Shattered Kingdoms

I've had to deal with this IC a few times, with characters (usually giants worried about weight cap) saying they want to swich to energy, so apparently this isn't common knowledge anymore. I'm guessing due to the decreasing number of veterans around.

Despite the fact that good adamantite/diamond and energy 'compare' as equally protective, heavy armor has certain behind the curtains bonuses that make it a lot more protective than energy.

For example, a swashbuckler in energy armor does not have as much AC as a mercenary/barb in addy/diamond.

These 'behind the curtains' benefits of heavy armor were part of why Finesse was created as a skill, iirc.

I thought they did give the same Armor Class, but adamantite gave the coveted "heavy armor bonus" which was a hefty chunk of damage reduction when you do get hit.

But a barbarian wear not-heavy armor, with mastered toughness, is just fine. This is a good way to drop some weight.

Actually, I'm not 100% on this. I'm about 67% sure, so it is worth people testing.

Mastered toughness at GM was about equal to Tanso in effectiveness, wasn't it?

And when your AC gets checked, it checks the highest score. So if you're wearing silk for some reason, toughness will be checked. But if your wearing addy then the armor gets checked not toughness. Toughness doesn't stack with worn armor.

Toughness is better than tanso.

I don't think it is. Tanso is actually pretty good and only a nudge below diamond and adamantite. I think a warrior is best served in tanso then even energy.

ITT: Still people that don't understand the concept of armor class.

Teach us oh great Yoda!