Pondering Mystic Realms

[holly_evolving]

Edited in: florentine and Polish Armor restrictions based on wolf_nd_shadows's suggestions. Still open.

Edited in: Further SP&P restrictions based on ariestar's point. Still quite open for evaluation by those who actually play, as I do not.

I think I've come up with an armor point system I like better, although it does require the adding of another ranking bead.

Years ago, when last I played, if your armor rank was 1, then no matter that you were wearing a full suit of steel plate (considered rank 5 armor), your armor gave you one extra hit point. This is because the wearer "wouldn't know how to use the armor to the full benefit."

That's baloney. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a 12-year-old ninny in daddy's armor, a rock will bounce off your head the same if you've got a steel helm on.

I think an impediment ranking should be instituted. It's not that your lack of knowledge would cause the armor to fail, it's that your lack of knowledge would make it harder for you to move.

So, let's assume that armor ranking is immutable, so that armor that could provide rank 5 always does, regardless of the wearer's class.

Impediment rank 1: armor rank-wear armor knowledge level= 1
player is unable to use a shield while wearing armor. Player may not cast SP&P above rank 4. Polish Armor only gives a +4 bonus.

Impediment rank 2: armor rank-wear armor knowledge level= 2
player is unable to use a shield two one-handed weapons, or two-handed weapon while wearing armor. Player may not cast SP&P above rank 3. Polish Armor only gives a +3 bonus.

Impediment rank 3: armor rank-wear armor knowledge level= 3
player is unable to use a shield, two handed weapon, two one-handed weapons, or any projectile while wearing armor. Player may not cast SP&P above rank 2. Polish Armor only gives a +2 bonus.

Impediment rank 4: armor rank-wear armor knowledge level= 4
player is unable to use a shield, two handed weapon, two one-handed weapons, or any projectile, nor may player run, while wearing armor. Player may not cast SP&P above rank 1. Polish Armor only gives a +1 bonus.

Impediment rank 5: armor rank-wear armor knowledge level= 5
player is unable to use a shield, two handed weapon, two, one-handed weapons,or any projectile, nor may player run, use any SP&P, ballad, scroll, or casting ability (rune, glyph, etc), set or disarm traps, attack from behind, utilize Strength, tie a bandage or splint, or drag while wearing armor. Polish Armor does not give a bonus.

Impediment ranks would be represented by the wearing of pink beads, which would not be subject to the ritual Alter Aura. Why pink? Because if you insist on wearing armor that your character should not, then you're a douche who should be made to wear pink.

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Contributions?

Comments

I have a question.

[cosmic-hiccup.livejournal.com]

Huh?

[r-u-b.livejournal.com]

overall I like it...but i'm not familiar with the game system...wouldn't it make more sense just to penalize the charachters Dexterity(though now that i'm reading it...that might be hard in a liveaction)

[holly-evolving.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this is for a boffo LARP. D&D already has the best Dex penalty system for tabletop, with the fully calculated A/C

[ariestar.livejournal.com]

Here's how I see it being broken:

A druid or warlock with Wear Armor II could, in this case, wear full plate and still run around with a war blunt or long sword, cast all of the SP&P she knows, and basically do everything she could do with armor II. Why wouldn't I get full plate? I could even handle chain mail or half-plates--those don't really hurt me as a druid. Sure, I couldn't use my bow, but I shouldn't even be able to use that (without racial knowledge). I would move the SP&P restriction up a bit more--the only ones who should really be pushing their armor capabilities should be front-line types, and combat-casters, from a gameplay perspective, should learn to be agile and quick with their spells so they wouldn't need heavy armor to survive.

[wolf-nd-shadows.livejournal.com]

As a rogue with armor 2, I could wear armor 5 and the only penalty is that I won't be able to use my bow. I could easily florentine and fight as normal but with 10 extra HP (polish armor)

[holly-evolving.livejournal.com]

hrm. Good point.