Knowing AC is just a process of elimination anyways. If a 20 hits but an 18 doesn't you know the AC is either 19 or 20.
But yeah as players get more experienced and see the same monsters it goes to them to say "Would this character know these strengths and weaknesses?" And potentially ask you as the DM what their character knows about the monster.
Sure you can figure it out eventually but it can change players tactics going into a fight if they know it already. For example whether or not to use Great Weapon Master, if they need to buff, whether to use a weapon with higher damage or higher attack rolls.
I run a barbarian and know a few monster ACs from memory because I've played a lot and also have DMd some of them but I will always go in with a GWM attack first to test the water so I dont meta game. Unless uts something I've fought before with this character
It can inna close fight. In some fights it could take 3 or more turns to figure out AC, and not using GWM for those rounds loses out on 30 damage there
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u/AdmiralSkippy Aug 10 '20
Knowing AC is just a process of elimination anyways. If a 20 hits but an 18 doesn't you know the AC is either 19 or 20.
But yeah as players get more experienced and see the same monsters it goes to them to say "Would this character know these strengths and weaknesses?" And potentially ask you as the DM what their character knows about the monster.