AC improving [Archive] - Wizards Community

AC improving [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Master Agnald
09-21-04, 11:32 PM I like making fighting melee characters, and, for that, it's always good to have a very high armor class, if I want my character to survive... such search for the highest AC possible is driving me crazy, so I wish you people could help me out on this one...
Currently, my character has:
+12 from a mythral demonic armor
+4 from a mythral lion shield
+3 dexterity bonus (armor limited)
+1 natural armor (half-fiend bonus)
Total AC: 30.
Which can be increased for 13 turns by casting unholy aura, giving me an AC of 34.
Thanks in advance.
wolfhawk
09-22-04, 12:34 AM Defending weapon,
Combat expertise
Ioun stone
Amulet of natural armor
Boots of speed (for the haste bonus)
Ring of blinking (yes, it's not ac, just a miss chance)
Ring of protection
Master Agnald
09-22-04, 01:05 AM Interesting... do you have an idea of how much this stuff would cost?
Land Outcast
09-22-04, 02:47 AM Amulet of natural armor Dosn't stack with bonus from half-fiend
Ring of blinking (yes, it's not ac, just a miss chance)
Ring of protection Is a bonus to the saves

Defending weapon in off hand (TWF)
Combat expertise
Ioun stone
Amulet of natural armor (+1 to +5)
Boots of speed (for the haste bonus)
+13 from a mythral +5 full plate armor (+Fortification, it reduces crits or sneak att.)
+4 from a mythral lion shield (Add animated so you can use 2 weapons)
+3 dexterity bonus (armor limited)
- natural armor (half-fiend bonus)

Munchkin I have sinned
Damaskenos
09-22-04, 03:55 AM Amulet of natural armor Dosn't stack with bonus from half-fiendActually, a natural armor enhancement bonus does stack with a natural armor bonus. (see PHB3.5 p.310, natural armor bonus)

Ring of protection Is a bonus to the saves Protection: This ring offers continual magical protection in the form of a deflection bonus of +1 to +5 to AC.

Nope, it grants AC. A cloak of resistance, for example, would grant a bonus to saves.

...
so I wish you people could help me out on this one...Feat: Dodge
Baron Rod
09-22-04, 05:27 AM [QUOTE=Land Outcast]Amulet of natural armor Dosn't stack with bonus from half-fiend
Ring of blinking (yes, it's not ac, just a miss chance)
Ring of protection Is a bonus to the saves

I not sure what rock you came out from when you wrote your reply, but first, a Amulet of Natural Armor does stack with Natural armor of a creture. The Amulet is a enhancement bouns just like that of magic armor. Second, the Ring of Protection is a deflection bouns to Armor class, not saves. The standard save bouns is resistance.

Now if the guy who wrote this is really some kind of arcane spell caster like he said his chance of spell failure would be pretty high wearing Plate armor and shield. But that is his decision if he wants that kind of spell failure chance. Me I would not take that kind of risk.
wtfpwned
09-22-04, 08:35 AM Look in the Arms and Equip guide. Somewhere near the front in the new armors section there is a very spiffy pair of bracers that grant a crappy ac bonus that stacks with both shields and existing armor. So ya can enchant those as well to give ya few more points of AC.
darczero
10-03-04, 02:28 AM Hate to be more of a munchkin than others on this board, but consider lighter armor for a moment.

While its armor bonus is less, its Maximum Dexterity Bonus tends to be higher.

Also, there were two armor pieces from Oriental Adventures that stacked with certain light armor pieces (and shields) and could be separately enchanted as magic armor.

Increase the number of items that give you bonuses, not just the bonuses themselves.
Nagarhi
10-03-04, 04:10 AM AC +13 - Mithril Full plate +5 of halfweight and nimbleness (+5 max dex )
AC +18 - Dexterity 20
AC +23 - Amulet of Natural Armor +5
AC +28 - Ring of Protection +5
AC +36 - Animated extreme shield +5

Total AC 46, and that is just the normal easy stuff. You can add racial natural AC, Dodge bonus, Insight and Luck bonuses to AC (easily another +11 or more to AC there alone)....All you need it one massive pile of gold and a very friendly wizard to make/sell you all these awesome magical items.
Sisyfos
10-03-04, 09:06 AM Check the "King:AC" link in my signature for ideas on how to boost your AC.

Sisyfos
Mirtek
10-03-04, 09:54 AM Having a too high AC usually doesn't pay off, as the really nasty critter will still always hit you anyway.

Better get a medium AC and instead of wasting to many ressources at improving AC, better improve your offense.

AC 35 sounds awesome, until you realize that the AB +38 opponents hit you just as easily as the AC 16 guy, but since the millions you invested into your AC, the AC 16 invested into his attack, he will be able to repay the hits.
Sisyfos
10-03-04, 10:12 AM Not true... Just get that AC high enough, like that link I referred to with AC around 160+ or something equally ridiculous. There are plenty of ways to get your ac in mid 40s or 50s, which dramatically improve your chances to survive most encounters. And you do not even need millions of gps, just a little know how.

Sisyfos
CatoTurk
10-03-04, 01:54 PM Speaking of monsters with uber high attack, miss chance is awsome. No matter how high his attack he'll miss ya 20 or so % of the time.
wolfhawk
10-03-04, 09:15 PM Not true... Just get that AC high enough, like that link I referred to with AC around 160+ or something equally ridiculous. There are plenty of ways to get your ac in mid 40s or 50s, which dramatically improve your chances to survive most encounters. And you do not even need millions of gps, just a little know how.

Sisyfos
Actually, beyond a certain point, AC ceases to matter. For instance, I tweaked a fighter to attack 8 times a round with paired vorpal weapons. Since the vorpal ability happens on a natural 20 on the attacks roll (which always hits anyway), this character didn't have to worry about the massive penalties to hit high-ac monsters. I even tweaked a monk out with 9 vorpal attacks (at only level 16, if I am remembering right). Unless you are playing with fumble rules, this character could combat expertise for 5, generally with no downside.
Norseman
10-03-04, 09:27 PM No matter how high your AC is, a fireball will still burn you.
masterofmayhem
10-03-04, 10:07 PM Speaking of monsters with uber high attack, miss chance is awsome. No matter how high his attack he'll miss ya 20 or so % of the time.
I cannot agree more. A 50% miss chance saved my life against a golem with a +28 or so to hit against my 30 AC. I was only hit once, when he had 5 attacks. That one hit almost killed me, though.

Actually, beyond a certain point, AC ceases to matter. For instance, I tweaked a fighter to attack 8 times a round with paired vorpal weapons. Since the vorpal ability happens on a natural 20 on the attacks roll (which always hits anyway), this character didn't have to worry about the massive penalties to hit high-ac monsters. I even tweaked a monk out with 9 vorpal attacks (at only level 16, if I am remembering right). Unless you are playing with fumble rules, this character could combat expertise for 5, generally with no downside.
That's what miss chance and luck rerolls are for. Some people also play that fortification stops vorpal.
No matter how high your AC is, a fireball will still burn you.
Not if you have a +40 reflex save and evasion. Now hold person, that is a different matter entirely. ;)
wolfhawk
10-03-04, 10:54 PM That's what miss chance and luck rerolls are for. Some people also play that fortification stops vorpal.

I agree on the miss chance, IMO it is perhaps the most overlooked thing in the game, but the 20th level monk version I was talking about ignored most miss chances due to his favorite weapons having the seeking ability. I pulled out my 3.0 and checked the 3.5 SRD, and the luck domain, at least, only grant's rerolls on rolls you make, so the monk's attack would be unaffectable. I don't claim that there aren't other sources that could force a reroll (I even know of one PrC from mongoose that allows the character to dictate once/day what someone else's roll will be, (unless they can reroll)).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Master Agnald 09-21-04, 11:32 PM	I like making fighting melee characters, and, for that, it's always good to have a very high armor class, if I want my character to survive... such search for the highest AC possible is driving me crazy, so I wish you people could help me out on this one... Currently, my character has: +12 from a mythral demonic armor +4 from a mythral lion shield +3 dexterity bonus (armor limited) +1 natural armor (half-fiend bonus) Total AC: 30. Which can be increased for 13 turns by casting unholy aura, giving me an AC of 34. Thanks in advance.
wolfhawk 09-22-04, 12:34 AM	Defending weapon, Combat expertise Ioun stone Amulet of natural armor Boots of speed (for the haste bonus) Ring of blinking (yes, it's not ac, just a miss chance) Ring of protection
Master Agnald 09-22-04, 01:05 AM	Interesting... do you have an idea of how much this stuff would cost?
Land Outcast 09-22-04, 02:47 AM	Amulet of natural armor Dosn't stack with bonus from half-fiend Ring of blinking (yes, it's not ac, just a miss chance) Ring of protection Is a bonus to the saves Defending weapon in off hand (TWF) Combat expertise Ioun stone Amulet of natural armor (+1 to +5) Boots of speed (for the haste bonus) +13 from a mythral +5 full plate armor (+Fortification, it reduces crits or sneak att.) +4 from a mythral lion shield (Add animated so you can use 2 weapons) +3 dexterity bonus (armor limited) - natural armor (half-fiend bonus) Munchkin I have sinned
Damaskenos 09-22-04, 03:55 AM	Amulet of natural armor Dosn't stack with bonus from half-fiendActually, a natural armor enhancement bonus does stack with a natural armor bonus. (see PHB3.5 p.310, natural armor bonus) Ring of protection Is a bonus to the saves Protection: This ring offers continual magical protection in the form of a deflection bonus of +1 to +5 to AC. Nope, it grants AC. A cloak of resistance, for example, would grant a bonus to saves. ... so I wish you people could help me out on this one...Feat: Dodge
Baron Rod 09-22-04, 05:27 AM	[QUOTE=Land Outcast]Amulet of natural armor Dosn't stack with bonus from half-fiend Ring of blinking (yes, it's not ac, just a miss chance) Ring of protection Is a bonus to the saves I not sure what rock you came out from when you wrote your reply, but first, a Amulet of Natural Armor does stack with Natural armor of a creture. The Amulet is a enhancement bouns just like that of magic armor. Second, the Ring of Protection is a deflection bouns to Armor class, not saves. The standard save bouns is resistance. Now if the guy who wrote this is really some kind of arcane spell caster like he said his chance of spell failure would be pretty high wearing Plate armor and shield. But that is his decision if he wants that kind of spell failure chance. Me I would not take that kind of risk.
wtfpwned 09-22-04, 08:35 AM	Look in the Arms and Equip guide. Somewhere near the front in the new armors section there is a very spiffy pair of bracers that grant a crappy ac bonus that stacks with both shields and existing armor. So ya can enchant those as well to give ya few more points of AC.
darczero 10-03-04, 02:28 AM	Hate to be more of a munchkin than others on this board, but consider lighter armor for a moment. While its armor bonus is less, its Maximum Dexterity Bonus tends to be higher. Also, there were two armor pieces from Oriental Adventures that stacked with certain light armor pieces (and shields) and could be separately enchanted as magic armor. Increase the number of items that give you bonuses, not just the bonuses themselves.
Nagarhi 10-03-04, 04:10 AM	AC +13 - Mithril Full plate +5 of halfweight and nimbleness (+5 max dex ) AC +18 - Dexterity 20 AC +23 - Amulet of Natural Armor +5 AC +28 - Ring of Protection +5 AC +36 - Animated extreme shield +5 Total AC 46, and that is just the normal easy stuff. You can add racial natural AC, Dodge bonus, Insight and Luck bonuses to AC (easily another +11 or more to AC there alone)....All you need it one massive pile of gold and a very friendly wizard to make/sell you all these awesome magical items.
Sisyfos 10-03-04, 09:06 AM	Check the "King:AC" link in my signature for ideas on how to boost your AC. Sisyfos
Mirtek 10-03-04, 09:54 AM	Having a too high AC usually doesn't pay off, as the really nasty critter will still always hit you anyway. Better get a medium AC and instead of wasting to many ressources at improving AC, better improve your offense. AC 35 sounds awesome, until you realize that the AB +38 opponents hit you just as easily as the AC 16 guy, but since the millions you invested into your AC, the AC 16 invested into his attack, he will be able to repay the hits.
Sisyfos 10-03-04, 10:12 AM	Not true... Just get that AC high enough, like that link I referred to with AC around 160+ or something equally ridiculous. There are plenty of ways to get your ac in mid 40s or 50s, which dramatically improve your chances to survive most encounters. And you do not even need millions of gps, just a little know how. Sisyfos
CatoTurk 10-03-04, 01:54 PM	Speaking of monsters with uber high attack, miss chance is awsome. No matter how high his attack he'll miss ya 20 or so % of the time.
wolfhawk 10-03-04, 09:15 PM	Not true... Just get that AC high enough, like that link I referred to with AC around 160+ or something equally ridiculous. There are plenty of ways to get your ac in mid 40s or 50s, which dramatically improve your chances to survive most encounters. And you do not even need millions of gps, just a little know how. Sisyfos Actually, beyond a certain point, AC ceases to matter. For instance, I tweaked a fighter to attack 8 times a round with paired vorpal weapons. Since the vorpal ability happens on a natural 20 on the attacks roll (which always hits anyway), this character didn't have to worry about the massive penalties to hit high-ac monsters. I even tweaked a monk out with 9 vorpal attacks (at only level 16, if I am remembering right). Unless you are playing with fumble rules, this character could combat expertise for 5, generally with no downside.
Norseman 10-03-04, 09:27 PM	No matter how high your AC is, a fireball will still burn you.
masterofmayhem 10-03-04, 10:07 PM	Speaking of monsters with uber high attack, miss chance is awsome. No matter how high his attack he'll miss ya 20 or so % of the time. I cannot agree more. A 50% miss chance saved my life against a golem with a +28 or so to hit against my 30 AC. I was only hit once, when he had 5 attacks. That one hit almost killed me, though. Actually, beyond a certain point, AC ceases to matter. For instance, I tweaked a fighter to attack 8 times a round with paired vorpal weapons. Since the vorpal ability happens on a natural 20 on the attacks roll (which always hits anyway), this character didn't have to worry about the massive penalties to hit high-ac monsters. I even tweaked a monk out with 9 vorpal attacks (at only level 16, if I am remembering right). Unless you are playing with fumble rules, this character could combat expertise for 5, generally with no downside. That's what miss chance and luck rerolls are for. Some people also play that fortification stops vorpal. No matter how high your AC is, a fireball will still burn you. Not if you have a +40 reflex save and evasion. Now hold person, that is a different matter entirely. ;)
wolfhawk 10-03-04, 10:54 PM	That's what miss chance and luck rerolls are for. Some people also play that fortification stops vorpal. I agree on the miss chance, IMO it is perhaps the most overlooked thing in the game, but the 20th level monk version I was talking about ignored most miss chances due to his favorite weapons having the seeking ability. I pulled out my 3.0 and checked the 3.5 SRD, and the luck domain, at least, only grant's rerolls on rolls you make, so the monk's attack would be unaffectable. I don't claim that there aren't other sources that could force a reroll (I even know of one PrC from mongoose that allows the character to dictate once/day what someone else's roll will be, (unless they can reroll)).