Editing S&S: Character Creation (section)

==[[S&S: Armor | '''ARMOR''']]==
'''DAMAGE REDUCTION:''' If armor is available at character creation, it must be recorded on the character sheet. Each type of armor offers damage reduction versus most forms of damage. The amount of damage reduction for armor is found on the Armor Damage Reduction Table. Damage reduction is recorded as a minimum and maximum range of numbers for which dice are rolled to determine during combat. 

-For example, Mail Armor without any other form of protection (such as a padded gambeson worn underneath) awards 2-5 points of damage reduction. Mail armor worn over padding awards 4-8 of damage reduction. See the section on "Dice Conventions" to understand what dice may be used to determine the random amount of damage reduction. 

'''CUMULATIVE PROTECTION:''' Reading the above, a reader will quickly realize that armored protection is cumulative, such as in the case of mail armor over the padded gambeson in the example. Know that the last number (the maximum damage reduction amount) is what was used to calculate the first (minimum) number. This was done by simply dividing the maximum number in half and rounding the fraction down. Knowing this, players can easily adjust random damage numbers when protection is increased, such as by means of magic spell, layering armor, donning shields, etc. 

-So, in the case of a character wearing mail armor over padding (D.R. 4-8) that is being protected by a spell that increases damage reduction by 5, the maximum amount would adjust up from 8 to a new amount of 13. The maximum of 13 divided in half to calculate the minimum amount of damage reduction. Half of 13 is 6.5: rounded down is 6. Thus, the new D.R. is 6-13.

'''ARMOR PENALTIES''': Often with increased protection there comes hinderances caused by armor, such as reduced defense bonuses, slowed movement rate, and skill penalties. These penalties are from the weight and the form of the armor. Penalties can be reduced by wearing higher quality armor that is skillfully crafted; made of lighter and/or enchanted materials; gaining levels in related classes that train in armor; expending skill points in an appropriate skill that reduces the penalties; etc. The penalties and penalty reductions must be recorded in the associated spaces of the Character Worksheet. Such penalties can be found on the Armor Damage Reduction Table.