AC Bonus... [Archive] - Wizards Community

AC Bonus... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
BOK2
05-29-05, 08:38 PM Would you allow a player to create magic items that gives bonuses to AC other than deflection or natural armor, like a +3 amulet that gives either sacred, insight or proface bonus to AC?

My fear is that this will greatly unbalance my campaign.

Thanks in advance... :)
Frostwind
05-29-05, 08:41 PM no, that would a munchkin's dream.

Frostwind
Burgundy Lotus
05-29-05, 08:47 PM I could see it but they'd have the additional cost of being a non standard item which is 1.5 or 2 times the cost.

It'll use up another item slot too, which is always nice
Bloodtide_the_Red
05-29-05, 08:56 PM Yes, I'd let a player make this type of item. No, I don't think that this type of item would unbalance a game.

BT
Frostwind
05-29-05, 09:13 PM You can already do that (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=305263) without using any custom items. Imagine if you added a sacred bonus to AC to that build. Isn't 152 high enough for you?

Frostwind
Sildatorak
05-30-05, 04:15 PM You can already do that (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=305263) without using any custom items. Imagine if you added a sacred bonus to AC to that build. Isn't 152 high enough for you?

Frostwind

And after they have buffed and buffed and buffed, a level 20 caster throws a targetted greater dispel magic at them, bringing down 60% of their spells.

Items that give atypical bonuses should be extra expensive. I think that twice as much is a reasonable amount, and the affinity slot for the item would most likely be amulet or ring. Moving it to another slot would cost another 1.5x the price, or x2 to make it slotless.

If it was clear that a player was just being a munchkin, I would most likely veto the item.
snowlynx
05-30-05, 04:33 PM Such bonuses would be expensive, but I could imagine items giving them. They would be far more expensive then regular AC bonuses, and there would have to be a good reason why the item gave it- for example, a blessed holy symbol (+2 sacred bonus to AC, item bestows one negative level on ony evil character wearing it in the way a holy weapon does); but not boots of holyness (+2 sacred bonus to AC.)
The Abominable Darkling
05-30-05, 04:37 PM Would you allow a player to create magic items that gives bonuses to AC other than deflection or natural armor, like a +3 amulet that gives either sacred, insight or proface bonus to AC?

My fear is that this will greatly unbalance my campaign.I would never allow such an item and neither should you. It absolutely will unbalance your game.
Tek
05-30-05, 04:39 PM There are already these types of items. Ioun stones, for one.

I think.
JadeSpider9643
05-30-05, 05:19 PM Well for an Amulet that grants a +3 profane bonus to AC, yeah sure no big deal, it will cost more than an Amulet of Natural Armor and use the same slot.

In general, I would say as long as they are slotted items it should be ok, just make sure they're paying the extra gp for the unusual bonus and lack of synergy. As long as we're talking about single-ability items, they will be using up body slots that could be used for more varied effects. It's like The Major says "Overspecialize and you breed in weakness, it's slow death."
Otto the Bugbear
05-30-05, 07:21 PM I'll agree with the general sentiment. If you keep it as a slotted item, it'll probably be ok. If you start allowing unslotted custom items, things will rapidly get out of hand.

Making it cost more may not be needed, but that call is a bit harder to make.

Cheers

Otto :)
The Abominable Darkling
05-30-05, 07:47 PM Haven't you people ever heard of combining items?
BOK2
05-30-05, 07:53 PM I'm still not sure that just keeping it to slotted items will maintain game balance (and DM sanity)... Once I've open this can of worms in my campaign I can imagine them enhancing every other slotted magic item in their possession with a diffrent +1 AC bonus (it would only cost 3750gp)...

Thanks anyway.... :)
Otto the Bugbear
05-30-05, 07:54 PM Nope. We've never heard of combining items before. Thank god you came along to set us straight.

You're a real life saver.

Cheers

Otto :rolleyes:
StevenO
05-30-05, 08:06 PM Look at DMG-3.5 pg285 to find the added cost of other AC bonuses. To summarize.

Armor enhancement = bonus squared * 1000
Deflection or Natural = bonus squared * 2000
Other Bonuses = bonus squared * 2500
mcgreeno
05-30-05, 11:48 PM Take note that the character wants such an Item, then later on in the game when such a bonus only helps the characters a little (aka, look at you challanges and detemine what you want the hit percentage to be on the bad guys)

Or use the concept as a plot device, no you can't create one but in the process of doing reasearch you find out that such a item already exist..

Instant adventure

As far as game balance, I would only allow it on rings, bracers, and amulets.. and using slots should maintain game balance if you the DM maintain game balance with the CRs

Just my two cents...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
BOK2 05-29-05, 08:38 PM	Would you allow a player to create magic items that gives bonuses to AC other than deflection or natural armor, like a +3 amulet that gives either sacred, insight or proface bonus to AC? My fear is that this will greatly unbalance my campaign. Thanks in advance... :)
Frostwind 05-29-05, 08:41 PM	no, that would a munchkin's dream. Frostwind
Burgundy Lotus 05-29-05, 08:47 PM	I could see it but they'd have the additional cost of being a non standard item which is 1.5 or 2 times the cost. It'll use up another item slot too, which is always nice
Bloodtide_the_Red 05-29-05, 08:56 PM	Yes, I'd let a player make this type of item. No, I don't think that this type of item would unbalance a game. BT
Frostwind 05-29-05, 09:13 PM	You can already do that (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=305263) without using any custom items. Imagine if you added a sacred bonus to AC to that build. Isn't 152 high enough for you? Frostwind
Sildatorak 05-30-05, 04:15 PM	You can already do that (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=305263) without using any custom items. Imagine if you added a sacred bonus to AC to that build. Isn't 152 high enough for you? Frostwind And after they have buffed and buffed and buffed, a level 20 caster throws a targetted greater dispel magic at them, bringing down 60% of their spells. Items that give atypical bonuses should be extra expensive. I think that twice as much is a reasonable amount, and the affinity slot for the item would most likely be amulet or ring. Moving it to another slot would cost another 1.5x the price, or x2 to make it slotless. If it was clear that a player was just being a munchkin, I would most likely veto the item.
snowlynx 05-30-05, 04:33 PM	Such bonuses would be expensive, but I could imagine items giving them. They would be far more expensive then regular AC bonuses, and there would have to be a good reason why the item gave it- for example, a blessed holy symbol (+2 sacred bonus to AC, item bestows one negative level on ony evil character wearing it in the way a holy weapon does); but not boots of holyness (+2 sacred bonus to AC.)
The Abominable Darkling 05-30-05, 04:37 PM	Would you allow a player to create magic items that gives bonuses to AC other than deflection or natural armor, like a +3 amulet that gives either sacred, insight or proface bonus to AC? My fear is that this will greatly unbalance my campaign.I would never allow such an item and neither should you. It absolutely will unbalance your game.
Tek 05-30-05, 04:39 PM	There are already these types of items. Ioun stones, for one. I think.
JadeSpider9643 05-30-05, 05:19 PM	Well for an Amulet that grants a +3 profane bonus to AC, yeah sure no big deal, it will cost more than an Amulet of Natural Armor and use the same slot. In general, I would say as long as they are slotted items it should be ok, just make sure they're paying the extra gp for the unusual bonus and lack of synergy. As long as we're talking about single-ability items, they will be using up body slots that could be used for more varied effects. It's like The Major says "Overspecialize and you breed in weakness, it's slow death."
Otto the Bugbear 05-30-05, 07:21 PM	I'll agree with the general sentiment. If you keep it as a slotted item, it'll probably be ok. If you start allowing unslotted custom items, things will rapidly get out of hand. Making it cost more may not be needed, but that call is a bit harder to make. Cheers Otto :)
The Abominable Darkling 05-30-05, 07:47 PM	Haven't you people ever heard of combining items?
BOK2 05-30-05, 07:53 PM	I'm still not sure that just keeping it to slotted items will maintain game balance (and DM sanity)... Once I've open this can of worms in my campaign I can imagine them enhancing every other slotted magic item in their possession with a diffrent +1 AC bonus (it would only cost 3750gp)... Thanks anyway.... :)
Otto the Bugbear 05-30-05, 07:54 PM	Nope. We've never heard of combining items before. Thank god you came along to set us straight. You're a real life saver. Cheers Otto :rolleyes:
StevenO 05-30-05, 08:06 PM	Look at DMG-3.5 pg285 to find the added cost of other AC bonuses. To summarize. Armor enhancement = bonus squared * 1000 Deflection or Natural = bonus squared * 2000 Other Bonuses = bonus squared * 2500
mcgreeno 05-30-05, 11:48 PM	Take note that the character wants such an Item, then later on in the game when such a bonus only helps the characters a little (aka, look at you challanges and detemine what you want the hit percentage to be on the bad guys) Or use the concept as a plot device, no you can't create one but in the process of doing reasearch you find out that such a item already exist.. Instant adventure As far as game balance, I would only allow it on rings, bracers, and amulets.. and using slots should maintain game balance if you the DM maintain game balance with the CRs Just my two cents...