Tiered Equipment or "How to fit Arrows and Antimarter in 60-90 AP"

[Ockham's Spoon]

Re: Tiered Equipment or "How to fit Arrows and Antimarter in 60-90 AP"

 

I have used Piercing Points before to represent weapons slightly better at penetrating armor but not fully Armor Piercing (in our fantasy games, these are usually serrrated blades, which cut nicely but require significant maintenance). If you introduce an armor equivalent (Reduced Piercing Points) that exists only to counteract PP, then you can easily work up archaic, modern, and futuristic gear based on that scheme.

 

For example, medieval weapons and armor are purchased normally. Modern weapons might have 3-6 PP built in, while modern armor would have 3-6 RPP built in. Futuristic might have 6-9 PP built in, and similarly 6-9 RPP for armor. This approach has three benefits IMO:

 

1. It is just a simple addition/subtraction so no Advantages or Limitations come into play which makes accounting simple.

2. It is easy to reconfigure existing weapon write-ups so you can use already published material with only minor changes.

3. It also makes modern/futuristic equipment perform better without a Damage Class arms race, but still allows a sword to be used in futuristic setting without being totally hosed.