Has anyone tried to run D&D campaigns in BECMI in settings where the PCs don't have access to steel or iron age equipment?

One problem with such campaigns is that D&D is designed around characters having access to chain or plate mail armor.

In terms of actual play, this penalizes the Fighter, Cleric, Dwarf, Elf and Halfling classes. It also means that these classes will have a much lower AC than in a standard campaign. This could potentially change the dynamic of combat dramatically, especially since these are the classes that will usually engage the most in close combat.

One possibility is to include variant-classes like the I have detailed in this thread to replace Fighters.

Another option would be to give other compensations to low armored characters of these classes.

A third option would be to make use of the partial armor rules introduced in various Hollow World sourcebooks.

How would you handle the BECMI rules in such a campaign?


-Havard

Its really only a problem if the stone/bronze-age culture is clashing with one of a higher tech/progress level.

If the campaign is self-contained, then just use weapons as-is (if somewhat trimmed), and maybe ditch chainmail, if in bronze-age, and only allow leather if at stone-age.

The issue of the AC that is independent from the experience / level / fighting prowess but depends only on Dex and armour is one of the inherent issues of D&D. Happens.