AC question [Archive] - Wizards Community

AC question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Mythrivorax
11-14-05, 06:49 PM I have a question about AC. I was wanting to create a turtle (focused more on AC and Con than AC and Str, which would be the tank) character. A plain fighter (core race from PHB), with Con 18, Dex 12. Level 20, and 250000 gp to buy the best magic items that grant some sort of AC bonus.

Now, he wears full plate armor, with a heavy steel shield. I don't want to see anyone tell me about feats like Dodge, or about fighting defensively. I want to get the highest AC and Con from just the use of equipment, not feats, combat maneuvers, or magic spells.

From what I can remember, the bonus to AC from bracers of armor doesn't stack with the bonus from actual armor. If I am wrong, please tell me, as those items would help me greatly. The highest number that I get (amulet of natural armor +6, full plate +5, large steel shield +5, base 10, Dex +1) is 37. If anyone can tell me if there is a way to make it higher with only equipment, I would be thankful.
Centauri
11-14-05, 06:51 PM Use a tower shield.
Nephlite
11-14-05, 06:59 PM I have a question about AC. I was wanting to create a turtle (focused more on AC and Con than AC and Str, which would be the tank) character. A plain fighter (core race from PHB), with Con 18, Dex 12. Level 20, and 250000 gp to buy the best magic items that grant some sort of AC bonus.

Now, he wears full plate armor, with a heavy steel shield. I don't want to see anyone tell me about feats like Dodge, or about fighting defensively. I want to get the highest AC and Con from just the use of equipment, not feats, combat maneuvers, or magic spells.

Do you have high dex? If not Full Plate armor is great. Do you care about accuracy? If not Tower Shield is best shield (extra -2 to hit though) but +4 AC.

From what I can remember, the bonus to AC from bracers of armor doesn't stack with the bonus from actual armor. If I am wrong, please tell me, as those items would help me greatly. The highest number that I get (amulet of natural armor +6, full plate +5, large steel shield +5, base 10, Dex +1) is 37. If anyone can tell me if there is a way to make it higher with only equipment, I would be thankful.

Armor bonus do not stack they overlap: 4 from bracers + 8 + Full plate=8 because the higher overlaps.
Shield bonus do stack with armor bonus.

So +5 Tower Shield adds 2 shield AC more than large steel shield +5.
00_Whupass
11-14-05, 07:07 PM I haven't thought about this to hard but a quick once over on your list of items doesn't include anything with a deflection or insight bonus, so tack on a Ring of Protection and an Ioun Stone. Also get a defending weapon for even more turtly goodness. While its not AC you could also get items to provide concealment such as a Ring of Blur or something.

Here's the caveat I would put on a totally turtle build like this, you won't be a threat to the enemy and they won't be able to hurt you so they'll likely just blow right by you and get at the softer party memebers, at least if there int score is 2 or highier.
MindWandererB
11-14-05, 10:13 PM You can be even more turtlish with the help of Races of Stone. Battle Plate or Mountain Plate require feats to use, but provide slightly more AC bonus. Similarly, the Extreme Shields in that book give a +3 AC bonus, again at the cost of a feat to use with proficiency. And I know you don't want feats, but don't neglect the (Greater) Heavy Armor Optimization feats therein.
Zherog
11-14-05, 10:44 PM Ring of Protection +5 hasn't been mentioned yet for boosting your AC.

you can make the full plate out of Mithral, and then purchase gloves of dex to raise your dex to get a little more AC that way.

You can purchase bracers of health to raise your con by up to +6.

Not really an AC boosting item, but a minor cloak of displacement makes you harder to hit.
zelf_gale
11-14-05, 10:51 PM On the other hand adamantine can give you DR so that you won't take as much damage when you are hit. The fortification armor enhancement can help negate criticals and sneak attacks so it also helps with lowering the damage you take.
SodaGuy
11-14-05, 10:54 PM Remember that mutiple items with smaller bonuses are more cost effective.
Amulet of Natural Armor +2 = 8000gp
Ring of Protection +1 and Amulet of Natural Armor +1 = 4000gp
Armoracia Rusticana
11-15-05, 04:27 AM Improved Expertize - you NEED it. Really.
Defending weapon.
(Greater) Heavy Armor Optimisation.
Multiple AC bonuses - Natural, Deflection, Dodge, perhaps Insight or something... as much as you can afford.

Total Defense and full cover behind your tower shield - and here you go!
Radijs
11-15-05, 06:03 AM There are also sacred bonuses and profane bonuses.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mythrivorax 11-14-05, 06:49 PM	I have a question about AC. I was wanting to create a turtle (focused more on AC and Con than AC and Str, which would be the tank) character. A plain fighter (core race from PHB), with Con 18, Dex 12. Level 20, and 250000 gp to buy the best magic items that grant some sort of AC bonus. Now, he wears full plate armor, with a heavy steel shield. I don't want to see anyone tell me about feats like Dodge, or about fighting defensively. I want to get the highest AC and Con from just the use of equipment, not feats, combat maneuvers, or magic spells. From what I can remember, the bonus to AC from bracers of armor doesn't stack with the bonus from actual armor. If I am wrong, please tell me, as those items would help me greatly. The highest number that I get (amulet of natural armor +6, full plate +5, large steel shield +5, base 10, Dex +1) is 37. If anyone can tell me if there is a way to make it higher with only equipment, I would be thankful.
Centauri 11-14-05, 06:51 PM	Use a tower shield.
Nephlite 11-14-05, 06:59 PM	I have a question about AC. I was wanting to create a turtle (focused more on AC and Con than AC and Str, which would be the tank) character. A plain fighter (core race from PHB), with Con 18, Dex 12. Level 20, and 250000 gp to buy the best magic items that grant some sort of AC bonus. Now, he wears full plate armor, with a heavy steel shield. I don't want to see anyone tell me about feats like Dodge, or about fighting defensively. I want to get the highest AC and Con from just the use of equipment, not feats, combat maneuvers, or magic spells. Do you have high dex? If not Full Plate armor is great. Do you care about accuracy? If not Tower Shield is best shield (extra -2 to hit though) but +4 AC. From what I can remember, the bonus to AC from bracers of armor doesn't stack with the bonus from actual armor. If I am wrong, please tell me, as those items would help me greatly. The highest number that I get (amulet of natural armor +6, full plate +5, large steel shield +5, base 10, Dex +1) is 37. If anyone can tell me if there is a way to make it higher with only equipment, I would be thankful. Armor bonus do not stack they overlap: 4 from bracers + 8 + Full plate=8 because the higher overlaps. Shield bonus do stack with armor bonus. So +5 Tower Shield adds 2 shield AC more than large steel shield +5.
00_Whupass 11-14-05, 07:07 PM	I haven't thought about this to hard but a quick once over on your list of items doesn't include anything with a deflection or insight bonus, so tack on a Ring of Protection and an Ioun Stone. Also get a defending weapon for even more turtly goodness. While its not AC you could also get items to provide concealment such as a Ring of Blur or something. Here's the caveat I would put on a totally turtle build like this, you won't be a threat to the enemy and they won't be able to hurt you so they'll likely just blow right by you and get at the softer party memebers, at least if there int score is 2 or highier.
MindWandererB 11-14-05, 10:13 PM	You can be even more turtlish with the help of Races of Stone. Battle Plate or Mountain Plate require feats to use, but provide slightly more AC bonus. Similarly, the Extreme Shields in that book give a +3 AC bonus, again at the cost of a feat to use with proficiency. And I know you don't want feats, but don't neglect the (Greater) Heavy Armor Optimization feats therein.
Zherog 11-14-05, 10:44 PM	Ring of Protection +5 hasn't been mentioned yet for boosting your AC. you can make the full plate out of Mithral, and then purchase gloves of dex to raise your dex to get a little more AC that way. You can purchase bracers of health to raise your con by up to +6. Not really an AC boosting item, but a minor cloak of displacement makes you harder to hit.
zelf_gale 11-14-05, 10:51 PM	On the other hand adamantine can give you DR so that you won't take as much damage when you are hit. The fortification armor enhancement can help negate criticals and sneak attacks so it also helps with lowering the damage you take.
SodaGuy 11-14-05, 10:54 PM	Remember that mutiple items with smaller bonuses are more cost effective. Amulet of Natural Armor +2 = 8000gp Ring of Protection +1 and Amulet of Natural Armor +1 = 4000gp
Armoracia Rusticana 11-15-05, 04:27 AM	Improved Expertize - you NEED it. Really. Defending weapon. (Greater) Heavy Armor Optimisation. Multiple AC bonuses - Natural, Deflection, Dodge, perhaps Insight or something... as much as you can afford. Total Defense and full cover behind your tower shield - and here you go!
Radijs 11-15-05, 06:03 AM	There are also sacred bonuses and profane bonuses.