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Premise: Characters get better at attacks as they progress in levels, as they do saves, and skill checks. What remains fixed (absence increases in ability and/or magic) are Armor Class and Damage. Hard to see how this makes sense.
I would suggest two changes that should be relatively easy to incorporate into the game:
1. Armor Class. Include the class's Base Reflex as bonus to Armor Class and to Reflex Defense. (Note, however, that this applies to instance where the character is wearing armor and shields that the character is proficient with.)
2. Damage. A character more skilled in fighting should know better how to draw a wound. Recommended: +1/2 CL to melee and ranged damage.
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It makes sense to me. I suggested something similar here, but didn't find much enthusiasm from others.
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I agree and I don't. I like the concept, though I think as far as the bonus to AC, use 1/2 CL as well.
My thoughts on that are mainly due to 1) it makes it easier for a DM, (should he choose to employ this) to convert existing monsters and the like. And 2) While yes, the classes more apt to wear lighter armor would be generally be better at dodging blows because they tend to be more Reflex heavy, most of those classes traditionally don't spend a lot of time within arm/tentacle/claw/spell's reach and therefore IMO wouldn't need to worry AS much as say the fighter who spends all day being stabbed/poked/prodded or otherwise within reach of the terrible nasties.
/my opinion
I would prefer level-based AC, and Armor as damge reduction, but then we lose a lot of backwards-compatibility.
To be honest with you, its a lot EASIER to hit a guy in Full Plate, not harder - if you do historical re-enactments you learn this.
The un-armored guy is hard as hell to hit (but goes down quicker when he does get hit).
This is a basic fault of D&D's abstract combat system though, and any change to it would be a major deviation from the 3e rules.
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I would prefer level-based AC, and Armor as damge reduction, but then we lose a lot of backwards-compatibility.
To be honest with you, its a lot EASIER to hit a guy in Full Plate, not harder - if you do historical re-enactments you learn this.
The un-armored guy is hard as hell to hit (but goes down quicker when he does get hit).
This is a basic fault of D&D's abstract combat system though, and any change to it would be a major deviation from the 3e rules.
Well, that is an option in OGL from Unearthed Arcana. It wouldn't be standard in Pathfinder any more than it was in 3.5 but it shouldn't be that unbalanced to just use those rules.
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I agree with the general consensus, the concept of armour as damage reduction and a level based AC bonus is great, just not very D&D.
Heavy armour is of limited advantage to anyone with a dex bonus, as is medium if you take into account the move penalty. This effectively removes the benefit of fighting class’s access to heavier armour (with the exception of full plate and its mighty +8 AC bonus, +9 if you have a dex).
Adding an extra level based AC bonus, especially one that favours dodging types that already benefit from high dex. means your fighter is even more disadvantaged.
This has been rectified with the Pathfinder fighter who can make use of higher dex in heavy armour as they level. Armour training starts at level 3 and can make a real difference.
Your second point about weapon damage is also addressed for the fighter with weapon training. Combine this with the effects of weapon specialisation and greater weapon specialisation and your fighter can do +6 more damage at level 12 (1/2 level).
This doesn’t do much for your barbarian, paladin or ranger, but as they now have other benefits, the humble fighter might get more of a look in, especially when compared to the other splat book fighter types.
I know armour as damage reduction is more realistic, but that’s never appeared to be the main focus of D&D combat. AC and hit points are very abstract as is base attack. Why does strength give you a bonus to hit, if not that you can hack through the thick hide of the dragon? It shouldn’t help you hit a creature with a high dex, but that’s the system.
If you are really keen on a more realistic D20 try Swords and Sorcery A Game of Thrones. Its quite complicated and not really backwards compatible, which is the main drive of Pathfinder.