Armor Damage

[Gunbunny]

Just a quick question...every time a PC gets hit and their armor reduces some DR, does the armor have to make a save against that damage?  I know it doesn't "retain" damage (IE every blow goes just off the damage it does, and not accumulated damage).  If this is the case, how does everyone here track that?

Thanks!

GB

[Krensky]

Um, you could play that way, I suppose.

I'm not sure anyone does though.

[ArawnNox]

The only time I worry about damage to equipment is when either Acid Damage is involved or if the PC/NPC specifically targets a piece of gear.

[aegis]

Armor doesn't risk being destroyed by hits targeting the characters. However, if someone deliberately attacks the armor, it has to make a damage save like any other object. But if you want to keep track of every hit the character takes in order to check if the armor could theoretically resist such damage ... I guess you can, but it's not handled by the rules and it's going to seriously slow the game down, in my opinion.

[Deral]

Armor doesn't risk being destroyed by hits targeting the characters. However, if someone deliberately attacks the armor, it has to make a damage save like any other object. But if you want to keep track of every hit the character takes in order to check if the armor could theoretically resist such damage ... I guess you can, but it's not handled by the rules and it's going to seriously slow the game down, in my opinion.

This is true, you wouldn't want to do it in combat, if it's something you want to implement I would suggest tracking damage and at the end of combat maybe make armor and/or shields roll against any damage suffered by players over X amount (something like 10 + Career Level).

[Sletchman]

I only ever have it as a result of a crit, or a dirrect attempt at damaging the armour by the enemy.  I do however like the idea suggested by Deral, if I was going to use anything, I'd use something like that.

EDIT: I've been known to have armour damage result from massive damage, too.

[Gunbunny]

Thanks all.  I think I'll save it for critical hits/massive damage.

GB

[Typhon]

Just remember, the players will start calling you out to roll on stuff, too, when they land those shots on bosses!

[Goodlun]

Armors endurance is something we(my group) have talked about on and off since AD&D, we more or less have come to the consensus that the around the camp fire off camera time people are probably mending their armor and doing other things to keep it from falling apart as a part of wear and tear.  Combined with the idea that in town some off camera time may also be spent getting things back into tip top shape using "petty cash".  Then again we are not terribly interested in doing a whole mess of accounting so we tend to not worry about supplies and what not unless it is story specific lost in the wilderness stranded on an island you know that sort of thing.  We assume our characters have core adventuring competencies(IE restocking on arrows and rations in town).   

[Big_Jim]

Minor armor wear and tear repair is all part of the prudence tax.

[Nova]

Armor, like most items, is very tough compared to what it protects. But with specific damage types and also AoE's, you should probably take a look and see if the damage is high enough that the armor needs to roll.

 A 2d6 force strike, no point bothering. 20+ AoE (I'd say apply the blast rule if an AoE was larger than you, whether its 'just' a beam-breath or a fireball) damage of some type that isn't sneak or cold/heat? You may wanna check; something might've disintegrated a little while saving its wearer's life.

[aegis]

I like the idea of spending an AD on a crit to make the damage also affect armor.

[paddyfool]

Yep, short of acid damage, the axe basics feat and other special cases, there's no need to worry about armour damage in combat.

[mach1.9pants]

I like the idea of spending an AD on a crit to make the damage also affect armor.

Yeah this is a good idea IMO, but tracking armour damage goes right there with tracking number of arrows and rations, I did it when I was a kid but just cannot be bothered now!

[Krensky]

Well, I do track ammo. Ask my Runelord players why it's a good thing.