House Rule: Armor Proficiency for Armor Cards

[Gamer1066]

Hi all,

I'm proposing the following house rule variant and I'd like to get others thoughts. If you test it out, let me know how it works for you. It comes from an observation that heros without certain armor proficiencies (i.e. wizard, monk, and sorcerer, especially, but also rogue, bard, ranger, and Druid without heavy armor proficiency) can use heavy armor (like half-plate) that they find during a scenario without too many restrictions. Some of these heros can also receive armor from others in their party between scenarios. I think some further restrictions on the armor cards could make the game more interesting (and a bit harder).

With input I received so far on this board and BGG, here is my proposed House Rule that would apply to all armor cards:

For Light Armor and Shield cards: If you are not proficient with light armor, when you reveal or recharge this card, the maximum Combat damage you can reduce is 1. If the card has an option to banish, when you banish this card the maximum damage you can reduce is 2.

For Heavy Armor cards: If you are not proficient with heavy armor, when you reveal or recharge this card, the maximum Combat damage you can reduce is 1. When you banish this card, the maximum damage you can reduce is 2.

This would make light armor or heavy armor proficiency much more meaningful in the game. It would make gaining certain armor proficiencies more important. I think this house rule would make make things more interesting and challenging for spellcasters (the armor and other defensive spells become more imporant, perhaps) and those heros with only light armor proficiency. I've also seen some others complaining about PACG being too easy. Perhaps these armor restrictions would be a helpful addition and could make the game a bit harder (and require more fun trade offs!)

I'm open for input on the utility or usefulness of this House Rule variant for the armor cards.

[Andrew K]

The problem with that is that the armor should be just as effective for everyone as far as protection. Why do I, as a wizard, not stop as much with a chunk of steel as you, a warrior, does with the same chunk?

If I were to house rule it (I wouldn't, I like it as is, considering how rare armor is), I'd probably say non-proficients with Light Armor have to discard instead of reveal / recharge, and the current banish instead of bury.

Lack of heavy proficiency would be bury instead of Reveal / recharge, and banish instead of bury.

Using lighter armor won't drain a wizard as much as heavy armor, so he would have the possible option of using it again later if he cam get it back from his discard.