Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Punisher_Rip 05-31-06, 03:52 PM	What the highest it can go? +5 Mithral Full-Plate +17 +5 Tower Shield +9 +4 AC from Dwarven Defender +5 Natural Armor +5 Ring of Protection +1 from Dodge AC 51. Also is it wise to go with the Amulet of Natural Armor over Con? What other items are good for this build? Carpet of Flying, Cloak of Displacment?
rilem 05-31-06, 05:14 PM	What are you looking for? Saying things like "what's the highest ..." is going to get you records like 100+ Armor Class that may not be right for your PC. Is this PC in play already? What books are allowed? Here's the obvious stuff: • Wear Mechanus Gear (MotP) for +2 AC •*Heavy Armor Optimization, Greater Heavy Armor specialization for another +2 AC •*Use a defending weapon. There is plenty of other stuff — take the Saint Template, levels in Incarnate, Devoted Defender, etc. But we need more data.
RendakorRahn 05-31-06, 05:22 PM	There are bracers in the Dragonomicon (Crimson Dragonhide Bracers IIRC) that give +1 to +5 to natural armor, as well as 5 fire resistance. Also, theres an Ioun Stone that gives a +1 insight. Throw some armor spikes on your fullplate and make them defending. (Plus you're using mithril armor, so you probably get a few more points of AC from dex. If not, I'd drop it for adamantine to get a bit of DR.)
Punisher_Rip 05-31-06, 06:26 PM	I don't know the exact level yet, I think 18th, but everything will be allowed. No exact figure on gold except saying it would be around 300,000. I want a Dwarven Defender cause they seem cool. The armor spikes is a cool idea. It would cut into the money a good bit though. Would it stack with a defending weapon?
jstorrie 05-31-06, 06:36 PM	Dwarves have a dodge bonus versus giants, right? Grab Titan Fighting for a scaling AC bonus against foes larger than you.
Namarus 05-31-06, 06:45 PM	Grab two levels of deep warden for Con to AC.
Punisher_Rip 05-31-06, 06:48 PM	What I am aiming for is a 60 AC. So what is the best to get it to 60 with the least drain on resources.(Money, feats) Plus any other good tips on being a Dwaven Defender. Like how can I help out on offensivilly.
jstorrie 05-31-06, 06:50 PM	Basic shield bashing TWF (uses Races of Stone, Unearthed Arcana, Complete Warrior): Dwarf 1 Monk Improved Unarmed Strike, Improved Grapple. Stunning Fist 2 Monk Combat Reflexes, Evasion 3 Fighter 1 Combat Expertise, Improved Trip 4 Urban Ranger 1 Urban Tracking 5 Urban Ranger 2 Two-Weapon Fighting 6 Urban Ranger 3 Endurance, Defensive Throw 7 Deepwarden Track 8 Deepwarden 9 Fighter 2 Toughness, Dodge 10 Dwarven Defender 11 Dwarven Defender 12 Dwarven Defender Improved Shield Bash 13 Dwarven Defender 14 Dwarven Defender 15 Dwarven Defender Shield Slam 16 Dwarven Defender 17 Dwarven Defender 18 Dwarven Defender Titan Fighting 19 Dwarven Defender 20 Dwarven Defender
Punisher_Rip 05-31-06, 07:01 PM	Is Deep Warden in Complete Warrior? And why the monk levels? Almost all the specail abilities will be negated when I wear Full-Plate.
PhoenixInferno 05-31-06, 07:06 PM	AC 60 seems to be a bit high - at that point, you're spending lots of resources to get not as much benefit, compared to the other forms of defense you're not bolstering (HPs, saves, immunities, resistances, DR, Fast Healing, etc).
jstorrie 05-31-06, 07:07 PM	You won't wear Full Plate in a Deepwarden build - it allows you to use your Con modifier, rather than Dex, to your armor class. You couple light armor with a very high Con for the same AC as a heavy armor wearer, but potentially more hitpoints. Most DMs will rule that max Dex still applies. As an added bonus, if the party wizard Polymorph Others you into a big bruiser, you're likely to have a 26+ Con (but a low Dex.) The advantage here is that with Evasion your party Wizard can safely drop fireballs on top of you; even without evasion, the Monk levels shine for their bonus feats, which are prerequisites for Defensive Throw. They also give a nice +3 bump to all saves. Deepwarden is in Races of Stone.
Punisher_Rip 05-31-06, 07:30 PM	AC 60 seems to be a bit high - at that point, you're spending lots of resources to get not as much benefit, compared to the other forms of defense you're not bolstering (HPs, saves, immunities, resistances, DR, Fast Healing, etc). Your right. I only joined in a game at this high level once. So I am not sure how it will play out. I was under the impression that things we would fight would have to hit bonus of like +40 which is why I was aiming for AC 60. I get a save bonus from the DD stance that doesnt stack with a cloak of resistance, so I am not going after saves. DR is pretty much unstackable and as a DD you get DR/6. I am interested in hitpoints and plan to pump what I can into CON.
jstorrie 05-31-06, 07:40 PM	Surprisingly enough, you won't see many +40s. Even the mighty Balor has a lower attack bonus than its CR.
Punisher_Rip 05-31-06, 07:45 PM	Hmm, I'm pretty good where I am at then. I guess I'll get expertise and use it whenever needed. How much for the crisomhide dragon bracers?
MingThing 05-31-06, 08:52 PM	if ur getting 8 lvl of fighter, u can tace the lvl 8 dwarven fighter substitute class to get a little bonus to ac and hp. its in the races of stone book. And if ur gonna stay in heavy armour, upgrade to dwarven armour: Battle plate. Expencive, but better than heavy armour. or maybe the interlocking plate? dont remember how good that was, but would work nice wit your defencive stance.
RendakorRahn 05-31-06, 09:19 PM	53000gp for the +5 natural armor ones IIRC. Books are at home but I have that value listed on a character sheet in progress I've got on me, so it might be wrong.
EldonG 05-31-06, 09:33 PM	AC 40 is good. AC 50 is incredible. AC 60 is insane. Look at it this way...most things not in the Epic book will need to roll a 20 to hit AC 50. This is true of a great many at AC 40. There are hardly any that hit 60 on better, most all custom.
Punisher_Rip 05-31-06, 09:36 PM	Thanks all.