armors.</p><p></p><p>In OD&D, a variant combat system was introduced that cross-indexed armor class with character class and level instead of weapon class. Weapon class was dropped and all weapons were equally effective. In later editions, this system became the standard system rather than a variant.</p><p></p><p>Supplement 1 reintroduced the weapon vs armor modifiers based off of the tables in Chainmail, although weapons are not given a numbered class but are categorized by type. This would eventually find its way into AD&D 1e more or less as-is and a simplified version would show up as an optional rule in AD&D 2e.</p><p></p><p>It's important to note that armor class in OD&D is truly a representation of the armor type used (and shield carried) and is determined <u>only</u> by the armor worn and shield used. Dexterity does not modify armor class. Magical armor does not affect armor class, instead it reduces the attacker's chance to hit by effectively reducing his hit dice or levels. For example, an ogre (a 4 hit dice monster) attacking a character wearing +2 armor would attack as if it were a 2 hit dice monster.</p><p></p><p>In later versions of D&D, dexterity and magic modified armor class directly and the term "armor class" became somewhat of a misnomer, but was still left in the game.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="WheresMyD20, post: 5611759, member: 60772"] The term "armor class" goes all the way back to the Chainmail game. In Chainmail, not only is there a numbered armor class, but there is also a numbered weapon class. Cross-indexing weapon class with armor class on a table gives the number that needs to be rolled to score a hit. Certain weapons are more effective against certain armors. In OD&D, a variant combat system was introduced that cross-indexed armor class with character class and level instead of weapon class. Weapon class was dropped and all weapons were equally effective. In later editions, this system became the standard system rather than a variant. Supplement 1 reintroduced the weapon vs armor modifiers based off of the tables in Chainmail, although weapons are not given a numbered class but are categorized by type. This would eventually find its way into AD&D 1e more or less as-is and a simplified version would show up as an optional rule in AD&D 2e. It's important to note that armor class in OD&D is truly a representation of the armor type used (and shield carried) and is determined [U]only[/U] by the armor worn and shield used. Dexterity does not modify armor class. Magical armor does not affect armor class, instead it reduces the attacker's chance to hit by effectively reducing his hit dice or levels. For example, an ogre (a 4 hit dice monster) attacking a character wearing +2 armor would attack as if it were a 2 hit dice monster. In later versions of D&D, dexterity and magic modified armor class directly and the term "armor class" became somewhat of a misnomer, but was still left in the game. [/QUOTE]
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Who puts the "class" in Armor Class?
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