I really don’t like how armor works in D&D

[Panzerbjorne39]

Armor should mitigate damage. But it doesn’t. It only gives a number that determines if you get hit or not. So my Paladin with heavy armor still takes hits and one hit could be for half her health.

Oh but the armor says it takes 3 whole hit points of dmg off. Might as well be none when you’re taking hits for 30 dmg.
And my bard with medium armor has a higher AC score than my heavy wearing paladin, because that makes sense. And my mage has the same AC score as the heavy armor wearing paladin. There’s really no point in wearing heavy armor.

I’ve seen people make the argument “well 3 hp adds up over time so it’s good.” No it’s not good because fights only last a couple rounds so there’s no time for it to make a difference. Plus it’s still a tiny amount in comparison to the damage you take in tactician or honor mode.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

In D&D AC is a kind of damage mitigation - it doesn't mean that blows didn't land at all, just that your armor was able to deflect it enough that no harm was done to the person wearing it.

This has been explained since at least AD&D.

However, I agree that damage mitigation should play a larger role, if for no other reason than it would add more diversity to armor types.

And Heavy Armor Mastery is nearly worthless.

Perhaps proficiency bonus should subtract from all physical (bludgeoning, piercing, slashing) attacks if you are proficient in the armor you're wearing?

In any case, nothing is going to change today, nor tomorrow.

[anachoret]

You are mistaking armour for Armour Class

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Originally posted by anachoret:

You are mistaking armour for Armour Class

He isn't mistaking anything - he's saying he doesn't like how it works.

[Dork_Stalker_310]

I agree, halving the physical damage - or at least mitigating it by a percentage - should be a basic feature of heavy armor, not a unique ability of one end-game set.
Also, I find it pretty counterintuitive that the only armor pieces calculated in the AC are chestplate and shield. If AC is supposed to be about how armor stops damage entirely, shouldn't every piece of it count, for example, I don't know, a helmet? A thing that protects the most important part of the body?

[Panzerbjorne39]

Originally posted by Pan Darius Cassandra:

In D&D AC is a kind of damage mitigation - it doesn't mean that blows didn't land at all, just that your armor was able to deflect it enough that no harm was done to the person wearing it.

This has been explained since at least AD&D.

However, I agree that damage mitigation should play a larger role, if for no other reason than it would add more diversity to armor types.

And Heavy Armor Mastery is nearly worthless.

Perhaps proficiency bonus should subtract from all physical (bludgeoning, piercing, slashing) attacks if you are proficient in the armor you're wearing?

In any case, nothing is going to change today, nor tomorrow.

If that’s the case, it shouldn’t just say “miss” it should say “deflected” or 0 dmg or something. If I were to design it, high end armor like the adamantine armor would absorb 20% of dmg taken or something along those lines. Then it would be worth it.

[Panzerbjorne39]

Originally posted by Dork_Stalker_310:

I agree, halving the physical damage - or at least mitigating it by a percentage - should be a basic feature of heavy armor, not a unique ability of one end-game set.
Also, I find it pretty counterintuitive that the only armour pieces calculated in the AC are chestplate and shield. If AC is supposed to be about how armour stoppes damage entirely, shouldn't every piece of it count, for example, I don't know, a helmet? A thing that protects the most important part of the body?

Yeah the first time I booted up the game I was looking for helmets and gloves that gave AC bonuses and couldn’t believe the only thing they could do was give a +1 to constitution or dex rolls. Counterintuitive indeed. Don’t get me started on belts either. Where are the dang belts?

[♂Warrior of Gachi♂]

It does mitigate damage. You don't take damage if you don't get hit.

BG3 also just doesn't show how blows get deflected by armor\shields\parries, you always get the stupid dodge animation. NWN did it so much better more than 20 years ago.

[seeker1]

I like the GURPs system, where armor is damage mitigation/reduction, and other things determine hit/miss like your ability to dodge or block/parry and your opponent's skill.

But AC, like hit points in 5e, is ultimately an abstraction, as most of these stats ultimately are. At least now you know the higher your AC, the better it is. LOL.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Originally posted by ♂GACHIGUS♂:

It does mitigate damage. You don't take damage if you don't get hit.

BG3 also just doesn't show how blows get deflected by armor\shields\parries, you always get the stupid dodge animation. NWN did it so much better more than 20 years ago.

It does though - back in EA only the dodge animation showed, now occasionally characters get hit with a satisfying 'thud' sound effect, unfortunately it always sounds like wood instead of metal-on-metal.

[yaerav]

I played, for years, in one D&D group that had something like Armour Value as a house rule besides Armour Class. Seemed to kind of work for the armoured types. Never really experienced it myself, since I only played magic-users (yes, readers, gramps started with that edition ;-) ). Heavy armor in BG3 still does have Armour value, by the way.

But. Lemme jump on my hobbyhorse: hit points and armour class are abstract concepts, and should be treated as such. When I DM I encourage cinematics, and players may (and really, should) interpret things like losing hit points as getting tired, "using up" their luck, getting off-balance, or a myriad of other things. Or, of course, suffering a wound, because that too can be cinematic.

Same thing goes for armour. A platemail does not cause opponents to miss, but it catches and softens blows. So, hey, this is D&D, so don't worry too much about those stupid mechanics, but enjoy your theater of the mind!

[♂Warrior of Gachi♂]

Originally posted by Pan Darius Cassandra:

Originally posted by ♂GACHIGUS♂:

It does mitigate damage. You don't take damage if you don't get hit.

BG3 also just doesn't show how blows get deflected by armor\shields\parries, you always get the stupid dodge animation. NWN did it so much better more than 20 years ago.

It does though - back in EA only the dodge animation showed, now occasionally characters get hit with a satisfying 'thud' sound effect, unfortunately it always sounds like wood instead of metal-on-metal.

Unless they added that in a very recent patch, if you miss - you always get a dodge animation. I have never seen a blow get deflected in over 270 hours.

[Malthar]

Originally posted by ♂GACHIGUS♂:

Originally posted by Pan Darius Cassandra:

It does though - back in EA only the dodge animation showed, now occasionally characters get hit with a satisfying 'thud' sound effect, unfortunately it always sounds like wood instead of metal-on-metal.

Unless they added that in a very recent patch, if you miss - you always get a dodge animation. I have never seen a blow get deflected in over 270 hours.

Near 300, right there with you.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Originally posted by ♂GACHIGUS♂:

Originally posted by Pan Darius Cassandra:

It does though - back in EA only the dodge animation showed, now occasionally characters get hit with a satisfying 'thud' sound effect, unfortunately it always sounds like wood instead of metal-on-metal.

Unless they added that in a very recent patch, if you miss - you always get a dodge animation. I have never seen a blow get deflected in over 270 hours.

Might just be your luck, your perception, or it only works with shields, but I see it regularly.

[Viper]

There are feats and even spells that include damage reduction. As well as some monsters inborn damage reduction.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Originally posted by Viper:

There are feats and even spells that include damage reduction. As well as some monsters inborn damage reduction.

They're not very good though - except for damage resistance.