| Khymerion |
Forgive me if this question has been asked and answered before.
For someone who has been a long time player and GM, the very static AC number has been a been a bugbear for a very long time. The very limited alternate rule of 'rolling the defense instead of just taking 10' more often turns out to be worse than just not rolling at all and with the new rules that are out of Mythic Adventures, this static AC problem grows ever worse.
There is literally only so much armor, natural armor, magical defenses, dodge, and AC that one can realistically stack before either the budget for a major kingdom is maxed out or the suspension of disbelief begins to fray out. Honestly, how many times can you really run the city guard/generic humanoid opposition force running in with full plate, tower shields, magical protection, enchantments, buffs, and potion effects running at full to be able to even be able to offer a marginally effective deterrent/speed bump to the average or slightly above average party... especially with all the more advanced books/feats/tools floating about.
So I guess this comes down to this... is there a more active way to defend oneself?
I know that the duelist/swashbuckler has the ability to parry a single attack and there is the snatch arrows feat but is there a more active way to defend oneself? A general parry or dodge ability that is not just a set arbitrary target number? Something available to all classes?
The set number is all fine and good when running mooks and fodder and generic monsters... but not so good if you are trying to run a more dramatic fight. That and it is not always interesting to have everyone running around in half the magic item section's defensive items... but when the only option is either that or allow the fighter/barbarian/monk machine blender things apart because something has a melee AC of... well... a guy in a T-shirt and shorts.
Even if that guy has dodge, defensive fighting (full defense is completely not an option because all that does is allow the players to just wail on him at their own leisure looking for 20), combat expertise (now nerfed to uselessness), and most other tricks seems to make mr. not wearing a full suit of armor and all the magic items and spells not much of a challenge to slaughter.
Since I know 'Lol, magic invisibility flying wizard' is an option (a rather boring one honestly)... please don't include that since it does not really lend towards a very interesting and dynamic melee fight...
You know, something more than just two bits of metal just standing and whacking at each other till one runs out of HP.
Also, I know spring attack and reach weapons are in there... and the always stay moving to keep someone from getting more than a single attack... yes yes... but that still does not fix the problem of people tending to only needing anything but a miserable roll to hit with their first and primary attack (since a good number love to depend on Vital Strike thanks to spring attack shenanigans) for monstrous damages.
Thanks, any help on making things a bit more interesting and dynamic in a fight between players and major NPCs would be appreciated.
Sorry for the sarcasm... just a bit tired and frustrated.