Hp Vs. AC [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Hp Vs. AC [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Kroska
08-14-05, 03:23 PM First off, my character is a lvl 4 monk/ lvl 1 psycic warrior, half-giant. Origionally before i obtained some AC boosting magical items i had a outstanding AC of 11. I have that because of my Dex of 8, which almost counter acts my wisdom of 14. From the start i had planned to just make a tank of a character. I have 23 con (magic item included), the HP feats, Improved toughness and Dwarfs toughness(the DM let me take this 3.0 feat) and i have the UA trait slow. So After all that added up plus high die rolls my Hp is at 77 and because of my party members pity for me i now have a AC of 14 through simply having 2 hand-me-down AC improving magical items.

Now what happens in every battle is that i end up unconcious but stabilized. I'll take down a few of the enemies, but take hits from over half of them because i happen to be the designated meat shield. The lvl 6 fighter that is in my party is jsut too much of a coward to do the job even though he's got more Hp and AC. Even though in ever battle i have droped down to -Hp i have come out of it alive each time(man i love stabilizing at -9 hp). So my question is, should i invest my time and money into geting more Ac boosting items or simply try and get more Con boosting items sense i've lived through everything so far?
ShinAkuma2
08-14-05, 03:32 PM High level Gloves of Dexterity and Periapt of Wisdom will be your friends.
Kintara
08-14-05, 03:45 PM Yes, your AC should improve with stat boosters pretty nicely. I'd also pick up a Ring of Protection. But I like the concept of your character, so an Amy of Health might be a nice addition, too, later on.

Are you planning to go into Fist of Zuoken? Taking some defensive psi powers would help.

As you level, all that Con will help counteract the lost level from Half-Giant, and you should be able to tank as well as the fighter. I'm surprised he's kept up with you this long.
20goingon1232
08-14-05, 08:42 PM AC is always better.... It can really save your skin at that critical last hit (usually their lowest BAB one). The problem with high HP builds is that all the HP in the world won't help you if that monster is hitting you for 50+ a hit at 4 hits a round. It is good if you naturally have a high HP, but for magic item effects, go for AC and fast healing/regen items and only go for HP boosting items if you have the spare cash/slot.
Timlagor
08-14-05, 10:01 PM Get someone to cast Mage Armour on you.

Once you've been hit in combat RUN AWAY (withdraw). You will easily outdistance the Figher.

Why anyone would make a Monk with a Dex of 14 is beyond me though.
allenchan
08-14-05, 10:14 PM Afew things: Monks are not made to be meat shields. They shouldnt even be the primary melee character. They should be used as combat control and skirmishing. At ECL 6 AC 14 is EXTREMELY low. Most Wizards even have a higher AC then that. A good AC and reasonable HP is much better then great hp and no AC. The only viable Monk meat shield I could think off of the top of my head is a is a dwarven monk w/deepwarden levels.... *ponder*
Tyler Do'Urden
08-14-05, 10:32 PM Bracers of Armor are the cheapest way to get your AC up. Rings of deflection and amulets of natural armor come in second, and finally a monk's belt will up your base damage and give you a +1.

Anything that boosts your Dexterity and your Wisdom will also boost your AC. If you can manage to get ahold of a single item that does both, more power to you.

Headband of Perfect Excellence: This pure silk cloth is worn as a headband. It grants the wearer a +6 enhancement bonus to Strength, Dexterity, and Wisdom.
Moderate transmutation; CL 18th; Craft Wondrous Item, bull's strength, cat's grace, owl's wisdom; Price 162,000 gp; Weight -.

Incidentally, which power did you pick for PsyWar 1?
Norhg
08-14-05, 10:44 PM For long term planning try to get Ring of Blinking, preferably, or Cloak of major displacemnt...

Look for alternative defenses, ac in itself is not end be all.
The idea about getting help from your party is a good one.
Mage armor is good.
Flunkies? Yeah, a bunch of meatshields for you... How does that sound?
WizardlyFriend
08-14-05, 10:57 PM karmic strike
wraithful strike weapon quality (enemies and allies)
retributive amulet (book of exalted deeds)

in addition the spells that give you miss chance are great.

one thing to note about slow is that it halves your "base" speed. meaning that if you have a speed of 30 that your actual speed is 15 + any enhancement bonuses (like the bonuses that the monk class gets to speed). ive seen people make similiar mistakes
Disco
08-15-05, 01:57 AM Bracers of Armor are the cheapest way to get your AC up. Rings of deflection and amulets of natural armor come in second, and finally a monk's belt will up your base damage and give you a +1.

What he said. Cheap effective ways of getting extra armour. Tell that fighter he is a ***** then punch him.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kroska 08-14-05, 03:23 PM	First off, my character is a lvl 4 monk/ lvl 1 psycic warrior, half-giant. Origionally before i obtained some AC boosting magical items i had a outstanding AC of 11. I have that because of my Dex of 8, which almost counter acts my wisdom of 14. From the start i had planned to just make a tank of a character. I have 23 con (magic item included), the HP feats, Improved toughness and Dwarfs toughness(the DM let me take this 3.0 feat) and i have the UA trait slow. So After all that added up plus high die rolls my Hp is at 77 and because of my party members pity for me i now have a AC of 14 through simply having 2 hand-me-down AC improving magical items. Now what happens in every battle is that i end up unconcious but stabilized. I'll take down a few of the enemies, but take hits from over half of them because i happen to be the designated meat shield. The lvl 6 fighter that is in my party is jsut too much of a coward to do the job even though he's got more Hp and AC. Even though in ever battle i have droped down to -Hp i have come out of it alive each time(man i love stabilizing at -9 hp). So my question is, should i invest my time and money into geting more Ac boosting items or simply try and get more Con boosting items sense i've lived through everything so far?
ShinAkuma2 08-14-05, 03:32 PM	High level Gloves of Dexterity and Periapt of Wisdom will be your friends.
Kintara 08-14-05, 03:45 PM	Yes, your AC should improve with stat boosters pretty nicely. I'd also pick up a Ring of Protection. But I like the concept of your character, so an Amy of Health might be a nice addition, too, later on. Are you planning to go into Fist of Zuoken? Taking some defensive psi powers would help. As you level, all that Con will help counteract the lost level from Half-Giant, and you should be able to tank as well as the fighter. I'm surprised he's kept up with you this long.
20goingon1232 08-14-05, 08:42 PM	AC is always better.... It can really save your skin at that critical last hit (usually their lowest BAB one). The problem with high HP builds is that all the HP in the world won't help you if that monster is hitting you for 50+ a hit at 4 hits a round. It is good if you naturally have a high HP, but for magic item effects, go for AC and fast healing/regen items and only go for HP boosting items if you have the spare cash/slot.
Timlagor 08-14-05, 10:01 PM	Get someone to cast Mage Armour on you. Once you've been hit in combat RUN AWAY (withdraw). You will easily outdistance the Figher. Why anyone would make a Monk with a Dex of 14 is beyond me though.
allenchan 08-14-05, 10:14 PM	Afew things: Monks are not made to be meat shields. They shouldnt even be the primary melee character. They should be used as combat control and skirmishing. At ECL 6 AC 14 is EXTREMELY low. Most Wizards even have a higher AC then that. A good AC and reasonable HP is much better then great hp and no AC. The only viable Monk meat shield I could think off of the top of my head is a is a dwarven monk w/deepwarden levels.... ponder
Tyler Do'Urden 08-14-05, 10:32 PM	Bracers of Armor are the cheapest way to get your AC up. Rings of deflection and amulets of natural armor come in second, and finally a monk's belt will up your base damage and give you a +1. Anything that boosts your Dexterity and your Wisdom will also boost your AC. If you can manage to get ahold of a single item that does both, more power to you. Headband of Perfect Excellence: This pure silk cloth is worn as a headband. It grants the wearer a +6 enhancement bonus to Strength, Dexterity, and Wisdom. Moderate transmutation; CL 18th; Craft Wondrous Item, bull's strength, cat's grace, owl's wisdom; Price 162,000 gp; Weight -. Incidentally, which power did you pick for PsyWar 1?
Norhg 08-14-05, 10:44 PM	For long term planning try to get Ring of Blinking, preferably, or Cloak of major displacemnt... Look for alternative defenses, ac in itself is not end be all. The idea about getting help from your party is a good one. Mage armor is good. Flunkies? Yeah, a bunch of meatshields for you... How does that sound?
WizardlyFriend 08-14-05, 10:57 PM	karmic strike wraithful strike weapon quality (enemies and allies) retributive amulet (book of exalted deeds) in addition the spells that give you miss chance are great. one thing to note about slow is that it halves your "base" speed. meaning that if you have a speed of 30 that your actual speed is 15 + any enhancement bonuses (like the bonuses that the monk class gets to speed). ive seen people make similiar mistakes
Disco 08-15-05, 01:57 AM	Bracers of Armor are the cheapest way to get your AC up. Rings of deflection and amulets of natural armor come in second, and finally a monk's belt will up your base damage and give you a +1. What he said. Cheap effective ways of getting extra armour. Tell that fighter he is a ***** then punch him.