Chain mail should be a starting armor option for fighters.

[Zangetsu]

Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:

(a) chain mail or (b) leather armor, longbow, and 20 arrows
(a) a martial weapon and a shield or (b) two martial weapons
(a) a light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) two handaxes
(a) a dungeoneer’s pack or (b) an explorer’s pack

Chain Mail
heavy armor (armor)
AC: 16
Category: Items
Stealth: Disadvantage
Weight: 55


Chain mail isnt that big of a deal. But starting out with it or at least having it be available early on, would give str based fighters who dont go for dex a better option in terms of AC. In EA you kind of want at least 14 dex to get that +2 bonus from dex.

Also dont forget chain mail should have a str requirement of 13.

[Indure]

+1, although should ultimately be available to everyone who has a starting heavy armor proficiency

[Grymspeak]

This starting equipment posted by the OP is what the 5e rule set calls out. The scale armor fighter's are currently starting with just doesn't tickle my fancy. Seriously hoping the mod community comes thru in a big way once the game is finally released.

[War Maiden]

OR you could just MANUALLY spec your MC in CC, to 14 dex or even 15 (16 dependent if you went the half elf route). There is a reason why you can manipulate your Point Buy. Seriously, too many people just want a give me, instead of thinking ahead. Fore-thought isn't typically a male thing, and that isn't a slight, it's just a truism. However, we can all work hard to plan ahead. Smart intelligence and fore-planning will ensure a successful operation, and a successful end result.

[Zangetsu]

Originally posted by War Maiden:

OR you could just MANUALLY spec your MC in CC, to 14 dex or even 15 (16 dependent if you went the half elf route). There is a reason why you can manipulate your Point Buy. Seriously, too many people just want a give me, instead of thinking ahead. Fore-thought isn't typically a male thing, and that isn't a slight, it's just a truism. However, we can all work hard to plan ahead. Smart intelligence and fore-planning will ensure a successful operation, and a successful end result.

It feels limiting right now that 14 dex gives +2 AC and there isnt even a heavy armor option like chainmail to compete. So if you choose to play a low dex character, you are shooting yourself in the foot. Chainmail would make it so a 16 str 10 dex character can have 16 AC, 18 with a shield 19 with defense fighting style. The AC is decent but nothing gamebreaking.

I hope this gets addressed at launch, I would hate to play a str based fighter with low dex and be stuck with 14 AC, until I get to baldurs gate or something

Also game could use Javelins and or throwing handaxes to give str based low dex characters a ranged option.

[Hobocop]

Early heavy armor availability is a definite issue. Ring Mail is pretty much worthless.

[Zangetsu]

Originally posted by Hobocop:

Early heavy armor availability is a definite issue. Ring Mail is pretty much worthless.

Yep its the same AC as scale mail except it doesnt get up to +2 dex bonus. I havent seen any other heavy armor.

[Indure]

Originally posted by War Maiden:

OR you could just MANUALLY spec your MC in CC, to 14 dex or even 15 (16 dependent if you went the half elf route). There is a reason why you can manipulate your Point Buy. Seriously, too many people just want a give me, instead of thinking ahead. Fore-thought isn't typically a male thing, and that isn't a slight, it's just a truism. However, we can all work hard to plan ahead. Smart intelligence and fore-planning will ensure a successful operation, and a successful end result.

What does this even mean? The starting heavy armor for fighters in 5e is chainmail, why would it be "give me more" to expect Larian to match the minimum equipment loadout of 5e, when they are more than happy to include the best non-magical medium armor possible in the tutorial.

The lack of basic heavy armor in this game is really hard on strength based characters and the solution shouldn't be just make a dexterity build.

[bullse]

Nope, disagree.
It is so fun pissing off DnD 5e folks, so fun.
But yeah, who is the DM of this game?
Larian.
As such, they can 'house rule' anything they want and apparently, fighters not starting off with AC 16 chain is one of them.

[Zangetsu]

Originally posted by bullse:

Nope, disagree.

Care to expand on that a bit? Its starter gear for 5e DnD.

Originally posted by bullse:

As such, they can 'house rule' anything they want and apparently, fighters not starting off with AC 16 chain is one of them.

All its doing is limiting builds for fighters to have +2 dex bonus. Means I have to sacrifice constitution or something if I want +2 charisma.

Chainmail is starter gear for a reason. To give str based characters decent starter AC.

[bullse]

Originally posted by Zangetsu:

Originally posted by bullse:

Nope, disagree.

Care to expand on that a bit? Its starter gear for 5e DnD.

Did, via edit.

[Zangetsu]

Originally posted by bullse:

Originally posted by Zangetsu:

Care to expand on that a bit? Its starter gear for 5e DnD.

Did, via edit.

And I replied via edit.

[Panic Fire]

Chainmail is in the game but is surprisingly late to get vs other options for a starting armor imo.

[Zangetsu]

Originally posted by Panic Fire:

Chainmail is in the game but is surprisingly late to get vs other options for a starting armor imo.

Where is it?

[Panic Fire]

Originally posted by Zangetsu:

Originally posted by Panic Fire:

Chainmail is in the game but is surprisingly late to get vs other options for a starting armor imo.

Where is it?

Its sold by Roah Moonglow, and it drops off of Lurgan in the Decrupit Village in the Underdark.

[War Maiden]

Originally posted by Indure:

Originally posted by War Maiden:

OR you could just MANUALLY spec your MC in CC, to 14 dex or even 15 (16 dependent if you went the half elf route). There is a reason why you can manipulate your Point Buy. Seriously, too many people just want a give me, instead of thinking ahead. Fore-thought isn't typically a male thing, and that isn't a slight, it's just a truism. However, we can all work hard to plan ahead. Smart intelligence and fore-planning will ensure a successful operation, and a successful end result.

What does this even mean? The starting heavy armor for fighters in 5e is chainmail, why would it be "give me more" to expect Larian to match the minimum equipment loadout of 5e, when they are more than happy to include the best non-magical medium armor possible in the tutorial.

The lack of basic heavy armor in this game is really hard on strength based characters and the solution shouldn't be just make a dexterity build.

It's quite possible that Larian and WoTC decided that giving fighters a 16 AC armor right off the bat in this game, or even just in EA, was too powerful. And you are right about the tutorial, Lae'zel's Half Plate is only 15 and you basically get that for free, that's where the 'gimme' part is. And before you say, 'but it's the principle' I get it, but Larian and WoTC decided otherwise, for now.