Best archer armor [Archive] - Wizards Community

Best archer armor [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
bobbilcon
06-25-05, 12:33 PM I was wondering what a good armor/weapon for ranger/briar archer is? Currentally lvl 20 so money has no limit. Bout to raid a dragons horde. Currentally have a +4 ranged seeking elven double bow. I have no armor on but i do have bracers of armor +5. my ac is somthing around 25-30(dont have character infrount of me) I do have a cloke on and my rings are all in use. my dex is giving me +10 so i need armor that wont impede that. And a weapon that will help with killing faster. :D
Armoracia Rusticana
06-25-05, 02:06 PM First of all Bracers of Armor's AC bonus doesn't stack with one provided with any armor.
Second, as you are ranger and also have high Dex (+10 was mentioned) I can reconend Padded Armor only enchanted with everithing you can think of. Or use bracers of armor and padded armor enchanted not for armor but for other useful things... Use some rings and amulets and whatever but if you want to survive at 20-th level encounters without someone to shield you - raise your AC as high as possible. Or sneak.
Eliza_Stormwhisper
06-25-05, 02:25 PM With that +10 to armor from dexterity, you're better off not wearing armor.
StevenO
06-25-05, 06:29 PM With a Dex bonus of +10 most armors will actually lower your AC, especially if you use bracers giving you a +5 Armor bonus already. Celestial Armor (dmg220) will give you a slight improvement in AC with few drawbacks. Mithral Full Plate will offer you a net +11 AC plus enhancements but will restrict your movement. A Mithral Shirt will be the same +10 AC before enchantments and doesn't have any penalties to a non-arcane character, in this case your trading +4 Dex for +4 Armor. The +5 Enchantment cost the same as +5 Bracers but would free up the Bracer slot.
aelryinth
06-25-05, 07:29 PM Upgrade your bracers to +8.

Get a ring of Uber AC...+5 Deflection and +5 Insight to AC.
Get +5 Nat AC amulet.

Wear a Monk's Belt...+1 AC and Wis to AC. Get a Wisdom buffer +6...a ranger should find it useful, anyways.

You should now have a minimum of +15 to AC more then you had before. Add +5 Luck AC with an Ioun stone, or onto your Uber Ring, if you have to.

Make your Bow Holy, Dragonbane, using spells or without them...and make it +5. You want to hit your target with every arrow you can. A burst enchantment works great with arrows high Critical.

===Aelryinth
Atar
06-26-05, 05:55 AM Get yourself this bow from the Draconomicon: Bow of the Mighty Dragonhunter.
+2 Bane Composite Longbow (+4 strength) Any hit does 1 strength damage to dragons, and it has a x5 crit multiplier vs. dragons. Crits multiply the strength damage (5 strength damage on a crit).
Price 36.900 GP

And remember to strip the dragon itself of all its hide, bones, teeth and skin. Almost everything can be used to make items, weapons and armor.

Ow, and a ring of Evasion is nice aswell.
RaspK FOG
06-26-05, 06:56 AM Upgrade your bracers to +8.Actually, leave your bracers be +5 and add to them the Greater Fortification ability! :dragon:

As for your AC, people always seem to forget the best choice out there: Rings of Protection; a deflection bonus never goes away unless you enter an antimagic area!
TrackStar
06-26-05, 07:19 AM Actually, leave your bracers be +5 and add to them the Greater Fortification ability! :dragon:

As for your AC, people always seem to forget the best choice out there: Rings of Protection; a deflection bonus never goes away unless you enter an antimagic area!

Are their +8 bracers? And can you add Greater Fortification to those? makeing them +11? How much would those cost if so?
bobbilcon
06-26-05, 11:57 AM that may actually help. I was reading races of the wild and it had upweved padded armor that allows me to have my +10 to ac. So i take the armor and get it enchanted to hell and back. Then i go out get my bracers and rings enchanted with greater fortatude. Sounds like a good plan to me. :D I was also thinking of a ring of universal elemtal immuinty. then the price of 2mill gold killed that idea. :rolleyes: Dose any one know the price on the epic +8 to +12 things of wisdom and dex? :confused:
Calibron
06-26-05, 04:01 PM It's in the SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/indexes/epicMagicItems.htm), but really, just get a Ring of Three Wishes and get them from it. One of the listed uses of Wish is to create a magic item, so if your DM tries to stop you point out that he's going against the RAW, that might make him change his mind.
Asmodeous
06-27-05, 03:50 AM I don't know why any bow using character can do with out greater braciers of archery for 25 grand. +2 to hit and +1 to damage at 30 ft range is just too good to pass up for braciers or armor.

At level 20, what value is defence anyway? As you progress on into epic levels, the monsters bonus to hit gets into the 50's where you need a defence in the 60's to be worth while. What point is a defence of say for example, 45 when the monster you are fighting has a BaB of 50? Doesn't matter if your defence is 15 or 45. The monster is still rolling for a 1 to miss you.

Celestral armor is your best bet. With a +10 to dex at level 20 I bet there is little you can't hit on your 2/3 attacks so dropping to a max of +8 with this armor won't hold you back much. Eventually you will toss all armor away as you head into epic levels. Out party fighter (lvl 24) has a defence of 32. He wears his armor only for the damage reduction (admantium) and has tossed the shield to go two handed.

Epic items that boost stats pricing is the bonus x bonus x 10,000 gp. So for a +8 item = 640,000gp and a +12 = 1,440,000 gp.

Did I just kill that idea as well?
Tony Vargas
06-27-05, 03:48 PM my dex is giving me +10 so i need armor that wont impede that. There isn't one in the PH or DMG. Celestial Mail comes closest: allowing a +8 DEX bonus to AC. Since Celestial Mail is +3 and has an Armor bonus of five to start, that's better than wearing no armor at all, but not as good as going for bracers or any other non-armor/no-max-DEX, item granting a +6 or better armor bonus.
FineasBoggs
06-27-05, 04:06 PM Mithril Full Plate of Nimbleness will net you a +13 to AC, one more than Mithril Chain Shirt of Nimbleness. But with the Chain Shirt you won't have any check penalties.

http://www.tus.net/shadowblades/Web%20Art/manshoon_mage_sigil.gif
Xanthia
06-27-05, 07:43 PM My Archers never use any Armor other than the Armor Bonus provided by Bracers of Armor. When DEX is everything, you don't want to limit it with a Max DEX bonus that comes with Armor.
celloshane
06-27-05, 11:07 PM My Archers never use any Armor other than the Armor Bonus provided by Bracers of Armor. When DEX is everything, you don't want to limit it with a Max DEX bonus that comes with Armor.

Guess what, Max DEX Bonus only applies to AC. Even if you're wearing Splint Mail, you still get to add any and all of your DEX bonus to your attacks, Reflex saves, and skills.
Ossyrian Ush'Bel
06-28-05, 12:39 PM Guess what, Max DEX Bonus only applies to AC. Even if you're wearing Splint Mail, you still get to add any and all of your DEX bonus to your attacks, Reflex saves, and skills.

Where is this? Did my group miss something? We assumed a Max Dex limit was max dex, period. So which is it?
FineasBoggs
06-28-05, 12:56 PM Armor check penalty still applies, but other wise yep.

http://www.tus.net/shadowblades/Web%20Art/manshoon_mage_sigil.gif
bobbilcon
06-28-05, 01:26 PM Out party fighter (lvl 24) has a defence of 32. He wears his armor only for the damage reduction (admantium) and has tossed the shield to go two handed.

This sceams odd because are fighter dwarven defender had ac around 50. He is a true meat tank... Thats why are party hates him.he is to over powerd because we are level 21 and has a ac over 50 now and u olny have 32... a bit odd there dont you think

And off that note I think i will stay with my huge attack bonus so i wont get the armor but i will buy the bracers of archery. The more the damage the better right. That way i wont get attacked any way if it is dead. I did however take 2 weapon fighting and all the 2 weapon fighting feats i could get along with the defence so that may help alittle.
Zherog
06-28-05, 01:32 PM Where is this? Did my group miss something? We assumed a Max Dex limit was max dex, period. So which is it?

Maximum Dex Bonus: This number is the maximum Dexterity bonus to AC that this type of armor allows. Heavier armors limit mobility, reducing the wearer’s ability to dodge blows. This restriction doesn’t affect any other Dexterity-related abilities.

Even if a character’s Dexterity bonus to AC drops to 0 because of armor, this situation does not count as losing a Dexterity bonus to AC.

Your character’s encumbrance (the amount of gear he or she carries) may also restrict the maximum Dexterity bonus that can be applied to his or her Armor Class.

Shields: Shields do not affect a character’s maximum Dexterity bonus.

:)
Ossyrian Ush'Bel
06-28-05, 01:52 PM :shocked:

:banghead:

Thanks
Merestil Haye
06-28-05, 01:54 PM Actually, leave your bracers be +5 and add to them the Greater Fortification ability! :dragon:

As for your AC, people always seem to forget the best choice out there: Rings of Protection; a deflection bonus never goes away unless you enter an antimagic area!Do both.

The sub-epic limit on armour bonus for Bracers of Armour is +8; that costs 64k.

The rules that allow you to add armour qualities to Bracers debuted in the 3.0 AEG. The limitation is +8 armour (max) and +13 combined armour and armour qualities. The cost adjustment for qualities works the same way as it does for armour. So +8 bracers of Heavy Fortification are a +13 item and cost bonus ^ 2 * 1,000gp, or 169,000gp in that case.
aelryinth
06-28-05, 07:37 PM Anyone going into Epic Play without a 40 AC or better is just nuts.

+5 Deflection, Nat Armor, Luck, Insight and Sacred bonuses should all be mandatory...that leaves you at a base of 35 AC, before you put any armor on, or strap on a shield or shield spell. Your nitwit of a level 24 fighter should be meathash...the opposition should be Power Attacking him to quivering goo with that low of an AC.

That being said, unless there's an armor enchantment which totally voids all Dex limits, going no armor is ultimately the best bet. There's a cap on base armor levels, and no cap on Dex.

==Aelryinth
RaspK FOG
06-30-05, 06:35 PM Actually, Arms and Equipment Guide had some similar instructions on how to make such a pair of bracers of armour.
tiornys
06-30-05, 10:12 PM I may be remembering wrong, but I had thought that Nightscale armor from Underdark allowed +10 max dex. Something else to look into.

t~
TrackStar
07-01-05, 01:04 AM I haev hear dof some kind of "robe" that the drow use that gives +10 armour with no penalty to dex... anyone know what I am talking about. My brother was talking about it and even had a name for it.
GuardianAngel
07-01-05, 04:44 AM Well, i know its not a legal item but i took one item and change the base arround but changed the price as well.....

Celestial Armor = + 1 Chainmail with a Max Dex of +8 so thats +14 total

my suit I use.

Mithral Celestial Armor (maxed) = +5 Chainmail with Max Dex of + 10 = +20
Price 50,150

Math on this is as follows:
Celestail Armor = 25,300
+1 Chainmail = 1,300
so Celestail = 24,000
+5 Chainmail = 25,300
so 49,300
and Mithral is +1000 -150 from the masterworked
if logic is flawed please inform me
marcus_antonius
07-01-05, 04:48 AM actually my best tip for having a great AC is: ring of blink

its a ring that casts the spell blink on yourself as often as you like

27000gp and its core

it gives your enemies a 50% (notice % !) chance to miss you....which is as good as AC 10+enemy Attack Bonus so you dont have to worry about the ultra high attacks.

(oh and don't wear armor...+10Dex is really good enough....maybe just buy a shirt of Con + x *g*)
Zardnaar
07-01-05, 06:04 AM I don't know why any bow using character can do with out greater braciers of archery for 25 grand. +2 to hit and +1 to damage at 30 ft range is just too good to pass up for braciers or armor.

At level 20, what value is defence anyway? As you progress on into epic levels, the monsters bonus to hit gets into the 50's where you need a defence in the 60's to be worth while. What point is a defence of say for example, 45 when the monster you are fighting has a BaB of 50? Doesn't matter if your defence is 15 or 45. The monster is still rolling for a 1 to miss you.

Celestral armor is your best bet. With a +10 to dex at level 20 I bet there is little you can't hit on your 2/3 attacks so dropping to a max of +8 with this armor won't hold you back much. Eventually you will toss all armor away as you head into epic levels. Out party fighter (lvl 24) has a defence of 32. He wears his armor only for the damage reduction (admantium) and has tossed the shield to go two handed.

Epic items that boost stats pricing is the bonus x bonus x 10,000 gp. So for a +8 item = 640,000gp and a +12 = 1,440,000 gp.

Did I just kill that idea as well?

Defence is everything in the epic level because of power attack. An epic level fighter/monster with +40 or more to hit with 5 attacks per round can easily PA for -20 if your AC is low. With a 2 handed weapon thats a potential extra 200 damage per round above and beyond the regular damage.
Won Yalp
07-01-05, 07:32 AM If any of you have the nice book "Underdark" you would know that there is the "Nightsomethingsomething" armour and it has an armour bonus of +2 and a max dex +10, it very good, but ingame it is hard to get (sold only in some places in underdark and it cost 1000gp.
Alchahest
07-03-05, 03:22 PM check out Dyrr's Impervious Vestment, from Complete Arcane.

it trumps your bracers of armour +8, having a +9.

it's not armour, so no penalties, but it takes up the armour slot, as it's a robe. which leaves your wrists free for the bracers of archery.

there's also another fantastic ability of the robe, but I don't know how far I can go without breaking the OGL or whatever.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
bobbilcon 06-25-05, 12:33 PM	I was wondering what a good armor/weapon for ranger/briar archer is? Currentally lvl 20 so money has no limit. Bout to raid a dragons horde. Currentally have a +4 ranged seeking elven double bow. I have no armor on but i do have bracers of armor +5. my ac is somthing around 25-30(dont have character infrount of me) I do have a cloke on and my rings are all in use. my dex is giving me +10 so i need armor that wont impede that. And a weapon that will help with killing faster. :D
Armoracia Rusticana 06-25-05, 02:06 PM	First of all Bracers of Armor's AC bonus doesn't stack with one provided with any armor. Second, as you are ranger and also have high Dex (+10 was mentioned) I can reconend Padded Armor only enchanted with everithing you can think of. Or use bracers of armor and padded armor enchanted not for armor but for other useful things... Use some rings and amulets and whatever but if you want to survive at 20-th level encounters without someone to shield you - raise your AC as high as possible. Or sneak.
Eliza_Stormwhisper 06-25-05, 02:25 PM	With that +10 to armor from dexterity, you're better off not wearing armor.
StevenO 06-25-05, 06:29 PM	With a Dex bonus of +10 most armors will actually lower your AC, especially if you use bracers giving you a +5 Armor bonus already. Celestial Armor (dmg220) will give you a slight improvement in AC with few drawbacks. Mithral Full Plate will offer you a net +11 AC plus enhancements but will restrict your movement. A Mithral Shirt will be the same +10 AC before enchantments and doesn't have any penalties to a non-arcane character, in this case your trading +4 Dex for +4 Armor. The +5 Enchantment cost the same as +5 Bracers but would free up the Bracer slot.
aelryinth 06-25-05, 07:29 PM	Upgrade your bracers to +8. Get a ring of Uber AC...+5 Deflection and +5 Insight to AC. Get +5 Nat AC amulet. Wear a Monk's Belt...+1 AC and Wis to AC. Get a Wisdom buffer +6...a ranger should find it useful, anyways. You should now have a minimum of +15 to AC more then you had before. Add +5 Luck AC with an Ioun stone, or onto your Uber Ring, if you have to. Make your Bow Holy, Dragonbane, using spells or without them...and make it +5. You want to hit your target with every arrow you can. A burst enchantment works great with arrows high Critical. ===Aelryinth
Atar 06-26-05, 05:55 AM	Get yourself this bow from the Draconomicon: Bow of the Mighty Dragonhunter. +2 Bane Composite Longbow (+4 strength) Any hit does 1 strength damage to dragons, and it has a x5 crit multiplier vs. dragons. Crits multiply the strength damage (5 strength damage on a crit). Price 36.900 GP And remember to strip the dragon itself of all its hide, bones, teeth and skin. Almost everything can be used to make items, weapons and armor. Ow, and a ring of Evasion is nice aswell.
RaspK FOG 06-26-05, 06:56 AM	Upgrade your bracers to +8.Actually, leave your bracers be +5 and add to them the Greater Fortification ability! :dragon: As for your AC, people always seem to forget the best choice out there: Rings of Protection; a deflection bonus never goes away unless you enter an antimagic area!
TrackStar 06-26-05, 07:19 AM	Actually, leave your bracers be +5 and add to them the Greater Fortification ability! :dragon: As for your AC, people always seem to forget the best choice out there: Rings of Protection; a deflection bonus never goes away unless you enter an antimagic area! Are their +8 bracers? And can you add Greater Fortification to those? makeing them +11? How much would those cost if so?
bobbilcon 06-26-05, 11:57 AM	that may actually help. I was reading races of the wild and it had upweved padded armor that allows me to have my +10 to ac. So i take the armor and get it enchanted to hell and back. Then i go out get my bracers and rings enchanted with greater fortatude. Sounds like a good plan to me. :D I was also thinking of a ring of universal elemtal immuinty. then the price of 2mill gold killed that idea. :rolleyes: Dose any one know the price on the epic +8 to +12 things of wisdom and dex? :confused:
Calibron 06-26-05, 04:01 PM	It's in the SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/indexes/epicMagicItems.htm), but really, just get a Ring of Three Wishes and get them from it. One of the listed uses of Wish is to create a magic item, so if your DM tries to stop you point out that he's going against the RAW, that might make him change his mind.
Asmodeous 06-27-05, 03:50 AM	I don't know why any bow using character can do with out greater braciers of archery for 25 grand. +2 to hit and +1 to damage at 30 ft range is just too good to pass up for braciers or armor. At level 20, what value is defence anyway? As you progress on into epic levels, the monsters bonus to hit gets into the 50's where you need a defence in the 60's to be worth while. What point is a defence of say for example, 45 when the monster you are fighting has a BaB of 50? Doesn't matter if your defence is 15 or 45. The monster is still rolling for a 1 to miss you. Celestral armor is your best bet. With a +10 to dex at level 20 I bet there is little you can't hit on your 2/3 attacks so dropping to a max of +8 with this armor won't hold you back much. Eventually you will toss all armor away as you head into epic levels. Out party fighter (lvl 24) has a defence of 32. He wears his armor only for the damage reduction (admantium) and has tossed the shield to go two handed. Epic items that boost stats pricing is the bonus x bonus x 10,000 gp. So for a +8 item = 640,000gp and a +12 = 1,440,000 gp. Did I just kill that idea as well?
Tony Vargas 06-27-05, 03:48 PM	my dex is giving me +10 so i need armor that wont impede that. There isn't one in the PH or DMG. Celestial Mail comes closest: allowing a +8 DEX bonus to AC. Since Celestial Mail is +3 and has an Armor bonus of five to start, that's better than wearing no armor at all, but not as good as going for bracers or any other non-armor/no-max-DEX, item granting a +6 or better armor bonus.
FineasBoggs 06-27-05, 04:06 PM	Mithril Full Plate of Nimbleness will net you a +13 to AC, one more than Mithril Chain Shirt of Nimbleness. But with the Chain Shirt you won't have any check penalties. http://www.tus.net/shadowblades/Web%20Art/manshoon_mage_sigil.gif
Xanthia 06-27-05, 07:43 PM	My Archers never use any Armor other than the Armor Bonus provided by Bracers of Armor. When DEX is everything, you don't want to limit it with a Max DEX bonus that comes with Armor.
celloshane 06-27-05, 11:07 PM	My Archers never use any Armor other than the Armor Bonus provided by Bracers of Armor. When DEX is everything, you don't want to limit it with a Max DEX bonus that comes with Armor. Guess what, Max DEX Bonus only applies to AC. Even if you're wearing Splint Mail, you still get to add any and all of your DEX bonus to your attacks, Reflex saves, and skills.
Ossyrian Ush'Bel 06-28-05, 12:39 PM	Guess what, Max DEX Bonus only applies to AC. Even if you're wearing Splint Mail, you still get to add any and all of your DEX bonus to your attacks, Reflex saves, and skills. Where is this? Did my group miss something? We assumed a Max Dex limit was max dex, period. So which is it?
FineasBoggs 06-28-05, 12:56 PM	Armor check penalty still applies, but other wise yep. http://www.tus.net/shadowblades/Web%20Art/manshoon_mage_sigil.gif
bobbilcon 06-28-05, 01:26 PM	Out party fighter (lvl 24) has a defence of 32. He wears his armor only for the damage reduction (admantium) and has tossed the shield to go two handed. This sceams odd because are fighter dwarven defender had ac around 50. He is a true meat tank... Thats why are party hates him.he is to over powerd because we are level 21 and has a ac over 50 now and u olny have 32... a bit odd there dont you think And off that note I think i will stay with my huge attack bonus so i wont get the armor but i will buy the bracers of archery. The more the damage the better right. That way i wont get attacked any way if it is dead. I did however take 2 weapon fighting and all the 2 weapon fighting feats i could get along with the defence so that may help alittle.
Zherog 06-28-05, 01:32 PM	Where is this? Did my group miss something? We assumed a Max Dex limit was max dex, period. So which is it? Maximum Dex Bonus: This number is the maximum Dexterity bonus to AC that this type of armor allows. Heavier armors limit mobility, reducing the wearer’s ability to dodge blows. This restriction doesn’t affect any other Dexterity-related abilities. Even if a character’s Dexterity bonus to AC drops to 0 because of armor, this situation does not count as losing a Dexterity bonus to AC. Your character’s encumbrance (the amount of gear he or she carries) may also restrict the maximum Dexterity bonus that can be applied to his or her Armor Class. Shields: Shields do not affect a character’s maximum Dexterity bonus. :)
Ossyrian Ush'Bel 06-28-05, 01:52 PM	:shocked: :banghead: Thanks
Merestil Haye 06-28-05, 01:54 PM	Actually, leave your bracers be +5 and add to them the Greater Fortification ability! :dragon: As for your AC, people always seem to forget the best choice out there: Rings of Protection; a deflection bonus never goes away unless you enter an antimagic area!Do both. The sub-epic limit on armour bonus for Bracers of Armour is +8; that costs 64k. The rules that allow you to add armour qualities to Bracers debuted in the 3.0 AEG. The limitation is +8 armour (max) and +13 combined armour and armour qualities. The cost adjustment for qualities works the same way as it does for armour. So +8 bracers of Heavy Fortification are a +13 item and cost bonus ^ 2 * 1,000gp, or 169,000gp in that case.
aelryinth 06-28-05, 07:37 PM	Anyone going into Epic Play without a 40 AC or better is just nuts. +5 Deflection, Nat Armor, Luck, Insight and Sacred bonuses should all be mandatory...that leaves you at a base of 35 AC, before you put any armor on, or strap on a shield or shield spell. Your nitwit of a level 24 fighter should be meathash...the opposition should be Power Attacking him to quivering goo with that low of an AC. That being said, unless there's an armor enchantment which totally voids all Dex limits, going no armor is ultimately the best bet. There's a cap on base armor levels, and no cap on Dex. ==Aelryinth
RaspK FOG 06-30-05, 06:35 PM	Actually, Arms and Equipment Guide had some similar instructions on how to make such a pair of bracers of armour.
tiornys 06-30-05, 10:12 PM	I may be remembering wrong, but I had thought that Nightscale armor from Underdark allowed +10 max dex. Something else to look into. t~
TrackStar 07-01-05, 01:04 AM	I haev hear dof some kind of "robe" that the drow use that gives +10 armour with no penalty to dex... anyone know what I am talking about. My brother was talking about it and even had a name for it.
GuardianAngel 07-01-05, 04:44 AM	Well, i know its not a legal item but i took one item and change the base arround but changed the price as well..... Celestial Armor = + 1 Chainmail with a Max Dex of +8 so thats +14 total my suit I use. Mithral Celestial Armor (maxed) = +5 Chainmail with Max Dex of + 10 = +20 Price 50,150 Math on this is as follows: Celestail Armor = 25,300 +1 Chainmail = 1,300 so Celestail = 24,000 +5 Chainmail = 25,300 so 49,300 and Mithral is +1000 -150 from the masterworked if logic is flawed please inform me
marcus_antonius 07-01-05, 04:48 AM	actually my best tip for having a great AC is: ring of blink its a ring that casts the spell blink on yourself as often as you like 27000gp and its core it gives your enemies a 50% (notice % !) chance to miss you....which is as good as AC 10+enemy Attack Bonus so you dont have to worry about the ultra high attacks. (oh and don't wear armor...+10Dex is really good enough....maybe just buy a shirt of Con + x g)
Zardnaar 07-01-05, 06:04 AM	I don't know why any bow using character can do with out greater braciers of archery for 25 grand. +2 to hit and +1 to damage at 30 ft range is just too good to pass up for braciers or armor. At level 20, what value is defence anyway? As you progress on into epic levels, the monsters bonus to hit gets into the 50's where you need a defence in the 60's to be worth while. What point is a defence of say for example, 45 when the monster you are fighting has a BaB of 50? Doesn't matter if your defence is 15 or 45. The monster is still rolling for a 1 to miss you. Celestral armor is your best bet. With a +10 to dex at level 20 I bet there is little you can't hit on your 2/3 attacks so dropping to a max of +8 with this armor won't hold you back much. Eventually you will toss all armor away as you head into epic levels. Out party fighter (lvl 24) has a defence of 32. He wears his armor only for the damage reduction (admantium) and has tossed the shield to go two handed. Epic items that boost stats pricing is the bonus x bonus x 10,000 gp. So for a +8 item = 640,000gp and a +12 = 1,440,000 gp. Did I just kill that idea as well? Defence is everything in the epic level because of power attack. An epic level fighter/monster with +40 or more to hit with 5 attacks per round can easily PA for -20 if your AC is low. With a 2 handed weapon thats a potential extra 200 damage per round above and beyond the regular damage.
Won Yalp 07-01-05, 07:32 AM	If any of you have the nice book "Underdark" you would know that there is the "Nightsomethingsomething" armour and it has an armour bonus of +2 and a max dex +10, it very good, but ingame it is hard to get (sold only in some places in underdark and it cost 1000gp.
Alchahest 07-03-05, 03:22 PM	check out Dyrr's Impervious Vestment, from Complete Arcane. it trumps your bracers of armour +8, having a +9. it's not armour, so no penalties, but it takes up the armour slot, as it's a robe. which leaves your wrists free for the bracers of archery. there's also another fantastic ability of the robe, but I don't know how far I can go without breaking the OGL or whatever.