Ac stacking [Archive] - Wizards Community

Ac stacking [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
thoruen
09-21-04, 11:11 AM I'm wearing +3 mithral chain shirt which adds +7 to my ac, i also have a pair of +8 bracers of armor. do these to items stack to add +15 to my ac, so that my total ac would be 25?
ksbsnowowl
09-21-04, 11:17 AM No, they do not stack. Both items provide an Armor bonus to AC, and like bonuses do not stack.

If your character were wearing those items, he would have an AC of 18 (assuming a dex of 10).
thoruen
09-21-04, 11:32 AM What type of items can i buy/use that will stack that will increase my ac?
my dm has got me going againts bad guys that have a +44 to hit.
CzarGarrett
09-21-04, 11:35 AM Wearing armor gives an Armor bonus. Wearing Bracers of Armor give an Armor Bonus. Same type, so the higher value takes precedence.

However, as an example here, if you were wearing the armor which gave an Armor Bonus and lets call them Bracers of Deflection +3, that gives a Deflection Bonus and the two stack.

Armor + Deflection + Shield + Natural + Dexterity + Sacred/Vile + Insight

All those stack because they are different.
orionm42
09-21-04, 02:24 PM What type of items can i buy/use that will stack that will increase my ac?
my dm has got me going againts bad guys that have a +44 to hit.

Just out of curiosity, what level are you?

Per the monster manual, attack bonus should be (CR X1.5)+2

As such, it would appear that the creature you are fighting would have a CR of 28 on average (28 X 1.5 = 42+2 = 44).

Are you epic level!
Feneem
09-21-04, 02:42 PM That's not a hard and fast rule, animals for instance can push past that.
Judging by the items I'd guess around lvl15?
orionm42
09-21-04, 03:01 PM That's not a hard and fast rule, animals for instance can push past that.

Agreed. Animals, for instance, generally use their natural weapons only and may not have a ranged attack. That makes them particularly vulnerable to ranged attacks from a flying party, hence the lower CR.

However, I asked if he was at least epic level because there are few monsters that would have a CR of less than 20 with that kind of a bonus.
Evil O
09-21-04, 03:49 PM Take a look at the Stacking article of this link:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/rg

There is 4 articles on stacking, read them and learn. Just as I did!

Evil O
thoruen
09-21-04, 04:28 PM I'm a 13th level fighter 3rd level War hulk minotaur

He had us going against a huge stone golum
orionm42
09-21-04, 04:49 PM I'm a 13th level fighter 3rd level War hulk minotaur

He had us going against a huge stone golum

Ahhh yes...now it makes sense. The golem gets only 2 slam attacks (rather than the 4 that a 16th level giant, for example, would get). In other words, the golem is SUPPOSED to hit on those attacks!! :D
thoruen
09-22-04, 09:17 AM My main issue is that me and the arcane archer are getting a little miffed, because the two 18th and 18th level clerics in our group are better warriors then even me. With all the persisted spells they cast on themselves thier AC is huge along with thier to hit and damage. Sure thier two levels higher then us but man they get in thier and just wail on them. Most of the time I get the highest inititive so i do my damage, then most of the time they finish the bad guy off. I'm damn near ready to tell the DM to desecrate the next level up in this mountain to balance things out.
Henchcritter
09-22-04, 09:37 AM What type of items can i buy/use that will stack that will increase my ac?
my dm has got me going againts bad guys that have a +44 to hit.My advice: get a cloak of displacement. A 20% or 50% miss chance regardless of AC works wonders.

Henchhttp://cgi.ncrv.nl/cgi/ncrv/stand/images/smiles/regen2.gif
Derren S.
09-22-04, 10:51 AM I'm a 13th level fighter 3rd level War hulk minotaur

13 (Fighter) + 3 (War Hulk) + 8 (Minotaur 6HD +2LA) = ECL 24

CR 28 doesn't sound that ridiculus anymore.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
thoruen 09-21-04, 11:11 AM	I'm wearing +3 mithral chain shirt which adds +7 to my ac, i also have a pair of +8 bracers of armor. do these to items stack to add +15 to my ac, so that my total ac would be 25?
ksbsnowowl 09-21-04, 11:17 AM	No, they do not stack. Both items provide an Armor bonus to AC, and like bonuses do not stack. If your character were wearing those items, he would have an AC of 18 (assuming a dex of 10).
thoruen 09-21-04, 11:32 AM	What type of items can i buy/use that will stack that will increase my ac? my dm has got me going againts bad guys that have a +44 to hit.
CzarGarrett 09-21-04, 11:35 AM	Wearing armor gives an Armor bonus. Wearing Bracers of Armor give an Armor Bonus. Same type, so the higher value takes precedence. However, as an example here, if you were wearing the armor which gave an Armor Bonus and lets call them Bracers of Deflection +3, that gives a Deflection Bonus and the two stack. Armor + Deflection + Shield + Natural + Dexterity + Sacred/Vile + Insight All those stack because they are different.
orionm42 09-21-04, 02:24 PM	What type of items can i buy/use that will stack that will increase my ac? my dm has got me going againts bad guys that have a +44 to hit. Just out of curiosity, what level are you? Per the monster manual, attack bonus should be (CR X1.5)+2 As such, it would appear that the creature you are fighting would have a CR of 28 on average (28 X 1.5 = 42+2 = 44). Are you epic level!
Feneem 09-21-04, 02:42 PM	That's not a hard and fast rule, animals for instance can push past that. Judging by the items I'd guess around lvl15?
orionm42 09-21-04, 03:01 PM	That's not a hard and fast rule, animals for instance can push past that. Agreed. Animals, for instance, generally use their natural weapons only and may not have a ranged attack. That makes them particularly vulnerable to ranged attacks from a flying party, hence the lower CR. However, I asked if he was at least epic level because there are few monsters that would have a CR of less than 20 with that kind of a bonus.
Evil O 09-21-04, 03:49 PM	Take a look at the Stacking article of this link: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/rg There is 4 articles on stacking, read them and learn. Just as I did! Evil O
thoruen 09-21-04, 04:28 PM	I'm a 13th level fighter 3rd level War hulk minotaur He had us going against a huge stone golum
orionm42 09-21-04, 04:49 PM	I'm a 13th level fighter 3rd level War hulk minotaur He had us going against a huge stone golum Ahhh yes...now it makes sense. The golem gets only 2 slam attacks (rather than the 4 that a 16th level giant, for example, would get). In other words, the golem is SUPPOSED to hit on those attacks!! :D
thoruen 09-22-04, 09:17 AM	My main issue is that me and the arcane archer are getting a little miffed, because the two 18th and 18th level clerics in our group are better warriors then even me. With all the persisted spells they cast on themselves thier AC is huge along with thier to hit and damage. Sure thier two levels higher then us but man they get in thier and just wail on them. Most of the time I get the highest inititive so i do my damage, then most of the time they finish the bad guy off. I'm damn near ready to tell the DM to desecrate the next level up in this mountain to balance things out.
Henchcritter 09-22-04, 09:37 AM	What type of items can i buy/use that will stack that will increase my ac? my dm has got me going againts bad guys that have a +44 to hit.My advice: get a cloak of displacement. A 20% or 50% miss chance regardless of AC works wonders. Henchhttp://cgi.ncrv.nl/cgi/ncrv/stand/images/smiles/regen2.gif
Derren S. 09-22-04, 10:51 AM	I'm a 13th level fighter 3rd level War hulk minotaur 13 (Fighter) + 3 (War Hulk) + 8 (Minotaur 6HD +2LA) = ECL 24 CR 28 doesn't sound that ridiculus anymore.