AC when restricted to light armor [Archive] - Wizards Community

AC when restricted to light armor [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Rolof
11-23-05, 10:13 PM I'm playing a ranger, only level 4 so far, and not looking to
come up with some insane AC build, I just want a little bit
of input on what might be good to do. When I first created
the character, I had 18 dex (+4) and masterwork studded
leather (+3) for 17, with no armor check penalties. I'm new
to playing 3.5 but experienced with D&D in general, with
all the new rules I'm a little less sure of myself as to what
is best.

The other players told me to take the chain shirt+1 that we
managed to get, but I was wondering is there a way to do
better without any skill penalties for armor checks short of
getting a mithral shirt, which I can't afford. By the way, I
haven't had a chance to ask the DM, and I only own the
player's. I know that masterwork armor reduces penalties
by 1, but what about magical armor? I couldn't find info on
this in the player's, except that magic equipment is auto-
masterwork...does the +1 bonus also subtract from checks?
(example: chain shirt is -2 on checks, but only -1 if master
so is it 0 then if it's magical and +1?)

I'm thinking I should definitely get a darkwood buckler, as
it won't interfere with anything else I do (archer path, not
dual-wield). And maybe a ring of protection or something
when I can afford it...other than that I'm not sure.
X-Codes
11-23-05, 10:22 PM http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/tt/20050321a
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/tt/20050328a

That covers just about everything. If you are also interesting in dipping into another class then...

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=320889

Careful, however, since most of those will actually limit your armor selections further (to none).

Also, at level 4 a -1 ACP is nothing. No, the enhancement bonus doesn't reduce the ACP, but you can likely bribe your DM into allowing a +1 enhancement that increaces Max Dex by +1 and reduces ACP by -1.
Rolof
11-23-05, 11:23 PM Thanks, that was helpful. One question though. According
to the special materials info, making armor from mithril
makes it one category lower, ie, from say medium to light.
So in theory, I could get a mithril breastplate, and not be
penalized, right? (As a ranger, I know there'd still be some
ACP to deal with...I'm thinking of higher levels here, where
I want care so much about the ACP, and the extra AC just
might be worth it.

"The best armors? Mithral breastplate for the barbarian (for movement), adamantine full plate for clericswho will love the damage reduction provided; mithral chain shirt for rangersand rogues who want a really high maximum Dexterity bonus" -Tactics and
Tips from Wizards
Anguirus23
11-23-05, 11:48 PM Certainly. You might look up Celestial Armor in the DMG as well.
X-Codes
11-23-05, 11:53 PM A Mithril Breastplate has an armor bonus of +5 and the same Max Dex bonus. A Mithril Chain Shirt has an armor bonus of +4 and a Max Dex bonus of +6, plus it's lighter, cheaper, and doesn't have the -1 ACP.

Yes, since you are a ranger you should go with the Chain Shirt. While the Max Dex bonus doesn't apply to anything other than Armor Class, it boosts your Touch AC a little (which is much more helpful than boosting flat-footed AC).

Theres also the Celestial Armor in the DMG. It's +3 already, but has a +8 armor bonus and a +8 max dex bonus. Even considering it has the +3 bonus built-in, this is the best armor in the core game for someone who can fill out the Max Dex.

However, if it's at all possible you should try to change the base item to Mithral Full Plate. This would definately take a DM ruling and jumps the price of the armor up another 10k, but the bonuses are all-around better (and would definately make it the best armor in the game for a dexterity-focused character). Beware, however, since this idea exists entirely in the "nothing says you can't" school of thinking (the kinds of ideas that are the first to be shot-down by DMs).
Aramas
11-24-05, 10:02 AM [QUOTE=X-CodesAlso, at level 4 a -1 ACP is nothing. No, the enhancement bonus doesn't reduce the ACP, but you can likely bribe your DM into allowing a +1 enhancement that increaces Max Dex by +1 and reduces ACP by -1.[/QUOTE]

There is already an armor enhancement like that published.

Nimbleness is a +1 enhancement modifier that increases the Max Dex bonus of a suit of armor by +2 and reduces the ACP by 1.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rolof 11-23-05, 10:13 PM	I'm playing a ranger, only level 4 so far, and not looking to come up with some insane AC build, I just want a little bit of input on what might be good to do. When I first created the character, I had 18 dex (+4) and masterwork studded leather (+3) for 17, with no armor check penalties. I'm new to playing 3.5 but experienced with D&D in general, with all the new rules I'm a little less sure of myself as to what is best. The other players told me to take the chain shirt+1 that we managed to get, but I was wondering is there a way to do better without any skill penalties for armor checks short of getting a mithral shirt, which I can't afford. By the way, I haven't had a chance to ask the DM, and I only own the player's. I know that masterwork armor reduces penalties by 1, but what about magical armor? I couldn't find info on this in the player's, except that magic equipment is auto- masterwork...does the +1 bonus also subtract from checks? (example: chain shirt is -2 on checks, but only -1 if master so is it 0 then if it's magical and +1?) I'm thinking I should definitely get a darkwood buckler, as it won't interfere with anything else I do (archer path, not dual-wield). And maybe a ring of protection or something when I can afford it...other than that I'm not sure.
X-Codes 11-23-05, 10:22 PM	http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/tt/20050321a http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/tt/20050328a That covers just about everything. If you are also interesting in dipping into another class then... http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=320889 Careful, however, since most of those will actually limit your armor selections further (to none). Also, at level 4 a -1 ACP is nothing. No, the enhancement bonus doesn't reduce the ACP, but you can likely bribe your DM into allowing a +1 enhancement that increaces Max Dex by +1 and reduces ACP by -1.
Rolof 11-23-05, 11:23 PM	Thanks, that was helpful. One question though. According to the special materials info, making armor from mithril makes it one category lower, ie, from say medium to light. So in theory, I could get a mithril breastplate, and not be penalized, right? (As a ranger, I know there'd still be some ACP to deal with...I'm thinking of higher levels here, where I want care so much about the ACP, and the extra AC just might be worth it. "The best armors? Mithral breastplate for the barbarian (for movement), adamantine full plate for clericswho will love the damage reduction provided; mithral chain shirt for rangersand rogues who want a really high maximum Dexterity bonus" -Tactics and Tips from Wizards
Anguirus23 11-23-05, 11:48 PM	Certainly. You might look up Celestial Armor in the DMG as well.
X-Codes 11-23-05, 11:53 PM	A Mithril Breastplate has an armor bonus of +5 and the same Max Dex bonus. A Mithril Chain Shirt has an armor bonus of +4 and a Max Dex bonus of +6, plus it's lighter, cheaper, and doesn't have the -1 ACP. Yes, since you are a ranger you should go with the Chain Shirt. While the Max Dex bonus doesn't apply to anything other than Armor Class, it boosts your Touch AC a little (which is much more helpful than boosting flat-footed AC). Theres also the Celestial Armor in the DMG. It's +3 already, but has a +8 armor bonus and a +8 max dex bonus. Even considering it has the +3 bonus built-in, this is the best armor in the core game for someone who can fill out the Max Dex. However, if it's at all possible you should try to change the base item to Mithral Full Plate. This would definately take a DM ruling and jumps the price of the armor up another 10k, but the bonuses are all-around better (and would definately make it the best armor in the game for a dexterity-focused character). Beware, however, since this idea exists entirely in the "nothing says you can't" school of thinking (the kinds of ideas that are the first to be shot-down by DMs).
Aramas 11-24-05, 10:02 AM	[QUOTE=X-CodesAlso, at level 4 a -1 ACP is nothing. No, the enhancement bonus doesn't reduce the ACP, but you can likely bribe your DM into allowing a +1 enhancement that increaces Max Dex by +1 and reduces ACP by -1.[/QUOTE] There is already an armor enhancement like that published. Nimbleness is a +1 enhancement modifier that increases the Max Dex bonus of a suit of armor by +2 and reduces the ACP by 1.