#armor class

[oldschoolfrp]

"Why armor class is important" -- Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord for the Apple II took a lot of inspiration from D&D. The armor class scale begins at 10 and descends for improved armor, as used in OD&D through AD&D 2e, before D&D 3e finally changed to ascending AC numbers. (Will McLean comic panel from the game manual, Sir-Tech Software, 1981)

[we-are-all-eventual-ghosts]

How did I miss Murray’s AC of 9?!

🤣

Like, I get why - I just, damn. Get them some protection, SOMEONE!

[dollthingposts]

the sheer number of games shortened to “AC” is staggering

[pwbi]

Interactive Combat Rolls

This is a little system I use for narrating attacks that miss. There is nothing explicitly stated on how an attack might miss, and it can be a bit confusing to narrate at times, so this is how I match up mechanics and narration of hits. 

If an attack roll is:

1 - Attackers hand slips, drops weapon, trips over, etc. Attack is negated and/or the attacker hurts them self. 2-10 - Attack is made, but misses the target 10+ Dex Mod (if not in heavy armor) - the defender dodges out of the way. This can be from a sidestep, duck, etc. 10+ Armor Bonus - the attack connects, but the defenders armor / shield protects them from the blow Each of these thresholds can be explained in a narrative way. 1-10 can be a comical failure, dex can seem like a Matrix Dodge moment, and armor bonus can seem like a very tense crashing of metal. 

There are also some edge cases, and while I think there are a lot of ways to go about them, here is how I deal with a couple of them:

Unarmored bonus / natural armor - Blow glances off or hits but is absorbed like metal. The latter is especially cool for Barbarians Magic Bonus to AC - Light shows surrounding the defender and mitigating the blow or deflecting it, think energy shields from movies of Halo Cover - Attacks hit cover, or the smaller target makes it harder to aim and the blow sails just past the target, possibly sending debris or small shards of the cover everywhere Size Bonus - Attack seems like it would normally hit, but the smaller creature has just enough space to manuever around the attack Above AC - Target doesnt get out of the way, hit manages to penetrate armor, scratch them, hit an exposed spot, etc.  Temporary HP - Either magic shields target but cracks under force or the blow is taken and felt, but doesnt cut, bruise, etc. 

[aboleth-eye]

scale mail, except it's just made out of layers and layers of pistachio shells

-10 to armor class verses squirrels

#wondrous-garbage lol

[kitsumaniac]

D&D Tip of the day:

You can choose your AC if two options are given. Whether it comes from your natural armor or you class’s feature, you make the call!

To be honest, I’d always want to choose the class’s feature instead of the AC given of the race. Because your character probably spent years perfecting how to dodge an attack, rather just standing there and letting it glances off you. EVEN if the natural armor is better. It would defeat the purpose of having to spend points or roll the stats if you were to dump them into other traits while your class’s AC calculation was ignored. You’re not the ultimate utility tool, let others have the spotlight when stuff happens.

I’m not going to tell you what you can or can’t do. Just wanting to offer food for thought.

[dungeonsanddragonsmistress]

Let's talk NPCs

As I said, I want to make an adventure time campaign without making it obvious that it is, in fact, adventure time. So, I'm changing it up a bit.

I introduce you to Princess Bonnibel.

After The War (Mushroom war) she swore not to use magic again, because, in her opinion, magic was at fault. In my universe I'm making Ice King the main villan (not the final boss tho).

She still uses magic for certain things, for exemple, instead of her potion that turns creatures into candy people, she has the ring of mind control. This ring gives the owner the ability to make a strong suggestion, as though you had a charisma of 20. You do not have to audibly speak, but it will only work on someone within your field of vision. You can also only affect a creature of 15 wisdom or lower, if the subject is of 7 or lower wisdom, they will always follow your commands. If you attempt to order someone to kill themselves or someone/something they love, they will refuse to do so. For convenience sake, all of her citizens have wisdom of 7 or below.

After The War ended, she took all the people she could find, orphan children, widowed women, elders and so on. Not all of her citizens are weak, but she did her best to build a city they would all be safe in. She doesn't have any ill intentions, but regarding enemies, she's quick to anger despite her intellect.

She is somewhat immortal, but she isn't made out of gum. She just has a big stack of longevity potions, so she never ages above 35.

The incarnation of the "mad scientist", Princess Bonnibel, has the following features:

- Can use potions as a bonus action, on herself or another creature

- Ambidextrous, can wield two weapons, which means she has multiattack

- Her crown and matching earrings are capable of protecting the wearer's mind from the Lich's influence

You usually see Princess Bubblegum from the series using a gun when she fights. Ones that she creates. So, I'm making Princess Bubblegum proficient with guns. She is ambidextrous, so she can use two of them. I chose the following:

Arm shotgun

A shotgun specially designed to be attached to the arm in a gauntlet like fashion. The weapon is often attached to bracers or in the case of constructs to their very form. (2d6 piercing damage, range of 30/90, needs reloading after 12 shots)

And finally, her stats:

Strength 12 (+1)

She might not seem too strong, but she's not as defenseless as she looks.

Dexterity 16 (+3)

Her physical construction makes her agile and the fact that she's ambidextrous also counts for me.

Constitution 16 (+3)

Years of experiments gone wrong and surviving a war make you tougher.

Intelligence 20 (+5)

She's a scientist, what do you expect?

Wisdom 14 (+2)

To be a ruler, you need to be wise.

Charisma 12 (+1)

With the exception for the interactions with her citizens, she spent her life being quite lonely, therefore she lacks in the charisma department. But her ring buffs her charisma to 20.

She wears a breastplate and her AC is 14.

Her speed is 30 ft, as normal.

Her max HP is 58.

She has a noble background, obviously. Also, for the sake of not making things evident, her race is human.

She is proficient in light armour and medium armour, ranged weapons, alchemist's supplies and brewer's supplies.

Skill wise, she's proficient in history, investigation, medicine and survival.

Her saving throws are Constitution and Intelligence.

[adventurers-and-artists-off-blog]

Calculating the damage of an attack

did you mean...

ACDC?