BASIC D20 DEFENSEIn Basic d20, there are two skills that relate to a character’s defensive abilities, Dodge and Parry. A
character’s skill ranks in Dodge relate to his defense against ranged weaponry while skill in Parry relates
to defense in melee combat. Characters can also use various armor and shield types to increase theirdefensive capabilities as well. The defense bonuses derived from skill ranks in Dodge and Parry operate
like the Defense Bonus as described in Unearthed Arcana (among other places). The default system inBasic d20 is to use the higher of the character’s Defense Score or Armor Class when an opponent
attacks. Anytime the character would be denied the Dexterity bonus to AC, they are also denied theirDodge or Parry skill rank bonus to AC (but they can still use their armor and shield bonuses). However,the Dodge or Parry skill rank bonus to AC applies to touch attacks (whereas the armor and shieldbonuses don’t apply). This document will clarify the interaction between these various bonuses andoffer a new way of combining a character’s defense bonus from Dodge or Parry skill ranks with armorand shield bonuses.

DODGE AND PARRY DEFENSE BONUSES
The table below shows the recommended defense bonuses given a character’s skill ranks in Dodge andParry. The defense bonus derived from Dodge only applies when the character is under attack by aranged or missile weapon. The defense bonus derived from Parry only applies when the character isunder attack by a melee weapon or an unarmed opponent. The Dexterity ability score modifier is added
to each of these defense bonuses. Characters with no skill ranks in Dodge or Parry only get their
Dexterity ability score modifier as a defense bonus.
Parry and Dodge
Skill Rank
12345678910

Defense Bonus
Dex + 1Dex + 2Dex + 3Dex + 4Dex + 4Dex + 5Dex + 5Dex + 6
Dex + 6
Dex + 7

Parry and Dodge
Skill Rank
11121314151617181920

1

Defense Bonus
Dex + 7
Dex + 8Dex + 8Dex + 9Dex + 9Dex + 10Dex + 10Dex + 11
Dex + 11
Dex + 12

ARMOR AND SHIELDS
The table below reproduces some parameters from the armor and shield tables in the SRD. Note theone change that has been made. In the SRD, there is a column for “Maximum Dex Bonus.” This has
been changed to “Maximum Defense Bonus.” The significance of this change is that now armor, shield,
and defense bonuses can be combined somewhat. A character with sufficient ranks in Dodge or Parrycan apply the appropriate defense bonus derived from these skills to their AC while wearing armor (upto the limit of the armor type). Shields, other than tower shields, impose no limit to the defense bonus
derived from Dodge and Parry.
Armor Table

Armor
Light Armor
PaddedLeather
Studded Leather
Chain Shirt
Medium Armor
Hide
Scale mail
ChainmailBreastplate
Heavy Armor
Splint mailBanded mailHalf-plate
Full plate

Armor Bonus

Maximum
Defense Bonus

Armor Check
Penalty

5 gp
10 gp
25 gp
100 gp+1+2+3+4+8+6+5+400-1-2

15 gp
50 gp
150 gp200 gp+3+4+5+5+4+3+2+3-3-4-5-4

200 gp
250 gp600 gp1,500 gp

+6+6+7+8+0+1+0+1-7-6-7-6Cost
15 gp
3 gp / 9 gp
7 gp / 20 gp
30 gp

ShieldBonus+1+1+2+4Maximum
Defense Bonus---+2Cost

Shield Table

ShieldBuckler
Light (wd/stl)
Heavy (wd/stl)
Tower

2Armor Check
Penalty-1-1-2-10

APPLICATION
Not all bonuses apply all of the time. As stated before, anytime the character would be denied theDexterity bonus to AC, they are also denied their Dodge or Parry skill rank bonus to AC (but they can still
use their armor and shield bonuses). However, the Dodge or Parry skill rank bonus to AC applies totouch attacks (whereas the armor and shield bonuses don’t apply). The Maximum Defense Bonus due
to armor limits the character even in situations where they are defending against a touch attack.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHERFirst, a couple of formulae:
Combat Statistic
Melee Defense
Ranged Defense

Formula10 + Parry Defense Bonus + Armor Bonus + Shield Bonus + Size Modifier
10 + Dodge Defense Bonus + Armor Bonus + Shield Bonus + Size Modifier

Melee Defense is the Difficulty Class for an opponent to hit you in hand-to-hand combat. It is analogous
to Armor Class but only for melee and unarmed attacks. Ranged Defense is the Difficulty Class for anopponent to hit you with a missile, thrown, or ranged weapon of any sort. It is analogous to Armor Classbut only for attacks from a distance. The Dodge Defense Bonus consists of the Dexterity ability score
modifier and the extra defense bonus gained from having skill ranks in Dodge. The Parry Defense Bonus
consists of the Dexterity ability score modifier and the extra defense bonus gained from having skill
ranks in Parry. Both the Dodge and Parry Defense Bonuses may have an upper limit depending on thetype of armor a character is wearing or if the character is using a tower shield.
Now for some examples:Example #1: A character has a +2 Dexterity, Dodge 7 ranks, Parry 2 Ranks, and is wearing chainmail(armor bonus +5). Chainmail has a Maximum Defense Bonus of +2. Therefore, the character’s Melee
Defense is 17 (10 + Parry Defense Bonus (normally 4, but limited to 2 from the chainmail) + Armor Bonus(5)). The character’s Ranged Defense is also 17 (10 + Dodge Defense (normally 7, but limited to 2 fromthe chainmail) + Armor Bonus (5)). His defense against touch attacks is only 12. If this character isexpecting to get into a whole lot of ranged combat, he should lose the chainmail, because his Ranged
Defense would still be 17 and he’d have more mobility (but his Melee Defense would be 14).
Example #2: The player of the above character decides to find a better armor type, given his character’sranks in Dodge of Parry. His Defense Bonus from Dodge is 7 (Dex + 5) and his Defense Bonus from Parryis 4 (Dex + 2). Looking at the armor table, he notes that leather armor allows a Maximum Defense
Bonus of +6. He decides to start wearing leather armor (even though it makes him look like a thief). His
new Melee Defense is 16 (10 + Parry Defense Bonus (4) + Armor Bonus (2)) and his new Ranged Defense
is 18 (10 + Dodge Defense Bonus (6, the maximum for leather armor) + Armor Bonus (2)). His Ranged
Defense is a little better, his Melee Defense a little worse, but he’s moving faster now, his defense
against touch attacks is much better, and it’s a lot of weight off his shoulders (literally).

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