Post/Author/DateTime	Post
gomeztoo 10-09-06, 03:27 AM	I play a (mostly) melee character, and I have serious problems boosting her AC and damage output. It's a bit due to her build: She is a dragondisciple that fights with a two-bladed weapon, and I like her to be as mobile as possible. She is a supporting fighter. Her roles in the party is battle field control (flanking/travel domain), soaking up damage (lots of hp), and drawing any spells (good saves/luck domain) and negative energy attacks (Sacred Vitality) when possible. Currently her AC is: +3 natural armor (1 Feat + dragon disc) +3 Dex +6 dragoncraft breastplate (impossible according to the draconomicon, but not complaining) = 22 I'm out of cash (spend a lot of consumables, plus bought the armor), but about to get 4000+ gp which I hope to spend on improving AC a bit (unless I buy an adamantine heavy flail first). I'll likely go for gloves of dexterity, and later a ring of protection +1. That would boost my AC to 25 (23 when she rages). After that, I can't imagine what to do next. Better armor drops my movement by half and makes tumbling impossible. My main weapons are two-handed so a shield is not an option. Spells/potions cost actions, so while I'll by a few barkskins they are often not an option - I need to get into position. Won't get a feat for the next two levels (and most are not THAT good anyway). Doubting the amulet of natural armor - maybe I want a peripapt of health instead... Her current Feats: Draconic Heritage, Draconic Skin, Sacred Vitality, Two-Weapon Fighting So would you improve her AC beyond 25, and if so, how?
Iswald 10-09-06, 09:56 AM	Animated shield?
Mommy was an Orc 10-09-06, 12:02 PM	I think seeing your current build, stats, and level would really help...there's a lot of things that simply don't make a lot of sense about your build...
gomeztoo 10-09-06, 02:22 PM	Nesliande R'tannouien Female high-elf Barbarian1/Fighter1/Sorcerer1/Ranger1/Cleric (Aasterinian)1/Dragon Disciple 5 CG Medium Humanoid (elf) Init +3; Senses blind-sense, low-light vision, Spot +5, Listen +5 Languages Common, Aquan, Draconic, Elf, Flan, Giant, Goblin, Orc, Suel, Sylvan ------------------------------------------------------------------------ AC 22, touch 13, flat-footed 19 (+3 Dex, +6 Armor, +3 natural) hp 99 (10 HD), Improved Tougness Resist cold 5 Fort +16, Ref +8, Wil +13 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Speed 40 ft. in +1 dragoncraft breastplate (8 squares) Melee +1 silver OR cold iron two-bladed sword +11/+6 (1d8+6/19-20) and bite +5 (1d6+4) OR Melee +1 silver two-bladed sword +9/+4 (1d8+4/19-20) and cold iron two-bladed sword +9/+4 (1d8+2/19-20) and bite +5 (1d6+4) OR Ranged +1 dragonbone + 5 strength bow +8/+3 (1d8+4/x3) BAB +6/+1 Grp +10 Atk options Two-Weapon Fighting Special Actions breath weapon (acid, 2d8, DC13), turn undead 4/day (+1, 2d6+1) Combat gear +1 silver mw cold iron twobladed sword Cleric Spells prepared (CL 1st) 1st - comprehend languages, resurgence, lesser vigor, longstrider(D) 0 - detect magic, create water, guidance D: Domain spell. Domains: Luck, Travel Sorcerer spells known: 1st (5/day) - critical strike, master's touch 0 (5/day) - acid splash, dancing lights, mage hand, prestidigitation ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Abilities Str 18, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 12 Feats Draconic Herotage, Draconic Skin, Improved Tougness, Sacred Vitality, Track(B), Two-Weapon Fighting Skills Craft Alchemy +7, Diplomacy +0, Handle Animal +1, Heal +3, Knowledge(arcana) +15, Knowledge(local:Core) +2, Knowledge(religion) +6, Knowledge(local:VTF) +2, Knowledge (the planes +6), Listen +5, Profession(herbalist) 2, Profession(vintager) 2, Search +3, Spellcraft +4, Spot +5, Survival +6, Tumble +2, Use Magic Device +2 Possessions combat gear plus +1 white dragoncrafted breastplate, cloak of Charisma +2, vest of resistance +2, various consumables
Mommy was an Orc 10-09-06, 02:51 PM	Yeah, that's what I thought...there's some stuff that doesn't make sense. Feels like you converted at some point. You have an unspent Fighter feat - that would let you get Improved Buckler defense or a variety of other options. Also, you only currently have a +6 BAB, not +7(-1 Sorc, -1 Cleric, -2 Dragon Disciple). Assuming the feats/stat bumps went in this order: 1: TWF 2: ? 3: Draconic Heritage 4: +1 Con 6: Draconic Skin(or Sacred Vita) 8: +1 Con 9: Sacred Vitality(or Draconic Skin) Also, you won't gain a bonus to AC from picking up Gloves of Dexterity as Dragoncraft Breastplate should only have a +3 Dex max(I think)
Genghis Cohen 10-09-06, 07:12 PM	Animated shield?I've played well over 100 LG mods, and I've never been blessed with access to an animated shield.
Mommy was an Orc 10-09-06, 07:34 PM	I've played well over 100 LG mods, and I've never been blessed with access to an animated shield. I've not either. Even with characters who wouldn't want one.
Biota 10-09-06, 08:30 PM	Another option is Cloak of Minor Displacement. It is certainly not cheap at 24,000 gp, but is definitely something to consider.
clik_ml 10-09-06, 09:38 PM	A defending spiked gauntlet is always an option (again, access issues). That's a potentially way to net some easy AC. As Mommy noted, Improved Buckler Defense along with a buckler is an excellent way to go to add more AC as well. The ring of protection could go way higher than just +1, and probably should, since it is touch AC also. A headband of intellect (or a stat bump) will enable you to pick up Combat Expertise later for more AC when needed. For better damage output, consider carrying a quarterstaff and begging for brambles or spikes (and having a pearl to lend for it wouldn't hurt). Bonus damage is what makes TWFing viable, and you're kind of low on that.
Iswald 10-09-06, 10:50 PM	I've played well over 100 LG mods, and I've never been blessed with access to an animated shield. I've seen it a couple times, but not when the character had money for it. But, perhaps you'll find a favor that could be used for it. For instance, some favor that let you purchase an item from table 7-2 (the table for armor and shields) to 7-28 worth 25,000 gold. That'd let you get a +4 shield (+5 if only you could ignore the base cost). Animated is +2, so you'd be able to get a +2 animated heavy shield.
Nutation 10-10-06, 02:15 AM	It's long past time that you bought an amulet of health +2, a much better investment than an amulet of natural armor. Also, potions or scrolls of barkskin last 30 minutes, so there will be times when you can use one ahead of time. I would stop preparing Comprehend Languages and instead choose either Protection/Evil or Shield of Faith. Duration is only one minute, but that will sometimes be enough. Alternatively, buy a pearl of power I and get one from the real cleric in the party. When you find access: Defending on one end of the weapon, dusty rose prism ioun stone, animated shield. I have seen access to all of these at APL 10+. Additionally, offense can be the best defense, so start thinking about a belt of strength+4. You will see access eventually.
gomeztoo 10-10-06, 02:41 PM	I misread the dragoncraft armor - I though maxthe Dex bonus was also raised, otherwise I wouldn't have bought it. I doubted about buying it as I already have cold resistance. I'll see if I can have it corrected... not sure if it's allowed to reverse buying an item though... Btw I forgot a Feat: Improved Toughness. As to suggestions: Improved Buckler or TW defense are options, but not for a few levels. By then perhaps Combat Expetise is betrer as I can then also boost my stat. A Cloak doesn't work - I need my cloak of Cha to cast spells. The animated shield I think I CAN actually buy (due to a favor). I wonder though: does using it mean I get penalties on attacks? Spell casting : not useful for the char, but a pearl of power for the party's other spellcaster may be useful. And the belt of Strength: haven't seen it yet. I have an 'upgrade stat booster item'feat, but of course (typical) it doesn't work on gauntlets-to-belts...
Morgen 10-10-06, 03:49 PM	Hmmmm, I've been curious about the same kind of thing with my dragon disciple. Just can't seem to get the old AC up high enough these days. Though now I've got access to the damn Mithril Full plate and so on from some mod after I used my glammer armor upgrade. Curses! An animated shield doesn't give you a penalty, it just takes like an action to get going and protecting you while you go hurt things with the sword. There is always the age old, "Make friends with a cleric" option too, Magic Vestment is a godsend usually. Heck, you've got the charisma for it. How about a scroll of Mirror Image? You'd have to make a caster level check to use it but it can help out quite a lot.
Reylance 10-10-06, 04:45 PM	The biggest source of difficulty is having master's touch on your spell list instead of shield. I'm going from memory, but my own dragon disciple build had the following for AC: +8 armor (+3 mithral breast plate) +3 Dex (14 Dex and +2 gloves) +1 insight (dusty rose prism ioun stone) +2 deflection (ring of protection +2) +4 natural (half-dragon) 28 AC To that could be added +1 dodge (dodge feat), +1 dodge (boots of speed), +1 natural (regional item that enhanced natural armor), a defending weapon, fighting defensively, and +4 shield (shield spell). I have a feeling I'm missing something above. Throughout the character's life, I was a fairly high AC build, buying items that increased my AC one by one (magic armor, magic shield, ioun stone, etc.). To enhance your AC, you'll need to save money. An animated shield is your best bet. Heck, go for the animated tower shield; you don't need somatic components to cast, and it will be one better AC than an animated large shield. Buy the ioun stone when you can. Fight defensively. If you can afford five ranks in Tumble, that further helps.
Iswald 10-10-06, 10:20 PM	With an animated shield, you still take all the penalties that go with it. All it does is free up your hand. A tower shield would give you -2 to attack, 50% arcane spell failure, -10 armor check penalty and cap your dex bonus to AC at +2, which is why I suggested a heavy shield instead. ;)
gomeztoo 10-11-06, 02:51 AM	Master's touch is on the list so she can use any exotic weapon she likes, more specifically the two-bladed sword (before rebuild I had a feat spent on it), but now she has a whole collection of stuff nobody else ever uses - whip dagger, net, bolas, etc. I can assure you it comes in useful to have these (I even caught a dragon with my net once) and to basically be proficient in whatever you find. Also, both her sorcerer spells are swift, hence they can be cast in armor and don't draw AoO - which means I don't really need Concentration. Most suggestions are good, it is a pity though that to most I don't have access yet (except the shield, am going to save for it).