Any AC spells stack? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Any AC spells stack? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
mumbles0
03-13-04, 10:10 PM I for one dont see what mage and shield stack for +8 ac. A warrior wears plate mail and a large shield thats 10 ac.

Mage armor, shield,bigbys hands,rings of protection even a mundane shield. there has to be a way for a mage to get better then +4 armor.
Bramir
03-13-04, 10:16 PM Shield and mage armor stack...
mumbles0
03-13-04, 10:30 PM Im gonna kill my DM :)
what about bigbys hand?
Luminous Crayon
03-13-04, 10:34 PM Any two sources of AC that give different types of bonuses will stack. So Mage Armor (+4 Armor bonus to AC) will stack with Shield (+4 Shield bonus to AC.) Both of the above will stack with Cat's Grace (an extra +2 to AC from increased Dex), Haste (+1 Dodge bonus to AC), Protection from Evil/Good/Law/Chaos (+2 Deflection bonus to AC against attacks by creatures of the warded alignment), and Reduce Person (+1 Size bonus to AC, as well as a +1 to AC from increased Dex.) This totals up to +15 AC, and although it takes a long time in combat to set up the entire fortress of defense, a wizard can have it all by 5th level. Get rid of Haste, and you can have a +14 by 3rd level.

Note that if you really want maximum protection, you'll want to look at Blur, Blink, Displacement, and Mirror Image, in addition to the above AC boosting spells. There are lots of ways to defend yourself, not just by boosting AC.
mumbles0
03-13-04, 10:41 PM My Dm , well the whole group says ac spells dont stack.

One of my favorite defensive spells is rope trick. :)
wdarkk
03-13-04, 10:45 PM Originally posted by mumbles0
My Dm , well the whole group says ac spells dont stack.

Would your group, by any chance, not own rulebooks?
adiaven
03-14-04, 01:23 AM Originally posted by mumbles0
My Dm , well the whole group says ac spells dont stack.

AC bonuses of the same type don't stack. Usually it's a deflection bonus doesn't stack with another deflection bonus. (like a ring and protection from evil)

but mage armor, shield, and prot from evil definitely stack.
ballekalle
03-14-04, 07:05 AM Im asuming 3.0

Have your DM take a look at the bottom of page 177 in the DMG, the text there explains alot for those who do not understand the text above.
mumbles0
03-14-04, 08:38 AM 3.5
what we believed was mage armor and shield were both classified under armor bonus.

STill doesnt answer if you can hame mage armor+shield+bigbys hand?
kreynolds
03-14-04, 08:48 AM Originally posted by mumbles0
what about bigbys hand?

Which one? Interposing? If so, yes.
mumbles0
03-14-04, 09:09 AM They all say that act as interposing, so i thought they all gave ac.
Boondoggle
03-14-04, 09:11 AM How many damned hands does this bigby fella have anyway?

If your DM thinks mage armor, shield and prot. from alignment spells don't stack, then fullplate, sheilds and rings of deflection don't stack.
kreynolds
03-14-04, 09:13 AM Originally posted by mumbles0
They all say that act as interposing, so i thought they all gave ac.

Yeah, they all do, if that's how you're using them. Seemed easier to ask if you were talking about one of them in particular that can only interpose. :cool:
Princeoflowlight
03-14-04, 01:05 PM Check out the Luminous Armor line in the Book of Exalted Deeds, if that's allowed. 1d2 Strength drain, but it's basically a +9 to AC (+5 armor bonus, and enemies get a -4 to hit you with melee attacks), plus it acts as a Daylight spell. Not bad for a 2nd level spell. Though you really have to watch the ability damage.

Greater LA gives you a bit fat +12 (+8 armour, -4 to hit), but it's a 4th level spell and has 1d3 Str drain. Still, combined with Shield and Protection from Evil, that's a big fat +16 to AC from three spells.

The best part of the line, however, is that it lasts for an hour per level, so you don't have to wait until combat to use it.

Of course, Greater Invisibility is still the best defensive spell.
kreynolds
03-14-04, 02:08 PM Originally posted by Princeoflowlight
1d2 Strength drain...1d3 Str drain.

Damage, not drain. Big difference.
adiaven
03-14-04, 02:19 PM Originally posted by Princeoflowlight

Of course, Greater Invisibility is still the best defensive spell.

best low level defensive spell.. maybe.

I'd take displacement over gr invis. A lot of monsters can see, purge or get around invisibility. Displacement gives you the same 50% miss chance.
mumbles0
03-14-04, 03:28 PM Id pick blink. the 20% for you could be bad but with ray/x-bow attacks catching them flat footed is a big plus for a wizard.
Iku Rex
03-15-04, 08:12 AM Originally posted by Luminous Crayon
Any two sources of AC that give different types of bonuses will stack. (snip AC spells) Don't forget alter self (and later polymorph). Not to mention spells like spiderskin (underdark) or dragonskin (draconomicon), which grant an enhancement bonus to natural armor.
Luminous Crayon
03-15-04, 10:23 AM Originally posted by Iku Rex
Don't forget alter self (and later polymorph). Not to mention spells like spiderskin (underdark) or dragonskin (draconomicon), which grant an enhancement bonus to natural armor. I don't have access to the Underdark or Draconomicon sourcebooks, but I can't believe I forgot about Alter Self. Silly me.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
mumbles0 03-13-04, 10:10 PM	I for one dont see what mage and shield stack for +8 ac. A warrior wears plate mail and a large shield thats 10 ac. Mage armor, shield,bigbys hands,rings of protection even a mundane shield. there has to be a way for a mage to get better then +4 armor.
Bramir 03-13-04, 10:16 PM	Shield and mage armor stack...
mumbles0 03-13-04, 10:30 PM	Im gonna kill my DM :) what about bigbys hand?
Luminous Crayon 03-13-04, 10:34 PM	Any two sources of AC that give different types of bonuses will stack. So Mage Armor (+4 Armor bonus to AC) will stack with Shield (+4 Shield bonus to AC.) Both of the above will stack with Cat's Grace (an extra +2 to AC from increased Dex), Haste (+1 Dodge bonus to AC), Protection from Evil/Good/Law/Chaos (+2 Deflection bonus to AC against attacks by creatures of the warded alignment), and Reduce Person (+1 Size bonus to AC, as well as a +1 to AC from increased Dex.) This totals up to +15 AC, and although it takes a long time in combat to set up the entire fortress of defense, a wizard can have it all by 5th level. Get rid of Haste, and you can have a +14 by 3rd level. Note that if you really want maximum protection, you'll want to look at Blur, Blink, Displacement, and Mirror Image, in addition to the above AC boosting spells. There are lots of ways to defend yourself, not just by boosting AC.
mumbles0 03-13-04, 10:41 PM	My Dm , well the whole group says ac spells dont stack. One of my favorite defensive spells is rope trick. :)
wdarkk 03-13-04, 10:45 PM	Originally posted by mumbles0 My Dm , well the whole group says ac spells dont stack. Would your group, by any chance, not own rulebooks?
adiaven 03-14-04, 01:23 AM	Originally posted by mumbles0 My Dm , well the whole group says ac spells dont stack. AC bonuses of the same type don't stack. Usually it's a deflection bonus doesn't stack with another deflection bonus. (like a ring and protection from evil) but mage armor, shield, and prot from evil definitely stack.
ballekalle 03-14-04, 07:05 AM	Im asuming 3.0 Have your DM take a look at the bottom of page 177 in the DMG, the text there explains alot for those who do not understand the text above.
mumbles0 03-14-04, 08:38 AM	3.5 what we believed was mage armor and shield were both classified under armor bonus. STill doesnt answer if you can hame mage armor+shield+bigbys hand?
kreynolds 03-14-04, 08:48 AM	Originally posted by mumbles0 what about bigbys hand? Which one? Interposing? If so, yes.
mumbles0 03-14-04, 09:09 AM	They all say that act as interposing, so i thought they all gave ac.
Boondoggle 03-14-04, 09:11 AM	How many damned hands does this bigby fella have anyway? If your DM thinks mage armor, shield and prot. from alignment spells don't stack, then fullplate, sheilds and rings of deflection don't stack.
kreynolds 03-14-04, 09:13 AM	Originally posted by mumbles0 They all say that act as interposing, so i thought they all gave ac. Yeah, they all do, if that's how you're using them. Seemed easier to ask if you were talking about one of them in particular that can only interpose. :cool:
Princeoflowlight 03-14-04, 01:05 PM	Check out the Luminous Armor line in the Book of Exalted Deeds, if that's allowed. 1d2 Strength drain, but it's basically a +9 to AC (+5 armor bonus, and enemies get a -4 to hit you with melee attacks), plus it acts as a Daylight spell. Not bad for a 2nd level spell. Though you really have to watch the ability damage. Greater LA gives you a bit fat +12 (+8 armour, -4 to hit), but it's a 4th level spell and has 1d3 Str drain. Still, combined with Shield and Protection from Evil, that's a big fat +16 to AC from three spells. The best part of the line, however, is that it lasts for an hour per level, so you don't have to wait until combat to use it. Of course, Greater Invisibility is still the best defensive spell.
kreynolds 03-14-04, 02:08 PM	Originally posted by Princeoflowlight 1d2 Strength drain...1d3 Str drain. Damage, not drain. Big difference.
adiaven 03-14-04, 02:19 PM	Originally posted by Princeoflowlight Of course, Greater Invisibility is still the best defensive spell. best low level defensive spell.. maybe. I'd take displacement over gr invis. A lot of monsters can see, purge or get around invisibility. Displacement gives you the same 50% miss chance.
mumbles0 03-14-04, 03:28 PM	Id pick blink. the 20% for you could be bad but with ray/x-bow attacks catching them flat footed is a big plus for a wizard.
Iku Rex 03-15-04, 08:12 AM	Originally posted by Luminous Crayon Any two sources of AC that give different types of bonuses will stack. (snip AC spells) Don't forget alter self (and later polymorph). Not to mention spells like spiderskin (underdark) or dragonskin (draconomicon), which grant an enhancement bonus to natural armor.
Luminous Crayon 03-15-04, 10:23 AM	Originally posted by Iku Rex Don't forget alter self (and later polymorph). Not to mention spells like spiderskin (underdark) or dragonskin (draconomicon), which grant an enhancement bonus to natural armor. I don't have access to the Underdark or Draconomicon sourcebooks, but I can't believe I forgot about Alter Self. Silly me.