Studded Leather +1 vs. Leather +2

[Kai van Lopik]

Since I have both a Studded Leather Armor +1 and a Leather Armor +2, I
was wondering which of the two is better? Armor Class is the same for
both, but the manual contains some extra qualities on the two types of
armor:
Leather +2 vs. piercing
Studded Leather -2 vs. slashing, -1 vs. piercing
Now, are these AC modifiers (i.e. Studded Leather adds some extra
protection) or do they follow the standard AD&D convention of "minus =
penalty, plus = bonus"?

[Rich C. Velay]

RCV: Standard convention is that a + sign is a bonus and a - sign is a
negative, even if the AC system seems to work backwards... :)
Just remember that the bonuses and penalties listed in the weapons vs
armor types are THAC0 mods, not AC mods; so that leather +2 vs piercing
means your opponent gets a +2 to hit you!
So +1 Studded is vastly superior to +2 Leather, except for the +1 to
saving throws over the studded that leather gives in this case.
The biggest thing, IMO is the piercing, ie arrow damage modifier.
Studded is better than leather at stopping arrows, ie it has +1 magic
bonus and a -1 to enemy THAC0, in effect a - 2 to hit vs AC 7 or an
effective AC of 5, while +2 Leather has a base of AC 8, made two steps
better by the +2 agical adjustment [AC 6] and then a +2 to opponents
THAC0, meaning it is worth AC 8 versus piercing weapons.
All in all, go for the +1 studded over the +2 Leather. Rich

[Rockz]

In article <MPG.11c0b23d8...@nntp-srv.sci.kun.nl>,
K.van...@student.kun.nl says...

> Since I have both a Studded Leather Armor +1 and a Leather Armor +2, I
> was wondering which of the two is better? Armor Class is the same for
> both, but the manual contains some extra qualities on the two types of
> armor:
> Leather +2 vs. piercing
> Studded Leather -2 vs. slashing, -1 vs. piercing
> Now, are these AC modifiers (i.e. Studded Leather adds some extra
> protection) or do they follow the standard AD&D convention of "minus =
> penalty, plus = bonus"?

AC modifiers! I got confused at times and need to exercise the very few
common sense I have :) Leather should be more vulnerable to piercing
weapons than studded leather, right?

[Rich C. Velay]

RCV: yes it is, much more so. Note that just to confuse people <grin>,
the mods listed for armor vs weapons types are expressed as THAC0 mods,
and NOT AC Mods. So that +2 for piercing vs Leather means the opponent
gets +2 to Hit versus it, and NOT that is gives +2 to your AC.
Versus piercing weapons, wearing leather is the same as wearing no
armor at all [AC 8 with a plus 2 to hit equals AC 10, ie base AC.]
Rich