Alternate Armor System

[Manly Man]

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Final Fantasy d20 Alternate Armor Rules
While the normal rules for armor in Pathfinder, and by proxy Final Fantasy d20, are relatively simple and straightforward, something to consider is that this is Final Fantasy d20, and things like Armor Class don’t fit quite right. For those who want an experience closer to a traditional Final Fantasy game, these rules present a closer fit, although they in turn offer complexities not present in the base game.

Defense Score
When using this rules variation, you do not have an Armor Class. Instead, your defensive capabilities are represented with a Defense score and damage reduction.

To determine a Defense score, you have a total of 10 + shield bonus + Dexterity modifier + any other bonuses you may have. This represents how hard you are to hit effectively, taking into account things like dodging and fending off blows with your shield, similar to one’s touch AC. Circumstances that would cause you to lose your Dexterity bonus to your Armor Class or cause you to be flat-footed also deny you your Dexterity bonus and shield bonus to your Defense score. When using a shield with which you are not proficient, you apply the shield’s armor check penalty to your shield bonus, as well as the normal penalties for non-proficiency. The penalty for non-proficiency also applies to your flat-footed Defense score; the shield in such cases is more of a hindrance than a help, getting in the way instead of blocking oncoming blows.

To determine damage reduction, you add the bonuses offered by your armor. You also gain a +1 bonus to your damage reduction for every five levels when wearing armor. With standard equipment, the damage reduction offered is DR/adamantine or magic. The materials used to make the armor have an affect on what bypasses the damage reduction, as seen on the table below.

Creatures that traditionally have natural armor bonuses to Armor Class also enjoy the benefits of damage reduction. Those with other forms of innate damage reduction not granted by armor or natural armor gain better kinds of damage reduction. As well, creatures wearing armor that have natural armor add the damage reduction granted by their armor to the total damage reduction provided by their natural armor.

The AC bonus class feature of the black belt, dancer, monk, and ninja is added to both the character’s Defense Bonus and their damage reduction; treat it as magical armor for purposes of damage reduction.