Post/Author/DateTime	Post
poogie525 11-10-06, 08:54 AM	I need some tips for buffing out my characters AC. So far I have the following: 15 armor bonus (+5 full plate +heavy armor opt and improved) 9 shield (+5 tower shield) 1 dex 5 nat( amulet of natural armor) 5 deflection( ring of prot) 4 dodge( dwarven defender PrC) 1 insight (dusty rose) 5 defending (weapon) =55 then I can get additional ones Defensive stance +4 dodge +1 =60 Could I get my shield animated and get another weapon +5 defending? Also Could I stack mithral with heavy armor opt?
PolasKasDorion 11-10-06, 10:02 AM	From my understanding multiple Shield Bonuses to AC don't stack. You can do some small feat buffs... like Shield Specialization... that'll raise you shield bonus by +1 Also, there's a feat in PHBII that lets you use your shield bonus on your Touch AC. Also... don't remember if it's a knight ability or a feat.. there's Shield Block... it's basically a Dodge for Shield's.. . you angle your shield at someone specific and gain another +1 against them.
frasmage 11-10-06, 10:06 AM	also: -combat expertize +5 dodge -ring of protection +5 deflection -race or template with high nat AC (might I suggest the crucian? +8)
Gorteck 11-10-06, 10:17 AM	Yes you can have Mithril on your Armor but its more costly and it wount do much i think (I dunno im sleepy and im not looking at any books) but try Ring of Blinking and other Miss chanch Items it wount improve you AC but it will have the nme half a MISS chanch agest you and buy Pot of Disapearence sure its kinda expensive but seems like ur rich so go for it ... Its basicly Improve Invis sep u cant be detected besides the means of Pot of Apperence and not many creatures use that tho the only bad effect is it last 2-12 rounds unknown to the creature useing it but i say its time for you to get Miss chanch items and i beleve u could do the Wepon of defending and eveything eles that you stated but like i said im not 100% sure as im sleepy
poogie525 11-10-06, 01:09 PM	I only have one source of a shield bonus. If you are reffering to the defending property it says right in the description that it stacks with all other bonuses. I also forgot but I aleady have a ring of prot +5. I had totally forgot about the combat reflexes feat. I will take that then. As for mithral it should help me get a higher dex bonus to AC. I also can only choose buckler,light,or heavy for the shield specialization. Could you tell me what book I might find the crucian in? As for shield block it is a knight class feature.
frasmage 11-10-06, 01:16 PM	crucian is in the sandstorm supplement (may be elsewhere, but that is the book I have that it is in). It gets a +8 natural armor bonus and a few other perks for a mere LA+2 very breakable
poogie525 11-10-06, 01:32 PM	sweet...I will check it out in like 10 minutes.
TheChilliGod 11-10-06, 01:39 PM	Note that crucian's aren't dwarves, so you'd be losing your Dwarven Defender prerequisite.
Tolby 11-10-06, 01:58 PM	I would look at a broad blade short sword and Combat expertise and improved Combat expertise. Couple with two weapon fighting and two weapon defense. Should bring your base AC to 68 before defensive stance and dodge. However, you will take a -12 to hit. A -4 to hit though will bring the AC to 60. before defensive stance and dodge.
frasmage 11-10-06, 02:02 PM	Note that crucian's aren't dwarves, so you'd be losing your Dwarven Defender prerequisite. true, but what would you prefer: A race that takes 10 levels to get a +4 or one that gives you +8 right off the bat with a mere 2-level loss
TheChilliGod 11-10-06, 02:26 PM	true, but what would you prefer: A race that takes 10 levels to get a +4 or one that gives you +8 right off the bat with a mere 2-level loss 1) I'm sure it's supposed to be a 5-level loss. Crucians have 3 racial HD as well as a +2 LA. So it says on their stat blocks. I'm quite surprised that they neglected to mention it in the "Crucians as Characters" bit. 2) Crucians take -2 to Dex. Meaning -1 AC. Meaning only +7 AC total. 3) Amulet of Natural armor helps make up for the natural armor a dwarf doesn't have, but is useless for crucians. 4) Dwarven Defenders also get Defensive Stance, meaning that they potentially get a +8 dodge to AC. Get me a dwarf anyday!
Raxmei 11-10-06, 02:46 PM	+5 defending armor spikes. You can wield them at the same time as a shield and another defending weapon.
poogie525 11-10-06, 05:20 PM	You can do that with armor spikes? Wow... Improved combat expertise is in the complete warrior right? I think I will just stick with the dwarf(it fits into my campaign) so I could actually make it an 80? with the +20 from improved combat expertise =80 Two weapon defense won't stack with my shield. I know I can't hit but that is not the reason I made this character. Any templates that will help me out?
frasmage 11-10-06, 05:36 PM	templates? you name it - most give you some kind of armor buff try crystalkeep (http://www.crystalkeep.com/d20/rules/DnD3.5Index-Templates.pdf) for a nice long list of options
poogie525 11-10-06, 05:40 PM	I don't know just one that will help with my defenses.
Raymond_Luxury_Yacht 11-10-06, 06:08 PM	3) Amulet of Natural armor helps make up for the natural armor a dwarf doesn't have, but is useless for crucians. As an enhancement bonus to natural armor, it is useful for crucians.
Haiprek 11-10-06, 07:31 PM	No matter how big your AC is, you're still dead when a wizard casts weird. I play a 9 cleric/2 paladin/2 gold knight My saves (which could even be better with more items). Fort 18 Ref 8 Will 22 Additionally, I can burn a turn attempt as an immediate action to gain +4 to any save. Fun eh? That and my AC is a formidable 27 for the level I'm at. But the point is, the best defense is killing them faster than they kill you. At least in my opinion.
Comus 11-10-06, 08:14 PM	I'm actually running a defense specialist right now. Here's what I'm using: Kobold Crusader 4 Kobold gives me a +1 size bonus to AC along with +1 NA and +2 dex (for another +1 to AC). With +1 Chitin Fullplate, I'm getting a +9 armor bonus, and currently a +1 dex bonus (though this will improve). A +1 Tower Shield gives me a +5, and shield specialization adds +1 to that. AC = 28 (10 +1 size +1 nat +9 armor +1 dex +6 shield) Additonally, and more importantly, Steely Resolve lets me delay up to ten points of damage each turn. With the feat Stone Power, I can get temporary HP by lowering my attack bonus. Combined, I ignore the first ten points I take. With my two stances, I can either choose to get a +2 bonus to AC, or heal 2 points of damage with each successful attack. Maneuvers suppliment the strategy, mostly stuff to heal, improve everyone's chance to hit, and Sheild Block to cover for my friends. Haven't been playing it long, but it's a lot of fun.
frasmage 11-10-06, 08:37 PM	allow me to just say that crucian is undoubtably the highest AC at low levels. I broke 30 at level three, without even trying! 10+ 8 (nat) +8 (full plate) +4 (tower shield) =30 and that doesn't toy with any spells, feats or anything - just staight up unhittable at low levels PS: crucian does NOT have racial HD, btw
TheChilliGod 11-10-06, 09:19 PM	PS: crucian does NOT have racial HD, btwDoes too. I invite you to look at the actual stat block for the creature. In either Sandstorm or the Miniature's Handbook (both contain this creature). Both say, right after "Hit Dice," 3d8+9. Since the monsters stat block supersedes any descriptive text (ask any errata file), crucians have 3 racial HD. The "Crucians as characters" tab fails to mention that, s'all.
poogie525 11-11-06, 04:32 AM	You cannot use shield specialization with a tower shield. As for the crusader I will have to look into that. Book of the nine swords right?
Comus 11-11-06, 11:33 AM	You cannot use shield specialization with a tower shield. As for the crusader I will have to look into that. Book of the nine swords right? Huh. Never noticed you couldn't use it with a tower shield. Doesn't matter, as it'd be worth taking just to get Shield Ward (which doesn't specify shield types, nor does it say you need to use the shield you're specialized in).