Decrease Armor Check Penalty [Archive] - Wizards Community

Decrease Armor Check Penalty [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Redginald
10-05-07, 06:32 AM What are ways to decrease the armor check penalty of an armor, it is to equip my animal companion with a full plate without having to take 3 armor proficiency feats.

I know of agile or nimble armor ( +1 max dex, -2 armor check penalty ) in the MIC
Masterwork: -1
Wildwood: -2

So I need only one reduction more (full plate has an armor check penalty of -6)
j3st3r
10-05-07, 07:25 AM Why not make the full plate out of mithral?

If it needs to be "natural" material make the armor out of Darkleaf, much better than Wildwood.

P.S. Wildwood only reduces ACP by 1. All armors made out of special materials that makes the armor MW don't gain ACP reducement from both the special material and MW. It's already taken into consideration in the special material description. Don't believe me? Look at the elven chainmail's ACP and how much mithral reduces the original ACP OR look at the table 7–2 from Races of the Wild and how much Wildwood full plate has the ACP.
silvergamgee
10-05-07, 09:49 AM Bronze armor loses 1 ac and one ACP. Make it master work and there goes two ACP, with nimble, there goes the third ACP. If you use something with a low enough ACP you just lost your penalties.
Someone
10-05-07, 01:31 PM You might want to simply wear lighter armor. Mithril breastplate won't slow your movement, and has an ACP of only -1. An ACP that low isn't a big deal even if you're non-proficient.
Mark_Aged
10-05-07, 01:58 PM If you don't mind using armor lubricant every 1d4 hours, It lowers the armor check penalty of metal armor by one. It's in Races of Faerūn.
BW0222
10-05-07, 02:09 PM Bracers?

IMO, it is better at some point to ignore trying to win the AC vs. monster attacks. Giants, dragons, demons, etc. walk around with +25 or more on their attack rolls. Their strength and BAB goes up much faster than AC on an animal companion. The increasing cost of trying to get AC into the 30+ range becomes rather counter-productive.

Try looking at easier ways to avoid being hit. Potions of mirror image, wands of greater invisibility, cloaks of displacement, fog or darkness where scent helps, etc. Consider mounted combat, give it spring attack, animal growth or stone skin (for the DR), etc. Give it fire resistant armor and fight within a wall of fire, use air walk or spider climb and use missile fire from it, summon animals of the same type such that the BBEG doesn't know which one to go after, etc.
Ralp
10-05-07, 02:59 PM I believe the feats Heavy armor optimization and Greater heavy armor optimization, if you have them both, reduce ACP by a total of 3 and increase your AC by a total of 2. I think they're in Races of Stone.

Also, I didn't read your post and this reply is useless. Sorry!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Redginald 10-05-07, 06:32 AM	What are ways to decrease the armor check penalty of an armor, it is to equip my animal companion with a full plate without having to take 3 armor proficiency feats. I know of agile or nimble armor ( +1 max dex, -2 armor check penalty ) in the MIC Masterwork: -1 Wildwood: -2 So I need only one reduction more (full plate has an armor check penalty of -6)
j3st3r 10-05-07, 07:25 AM	Why not make the full plate out of mithral? If it needs to be "natural" material make the armor out of Darkleaf, much better than Wildwood. P.S. Wildwood only reduces ACP by 1. All armors made out of special materials that makes the armor MW don't gain ACP reducement from both the special material and MW. It's already taken into consideration in the special material description. Don't believe me? Look at the elven chainmail's ACP and how much mithral reduces the original ACP OR look at the table 7–2 from Races of the Wild and how much Wildwood full plate has the ACP.
silvergamgee 10-05-07, 09:49 AM	Bronze armor loses 1 ac and one ACP. Make it master work and there goes two ACP, with nimble, there goes the third ACP. If you use something with a low enough ACP you just lost your penalties.
Someone 10-05-07, 01:31 PM	You might want to simply wear lighter armor. Mithril breastplate won't slow your movement, and has an ACP of only -1. An ACP that low isn't a big deal even if you're non-proficient.
Mark_Aged 10-05-07, 01:58 PM	If you don't mind using armor lubricant every 1d4 hours, It lowers the armor check penalty of metal armor by one. It's in Races of Faerūn.
BW0222 10-05-07, 02:09 PM	Bracers? IMO, it is better at some point to ignore trying to win the AC vs. monster attacks. Giants, dragons, demons, etc. walk around with +25 or more on their attack rolls. Their strength and BAB goes up much faster than AC on an animal companion. The increasing cost of trying to get AC into the 30+ range becomes rather counter-productive. Try looking at easier ways to avoid being hit. Potions of mirror image, wands of greater invisibility, cloaks of displacement, fog or darkness where scent helps, etc. Consider mounted combat, give it spring attack, animal growth or stone skin (for the DR), etc. Give it fire resistant armor and fight within a wall of fire, use air walk or spider climb and use missile fire from it, summon animals of the same type such that the BBEG doesn't know which one to go after, etc.
Ralp 10-05-07, 02:59 PM	I believe the feats Heavy armor optimization and Greater heavy armor optimization, if you have them both, reduce ACP by a total of 3 and increase your AC by a total of 2. I think they're in Races of Stone. Also, I didn't read your post and this reply is useless. Sorry!