Options for Fighting Ability

[mabon5127]

I'm going to try allowing characters the option of allocating up to half of their FA or fighting ability to their AC as a bonus.

It gives them additional options and allows more experienced characters improvement in AC without magic armor / shields etc.

Thus a 8th level fighter (FA-8) with AC-5 could fight at FA-4 and AC-1 if they wanted.

I generally keep things very low magic so it would give characters more options versus higher level monsters.

I'll be testing this over the next several weeks to see what the players think of it and how it impacts game play.

I also have some ideas for CA (casting ability) and TA (turning ability)...

Morgan

[blackadder23]

My only objection would be that an 8th level fighter could rarely afford to take a lower FA, assuming you're scaling up threats with level. Most high level monsters have a fairly low AC, and every point counts. Plus, frankly, the best defense is a good offense - kill the other guy first! ;D

But why not try it out and see how it goes?

[mabon5127]

I'm very sure the players will like the option but will they actually use it?

Many of the higher level monsters have AC-3 or 4 and a handful have 0 or in the negatives (demons). But the player has the choice when facing a higher damage monster to try and mitigate the number of time they get hit.

So I'll let the 8 brains at the table work through the issues.

Morgan

[Ghul]

I don't think the idea is unreasonable, Morgan, but it is a bit more lenient than the Advanced Combat Action of "Conservative Fighting," where you get a +1 AC bonus in exchange for a –2 "to hit" penalty. Let us know how it works out in practice!

[Ynas Midgard]

I'd be very cautious with improvements of AC, for this potentially allows much lower values than before but still keeping the possibility of a lucky attack roll, even a critical, perhaps; consider how dodge (see VOL. I, ADVANCED COMBAT, dodge) works: it improves AC by 2 points for forfeiting all attacks.

Anyways, have you tried it out? What were the results?

[mabon5127]

Dec 2, 2013 13:35:52 GMT -6 Ynas Midgard said:

I'd be very cautious with improvements of AC, for this potentially allows much lower values than before but still keeping the possibility of a lucky attack roll, even a critical, perhaps; consider how dodge (see VOL. I, ADVANCED COMBAT, dodge) works: it improves AC by 2 points for forfeiting all attacks.

Anyways, have you tried it out? What were the results?

They basically liked the option then never used it!! I think once in combat they wanted to make sure they hit vs reducing the chance to hit of the opponent. I think they used your logic to a degree and felt like the enemy could get a lucky blow anyway so why not maximize the chance to hit.

So with that I didn't invest anymore time in honing the rule.

Morgan