Why doesn’t natural armor stack with certain class bonuses? Like lizard folks natural armor bonus and a barbarian AC boost from con?

3 thoughts on “Why doesn’t natural armor stack with certain class bonuses? Like lizard folks natural armor bonus and a barbarian AC boost from con?

  1. D. Walker says:

    “1. Simplicity”
    “2. Stacking several would be too much.”

    Human Cleric: I equip my plate armor.
    DM: Alright, that’s AC 18.
    Human Cleric: Also I grab my shield.
    DM: Okay, that’s +2 for 20 AC.
    Human Cleric: Oh, no – I meant my magic shield.
    DM: Alright, so that’s +2, and then another +1, on top of 18, for 21 AC.
    Human Cleric: Also I cast Shield of Faith.
    DM: Sure – that’s 18 + 2 + 1 + 2 for 23 AC.
    Human Cleric: Also, I’m keeping a spell slot ready to cast Shield when I get hit.
    DM: So that’ll be 18 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 5, for a total of 28 AC the first time you get hit.

    Lizardfolk Rogue: I equip my studded leather armor.
    DM: Alright, your AC is now 12 + your Dexterity bonus of 4.
    Lizardfolk Rogue: Wait… don’t I have natural armor? I add my Constitution too.
    DM: Are you crazy? That’s WAY too complicated! Stacking would be too much!

    *eyeroll*

    • Gabe the DM says:

      Are you implying that stacking natural armor and Con bonus on top of plate + shield + spells would somehow be less complicated?

    • Gabe the DM says:

      Because you’re kind of illustrating the exact point Dan was making; there’s already tons of things that stack AC. The line has to be drawn somewhere, and letting more and more things stack would lead to the 40+ ACs that existed in 3rd edition.

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