by Solomoriah » Fri Mar 06, 2009 4:11 pm
A compatibility issue that I noted while reviewing an S&W module for Mythmere:
S&W uses AC [AAC] format, where AC + AAC = 19. Thus, an unarmored character has AC 9, AAC 10; a first level fighter hits an unarmored character on a roll of 10 or better.
By comparison, BFRPG uses an ascending AC system, where an unarmored character has an AC of 11. First level fighters get an attack bonus of +1, and thus hit an unarmored character on a roll of 10 or better.
In the BFRPG modules, which are generally compatible with LL and OSRIC, I show BFRPG AC first, then the descending-format LL/OSRIC AC second; this falls down for unarmored characters, which are AC 9 in LL, AC 10 in OSRIC, but otherwise works pretty well. This way, BFRPG AC + LL AC = 20, rather than 19. Thus, an S&W GM using a BFRPG module would need to either (a) use the descending AC system, or (b) deduct 1 from the BFRPG AC. Likewise in reverse, a BFRPG GM using an S&W module would need to add one to the AAC value to get a correct BFRPG figure.
This, combined with the very strict terms of the S&W license, prevents me from adding an S&W compatibility statement to the BFRPG module suite. They'll still work fine if you apply my notes above, but as I understand it I can't publish those notes either since they call out S&W by "name."
