Natural Defense

Astrovolve LARP Mechanic: Natural Defense

Natural Defense is a core mechanic in Astrovolve that represents the innate resilience of certain races or sub-races. It functions as a damage buffer before a character starts taking actual wounds, simulating natural armor, endurance, or magical reinforcement.

How Natural Defense Works

1. Absorbs Hits Before Damage Occurs

   • When a character with Natural Defense is struck, they do not immediately suffer wounds.
   • Instead, their Natural Defense absorbs a set number of hits before actual damage begins.
   
   

2. Innate Resilience (Not Gear-Based)

   • Natural Defense is tied to a character’s race or sub-race, not their equipment.
   • It applies even if the character is unarmored, reflecting their physical durability.
   • This makes it different from worn armor, which provides additional protection on top of Natural Defense.
   
   

3. Race-Specific Values

   Some races have higher Natural Defense due to physical traits or magical enhancements.

   Example

   • A human has 0 Natural Defense (takes damage immediately).
   • A scaled reptilian species may have 8 Natural Defense (ignoring the first 4 hits).
   • A stone-skinned Orku'Divoch might have 10 Natural Defense.

Example: Natural Defense in Combat

Scenario

Orku’Divoch Warrior Without Armor

The Orku’Divoch race has 10 points of Natural Defense due to their tough, stone-like skin. A warrior from this race is struck by a sword 10 times.

Result

The first 10 hits do not injure them (absorbed by Natural Defense). The 11th hit bypasses their resilience and causes a wound.

Key Advantages of Natural Defense

• Encourages Tough Races to be Frontline Fighters

• Prevents Certain Races from Being Too Fragile

This mechanic ensures that tankier races can engage in melee combat effectively without relying solely on armor, making them more viable in LARP battle scenarios.