D&D 5E Why no Proficiency bonus to AC?

[Salamandyr]

I think if I use the proficiency to AC house rule, I'll modify my original and go with

10+Prof bonus.

No dex added, this AC is defined as your ability to protect yourself with your combat skill.

My desire was to help armored characters who are caught out of armor, and to reflect someone who protects himself with his weapon, and 8+prof+DEX just makes dexterity even more of a king stat.

 

[Quartz]

If you wanted a fighter class in a milieu where armour was not reasonable - a campaign set in an analogue of Central America, for instance - then that class might well have a class feature using the Proficiency Bonus instead of armour.

 

[ProphetSword]

Which, as I said, is relative. If YOUR players have more fun that way, sure cool. But there's more than one way to have fun. I personally don't have fun doing that.

It is relative. Let me point out the important parts of what I said:

I was talking about fun factor. Players who hit more often have more fun and can put their powers and special toys to use more frequently. Since D&D is a game and not a scientific simulation, I am more concerned with players having fun, even if the outcome is the same.

 

[Sunseeker]

It is relative. Let me point out the important parts of what I said:

I was talking about fun factor. Players who hit more often have more fun and can put their powers and special toys to use more frequently. Since D&D is a game and not a scientific simulation, I am more concerned with players having fun, even if the outcome is the same.

In all fairness I do believe exactly what you wrote can be taken as you saying that because you think that is the fun way to do things and since you're more concerned about fun, that is the way you think things should be done, as much as you seem to be saying that because you think it's fun, that's the way you do things and to each their own. I do still feel like it says the former stronger than it says the latter.

 

[Nine Hands]

It is similar to how Star Wars Saga Edition does defenses.

 

[Arnwolf]

I have been doing a modern setting where players have Defense = 10 + Proficiency Bonus + Dexterity modifier. Light Armor gives +1 Defense, Heavy Armor Damage Reduction 3/magic and shields a +2 to Defense. There is no medium armor in this homebrew games. It has worked fine.