Armor class
Encyclopedia
In some role-playing games, armor class (abbreviated AC) is a derived statistic that indicates how difficult it is to land a successful blow on a character with an attack. It represents either a character's protective equipment, ability to dodge attacks, or a combination of the two.
In earlier versions of Dungeons & Dragons
, a lower AC indicated that a creature was more difficult to hit. An unarmored human had an AC of 10, and armor lowered a character's armor class. Powerful creatures would usually have an armor class lower than 0.
In Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, a character or monster's ability to strike successfully was indicated by its THAC0, the minimum roll needed on a 20-sided die "To Hit Armor Class 0". The die roll needed to hit other armor classes could be computed by subtracting the armor class from the THAC0. The lower one's THAC0, the more likely a hit would be successful. This system replaced combat tables in the 2nd edition of AD&D, but was officially abandoned in the 3rd edition of D&D (2000).
In third edition D&D, the armor class system was effectively reversed. An unarmored human still had an AC of 10, but wearing additional armor and/or wielding a shield increased armor class. Thus, a creature with an AC of 0 in second edition would have an armor class of 20 in third edition, and vice versa. This system persists into the fourth edition rules. A wide range of factors affects armor class in both systems, including a character's dexterity, use of various combat techniques (such as forms of parrying), and the quality and material composition of the armor worn.
The concepts of armor class and hit points originated in a set of American Civil War naval rules. Dungeons & Dragons
co-creator Dave Arneson
adopted the concepts in miniatures games that he ran shortly before the first edition of D&D was written.
Numerous Dungeons & Dragons-derived role playing and computer games
use a similar armor class system. Many games with unrelated systems use the term to represent a character's ability to avoid damage or reduce damage taken.
In earlier versions of Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
, a lower AC indicated that a creature was more difficult to hit. An unarmored human had an AC of 10, and armor lowered a character's armor class. Powerful creatures would usually have an armor class lower than 0.
In Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, a character or monster's ability to strike successfully was indicated by its THAC0, the minimum roll needed on a 20-sided die "To Hit Armor Class 0". The die roll needed to hit other armor classes could be computed by subtracting the armor class from the THAC0. The lower one's THAC0, the more likely a hit would be successful. This system replaced combat tables in the 2nd edition of AD&D, but was officially abandoned in the 3rd edition of D&D (2000).
In third edition D&D, the armor class system was effectively reversed. An unarmored human still had an AC of 10, but wearing additional armor and/or wielding a shield increased armor class. Thus, a creature with an AC of 0 in second edition would have an armor class of 20 in third edition, and vice versa. This system persists into the fourth edition rules. A wide range of factors affects armor class in both systems, including a character's dexterity, use of various combat techniques (such as forms of parrying), and the quality and material composition of the armor worn.
The concepts of armor class and hit points originated in a set of American Civil War naval rules. Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
co-creator Dave Arneson
Dave Arneson
David Lance "Dave" Arneson was an American game designer best known for co-developing the first published role-playing game , Dungeons & Dragons, with Gary Gygax, in the early 1970s...
adopted the concepts in miniatures games that he ran shortly before the first edition of D&D was written.
Numerous Dungeons & Dragons-derived role playing and computer games
Computer Games
"Computer Games" is a single by New Zealand group, Mi-Sex released in 1979 in Australia and New Zealand and in 1981 throughout Europe. It was the single that launched the band, and was hugely popular, particularly in Australia and New Zealand...
use a similar armor class system. Many games with unrelated systems use the term to represent a character's ability to avoid damage or reduce damage taken.
External links
- D&D Glossary at wizards.com