Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Sinister DM 09-19-07, 02:11 AM	Our party Elven Ranger 10 with DEX 22 (natural, no gloves of Dex...) needs a new armour. She currently uses leather, but would like something which will protect her all the way to lvl 20, without loosing AC bonus. So an armour, with a +10 max DEX bonus would be the way to go (DEX 24, Gloves of DEX+6). What should she aim for? Note: The party cleric has Craft Magical Arms and Armor + Craft Wondrous Items.
Tedronai 09-19-07, 02:20 AM	Gnome Twistcloth has NO max dex bonus, and even though it's an exotic armour, it has no penalties for being nonproficient (although the armour bonus will apply to touch AC if you are). Only a +1 bonus without any enhancement, but you're reasonably high level, and are getting most of your AC from dex anyway (and if you pick up that proficiency, the only thing not contributing to your touch AC will be natural armour or shield bonuses). Edit: Gnome Twistcloth is found in Races of Stone
Sinister DM 09-19-07, 02:28 AM	Our DM is not very happy about non-core stuff. We will have an easier time convincing him of letting her use a core armor or a magic armor/wondrous item, which can be created with Craft Wondrous Item.
DM Zoc 09-19-07, 08:23 AM	Our DM is not very happy about non-core stuff. We will have an easier time convincing him of letting her use a core armor or a magic armor/wondrous item, which can be created with Craft Wondrous Item. If you anticipate reaching a +8 Dex bonus at some point, you may want to look at Celestial Armor; +8 armor bonus with a +8 max Dex allowed. It's in the DMG.
Sinister DM 09-19-07, 08:37 AM	Thanx, I think that will be the best way to go. /Sinister
runestar 09-19-07, 09:20 AM	Underdark has the spidersilk shirt (+3AC, max dex+8), slap on the nimbleness armour property to raise its max dex by another 2. I think it also has a suit of armour with +2AC, max dex+10. Alternatively, you can always use bracers of armour.:)
Corzat_the_Gray 09-19-07, 10:30 AM	For right now, though, being level 10 a Mithral shirt is right up your alley and then you could upgrade to the celestial when you can afford it w/o spending nearly half of what you're worth at 10th on armor. Add in some Dastana (Arms and Equipment Guide) and a buckler and you're looking at a nice AC at 10th level. (Imp. Buckler Defense helps out with this)
Greco 09-19-07, 03:34 PM	Seeing that you have a +6 to DEX MOD Mythal Shirt is 4AC and +6 DEX CAP costing only 1,100 other than that use the leather armor if you plan on going higher in dex or Bracers of armor 1-8.
dman11235 09-19-07, 03:50 PM	Celestial armor is a specific type of armor, but it can be made with mythral. Gnome Twistcloth or Thistledown Padded (RotW) have really high/no max dex. Nimble increases the max dex.
StevenO 09-19-07, 07:00 PM	Not exactly. Celestial Armor is a specific armor which means it has to made using certain materials. It is generally assumed that the material used in crafting Celestial Armor IS mithral so there is no stacking mithral properties onto the rest of that armor. As for core armor you're best bet is currently a Mithral Chain Shirt (+4 AC, +6 Dex) with Celestial Armor as a future possibility along with dropping armor all together. With DEX as high as it is I'd actually consider looking at increasing stats in other areas instead. I'd assume she's gone the archery route so increasing STR with a Composite Bow would increase damage output; if melee the STR is also good but then a higher CON may also be nice for additional hp. Finally a decent WIS score would be needed for spells although I really don't like the core ranger spells all that much.