Message:
With 7000 character classes it isn't simpler.
They just sloughed it off to the Ref to do all the work.
Original D&D was a mess editorially to be sure but descending AC was a a IQ test for the players. If you couldn't understand that, you probably shouldn't be playing.
But, then I / me struggle with the pronoun nonsense.
Yours,
IronConrad
24-Jan-2023