Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 themaster408 Sep 18, 2011 16:21:44	I can't figure this to be anything but a mistake.  If you create a paladin, let's say, level 1.  For the sake of simplicity, don't give him any equipment other than some plate armor and make him Dex and Int 10.  Plate gives you +8 right? So he's at 18 AC. Now give him any +1 plate.  He's AC is 19 now due to the +1 magic. Now give him any +2 plate.  He's AC is now 21.  How does this make any sense.  Shouldn't it be 20 (10 + 8 plate + 2 magic enhance)? Try it yourself.  This is without any shields or anything.  I thought it was an essentials mistake, but then I tried it on a normal paladin and it did the same.   Also tried it on a cleric and a fighter, I imagine it will keep happening.  What's up? I did read someone say something about revised armor rules in essentials.
#2 RedSiegfried Sep 19, 2011 9:06:49	Yep, this is all correct.  Magic armor gives a higher armor bonus now depending on what type you have and what the enhancement is.  This kinda bakes in the "standard" armor bonus you'd get for having masterwork armor, making it automatic.  The table showing this was published in the Heroes Of ... books and it's the standard 4e rule now, not just for Essentials.   Your +2 plate should give +2 for the enhancement bonus and +9 for the armor bonus, so enjoy your new higher AC! FYI, if you want, you can still select different types of masterwork armor in the CB - ones that give you a slightly lower armor bonus in exchange for some other benefit like a NAD bonus or DR. If you ask me, they should really have put this rule in the Rules Compendium because it's a change that a lot of people notice and if they don't have the Heroes Of books it's confusing.