![]() Alternatively, you could cut the damage you’re taking by one-third using the Dodge action. If you boost to 19 Armor Class, you can achieve a small benefit from Shell Defense. As you can see, you would actually be taking more damage/round if you used Shell Defense. That’s where you will see the comparison at 17 Armor Class. Take a look at the far left of the graph. In melee, you’re better dodging.Įxample: Level 1 Attacker 16 STR 2-Handed Longsword (+5 attack, 1d10+3 damage): However, this benefit will erode against higher level monsters, and Shell Defense will again fall behind doing nothing in damage reduction.Ĭonsider this: the baseline for comparison shouldn’t be “doing nothing.” The rules already allow you to burn your action to achieve a defensive benefit with the Dodge action. The Fighter and Ranger’s Defense Fighting Style do not stack with the Tortle’s natural armor, since the fighting style requires the player to be wearing armor.īoosting your Armor Class to 19 will allow you to achieve a marginal damage/round benefit over doing nothing.The Barbarian and Monk’s Unarmored Defense do not stack with the Tortle’s natural armor the rules require the player to select one method of calculating Armor Class.The Tortle would need a Dexterity of 20+ to surpass its base Armor Class with this spell. The Mage Armor spell does not stack with the Tortle’s natural armor.The Haste spell will increase your Armor Class (+2 AC), but it’s a silly thing to cast on a character that will be foregoing all of its actions.The Shield of Faith spell will increase your Armor Class (+2 AC), but it requires concentration. Using a spell that requires concentration to boost your Armor Class obviates maintaining concentration on a spell that actually does something while you’re shelled up (more on this later).The only practical way to increase Tortle Armor Class is by using a shield (+2 AC). At the Tortle’s base 17 Armor Class (AC), using Shell Defense is worse than doing nothing against a melee attacker. The Shell Defense mechanic provides as follows:īeing prone gives melee attackers advantage, which counteracts the Armor Class bonus. Especially something as iconic as a turtle hiding in its shell. Racial bonuses should provide a greater benefit than players can realize from the basic rules. The problem with Shell Defense is that it is inferior by a basic game mechanic: Dodge. That in itself is a sign of good design, but not enough. Like many things in D&D, it is situationally good. Included in this class was a mechanic called Shell Defense. Back in September of 2017, D&D released the Tortle Package on the DM’s Guild in conjunction with the Extra Life event to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network. ![]()
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