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I was surprised tonight to find that the max dex modifier pertaining to certain armor types only affects dex based skills and not dex based attacks, I just cant picture someone wearing full plate and trying to handle a bow and arrow as if the weren't wearing any armor. But I read and re- read the rules and it only says the modifier applies to dex based skills. Does anyone have a clarification on this?
You read it right. Don't complicate it.
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I think you're confusing the Max Dex Bonus with the armor check penalty.
Max Dex Bonus is the limitation of how much the wearer can apply his Dexterity Bonus to his AC.
For example, if a character has a Dexterity score of 20, he would have a Dex Modifier of +5. However, if his armor has a max Dex Bonus of 3, then he can only apply +3 to his AC. He loses the last two points of Dex to AC by wearing the armor.
Armor check penalties on the other hand are applied to any Dex or Str based skills.
So if a character has a -4 armor check penalty in his armor, he takes a -4 to any Dex or Str based skill.
Furthermore, if a character is not proficient in the armor he is wearing, he takes that penalty to his attack roll as well.
I was surprised tonight to find that the max dex modifier pertaining to certain armor types only affects dex based skills and not dex based attacks, I just cant picture someone wearing full plate and trying to handle a bow and arrow as if the weren't wearing any armor. But I read and re- read the rules and it only says the modifier applies to dex based skills. Does anyone have a clarification on this?
There is no RAW that says characters with a limited Maximum Dexterity Bonus can only use X of their Dexterity Modifier to hit (where X is the Maximum Dexterity Bonus total) to hit when using Dexterity as their modifier. For balance purposes, it's counter-intuitive to have such a rule, even for cases of light or medium armor, where maneuverability is a bit more open.
However, if the character is not normally proficient with wielding said armor, they do suffer the armor check penalty to attack rolls (this includes Dexterity modifier attack rolls), which may be what you're looking for.
While I am one who finds that having a realistic fantasy (oxymoron much?) is what makes a lot of the mechanics of the game fun, there are times where abstractness of realism and balance must be implemented to keep the game's fun, whereas taking it away makes a concept appear 'lame' and 'weak' and 'stupid'. Feel free to houserule it if you like; it's not really that horrible a rule, since there are methods to increase the Maximum Dexterity Bonus of an armor.
Of course, if you find the book's concept ridiculous, I would recommend you make Mithril and other such 'lighter' materials rare and scarce (probably until maximum level).
Magic is kind of unrealistic. Monsters too. :)
I don't think implementing a penalty to attacks from wearing heavy armor would make the game more fun. I'm sure double moving in full-plate would be extremely difficult, as much as firing a long bow.
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The max Dex bonus does not affect Dex-based skills either!
The only thing it affects is the maximum amount of your Dex bonus that you may apply to your armour class, and to no other use of the Dex bonus whatsoever!
If you really mean 'armour check penalty', then that applies to all Str and Dex-based skills. Additionally, if you are not proficient with the armour you wear, then you also take the ACP as a penalty to all your attack rolls, whether Str or Dex-based.
EDIT:...Pesky ninjas...!
Lol. I am not trying to complicate it. It just seems unrealistic.
Why is it unrealistic to aim really well wearing heavy armor?
Dexterity is not speed (that's Strength) or agility (that's proportional Strength)! Dexterity is precision and fine manipulation!
Whats the problem? This is a none issue. A PC with high dex is not going to wear full plate as it limits their AC from said high dex. Sure they could if they wanted to but its sub-optimal at best and just flat bad most of the time.
You really think some silly rule needs written to prevent someone from doing something that is so bad for their character?
I see what you're saying... Although I never thought about it. I could see a person in leather having an easier time firing a bow than full plate... But it is what it is.
Lol. For simplicity sake... No diff