Help with Rogue - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Help with Rogue

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
bloodofgods
Mar 23, 2009 2:12:42 Hello I am playing a rogue in a campaign we are running, and I am having a problem with armor class and need some opinions

The problem I am having is I can't seem to find out the benefit to using armor over a monks belt...

I have 18 dexterity, 14 wisdom, and lots of cash to spend

If i take a monks belt, my armor class base becomes 17, (4 dex, 2 wisdom, +1 bonus from belt), getting a +6 gloves of dex and 6+ periapt of wisdom this gets me to 23 base.

Now doing this, I could buy bracers of armor +8 on me and that puts myself at 31....

In comparsion, the best armor a rogue can wear is +5 mithril chainmail/breastplate, which is a 10 armor bonus. Assume this plus the 7 dex we have from the last example and we are at 27 armor class.
Add in a +5 animated shield, and we are at 34 armor class in this example.

using the spell shield in the monks belt case, puts us at 35 armor class, so we are only off by a value of 1.

However, in the monks belt case, my touch armor class is 23, and in the +5 armor, +5 shield, case my touch armor class in only 17.

So my main question becomes would it just be better to do monks belt with a slightly higher armor bonus/touch armor class, or are there any armor enhancements that are worth getting?

The core question becomes, are there any enhancement bonuses that make wearing armor worth it?

And finally, is there are kind of magic armor enhancement that would add the armors armor bonus to a characters touch armor class? If so where is this found?
#2
sofawall
Mar 23, 2009 2:21:40 If you're a light/unarmoured character already, or have a high wis, I like Monk's Belt.
#3
bloodofgods
Mar 23, 2009 2:28:19
If you're a light/unarmoured character already, or have a high wis, I like Monk's Belt.

I seem to agree. It seems like the only reason to go the armor method is it is a LOT cheaper, which would let said character focus more on their melee attributes, which is a good thing...

Anyways, I would love more opinions and see if anyone knows if there is an enchancement armor that adds its armor bonus to touch armor class

if you can't tell im kinda phobic about having low touch armor class because frankly high touch+evasion and good will saves makes most caster enemies pretty useless

So once again, is it better to have the enhancements from shield/armor or have a higher touch armor class?
#4
bloodofgods
Mar 23, 2009 11:41:49 anyone?
#5
cole_caecus
Mar 23, 2009 12:28:11 Lets see... this is what i would do, if you have the gold.

Get the monks belt.

Get bracers of armor +8.
Put Fortification, Heavy +5 bonus, immune to Crits and Sneak Attacks
Put Styptic on it +1 Bonus, automatically stabilise when dying, and resist blood draining abilities.
Put Displacement on it, +1 Bonus, 5 rounds a day displacement.

Thats what i would do.
#6
gorfnad_the_shiznit
Mar 23, 2009 16:58:12 What is your character's Int score and build? Wisdom is an odd score for a rogue to really on. Dex and Int are the best ones. I've made some Rogue builds before that utilize a similar tactic to yours but are probably more efficient at getting there. Something like Rogue 3/ Monk 2/ Swashbuckler 3/ Invisible Blade 5/ Master Thrower 2/ Duelist 5 with Carmendine Monk (or Kung-Fu Genius) with Dex 20 and Int 20 would have an AC of 30 (38 against Attacks of Opportunity) without any magic items.
#7
bloodofgods
Mar 23, 2009 17:23:45
What is your character's Int score and build? Wisdom is an odd score for a rogue to really on. Dex and Int are the best ones. I've made some Rogue builds before that utilize a similar tactic to yours but are probably more efficient at getting there. Something like Rogue 3/ Monk 2/ Swashbuckler 3/ Invisible Blade 5/ Master Thrower 2/ Duelist 5 with Carmendine Monk (or Kung-Fu Genius) with Dex 20 and Int 20 would have an AC of 30 (38 against Attacks of Opportunity) without any magic items.

Nice thought, we're sadly MOSTLY core, I have no idea what invisible blade, swashbuckler, or duelist is

and my stats CORE at level 9 are 18 str, 18 dex, 16 con, 16 int, 14 wisdom, 8 charima

We used 4d6 drop 1 dice method for determining stats
#8
muertog
Mar 23, 2009 17:29:40 Swashbuckler is a base class from Complete Warrior, Duelist is a prestige class from Dungeon Master's Guide (Core!), Invisible Blade is a prestige class from Complete Warrior.
#9
sofawall
Mar 24, 2009 4:14:46
Lets see... this is what i would do, if you have the gold.

Get the monks belt.

Get bracers of armor +8.
Put Fortification, Heavy +5 bonus, immune to Crits and Sneak Attacks
Put Styptic on it +1 Bonus, automatically stabilise when dying, and resist blood draining abilities.
Put Displacement on it, +1 Bonus, 5 rounds a day displacement.

Thats what i would do.

What are you putting these abilities on?
#10
dr_rocktopus
Mar 24, 2009 4:47:36 Swash is my favorite class. It's not the best, not even nearly. But it's still my favorite. Probably due to the history behind it. The Complete Warrior book is also my fave complete, and really helps out your lonely second-class citizens. It might be worth picking up for your campaign.
#11
reis
Mar 24, 2009 5:28:56 also using a monk's belt takes up your waist slot, which is not inconsiderable considering items like belt of battle etc
#12
cole_caecus
Mar 24, 2009 11:54:45
What are you putting these abilities on?

On the Bracers of Armor.

You can put armor special abilities on bracers of armor.

Bracers of Armor and Armor Special Abilities A character who has the Craft Magic Arms and Armor and Craft Wondrous Item feats, as well as mage armor and all the other prerequisites necessary, can add the armor special abilities shown on Table 8–6 in the DUNGEONMASTER’s Guide to a set of bracers of armor. The cost is the same as for adding a special ability to normal armor: an increase in the effective bonus of the bracers. Just as magic armor can never exceed a +8 enhancement bonus, bracers of armor never provide more than a +8 armor bonus. However, special abilities can increase the effective bonus as high as +13 (bracers +8 with an ability valued at +5, such as heavy fortification). The market prices for bracers of armor with an effective bonus higher than +8 are as follows: 81,000 gp (+9), 100,000 gp (+10), 121,000 gp (+11), 144,000 gp (+12), 169,000 gp (+13). Any special ability that can be added to armor can be added to bracers of armor. Armor qualities with a cost expressed in gp rather than an effective bonus can be added to bracers for the same price. If you are using the Epic Level Handbook, characters with Craft Epic Magic Arms and Armor and Craft Epic Wondrous Item can create bracers of armor with a higher effective bonus than +13. To calculate the market price for such items, square the total effective bonus and multiply
the result by 10,000 gp.
#13
muertog
Mar 24, 2009 18:52:25
On the Bracers of Armor.

You can put armor special abilities on bracers of armor.

Bracers of Armor and Armor Special Abilities A character who has the Craft Magic Arms and Armor and Craft Wondrous Item feats, as well as mage armor and all the other prerequisites necessary, can add the armor special abilities shown on Table 8–6 in the DUNGEONMASTER’s Guide to a set of bracers of armor. The cost is the same as for adding a special ability to normal armor: an increase in the effective bonus of the bracers. Just as magic armor can never exceed a +8 enhancement bonus, bracers of armor never provide more than a +8 armor bonus. However, special abilities can increase the effective bonus as high as +13 (bracers +8 with an ability valued at +5, such as heavy fortification). The market prices for bracers of armor with an effective bonus higher than +8 are as follows: 81,000 gp (+9), 100,000 gp (+10), 121,000 gp (+11), 144,000 gp (+12), 169,000 gp (+13). Any special ability that can be added to armor can be added to bracers of armor. Armor qualities with a cost expressed in gp rather than an effective bonus can be added to bracers for the same price. If you are using the Epic Level Handbook, characters with Craft Epic Magic Arms and Armor and Craft Epic Wondrous Item can create bracers of armor with a higher effective bonus than +13. To calculate the market price for such items, square the total effective bonus and multiply
the result by 10,000 gp.

I am going to have to call BS on this one unless you can provide a page number. Was going through my 3.5 DMG and do not see information on enchanting Bracers o Armor past +8, nor of adding armor enchantments. Bracers of Armor are on page 250. Table 8-6 does not exist. Table 7-5 has info on Armor special abilities, 7-6 only has info on Shield special abilities.

Side note, some armor augment crystals DO work on bracers of armor, but make sure that the requirements for the crystal do not specifically state shield or a type of armor. This info is in the MIC, page 221.
#14
cole_caecus
Mar 24, 2009 19:27:59
I am going to have to call BS on this one unless you can provide a page number. Was going through my 3.5 DMG and do not see information on enchanting Bracers o Armor past +8, nor of adding armor enchantments. Bracers of Armor are on page 250. Table 8-6 does not exist. Table 7-5 has info on Armor special abilities, 7-6 only has info on Shield special abilities.

Call it what you want, i copy pasted it directly from the Arms and Equipment Guide, Page 130.
#15
muertog
Mar 24, 2009 19:41:44
Call it what you want, i copy pasted it directly from the Arms and Equipment Guide, Page 130.

Arms/Equipment guide is 3.0 material.
#16
jameswilliamogle
Mar 24, 2009 19:43:40
Arms/Equipment guide is 3.0 material.

3.0 material is good for 3.5 unless there was a specific update for that material... I think its a DM call on whether the 3.5 rules on crafting were meant to supercede this portion of A&E or not, though (I'm not sure either way; I'm inclined to lean on the "probably not" side, though). His DM would definitely say no ("mostly core").

The rules for custom items are in the DMG, though, so he might get it through that way.
#17
cole_caecus
Mar 24, 2009 19:52:24 Meh, its just what i would do. I know Arms and Equipment is 3.0, but since there wasnt an update for it, then its rules still apply.

As for the whole Core Only thin, i would at least ask the DM. he isnt taking any items from the book, just a rule.

But, as you said, its ultimatly up to the DM.
#18
zenogu
Mar 24, 2009 22:14:45 in case your DM won't allow enhancing Bracers of Armor, the only good point to wearing armor would be the... enchantments.
Heavy Fortification could be a life-saver, as is Death-Ward armor (literally)
#19
bloodofgods
Mar 25, 2009 0:37:29
in case your DM won't allow enhancing Bracers of Armor, the only good point to wearing armor would be the... enchantments.
Heavy Fortification could be a life-saver, as is Death-Ward armor (literally)

What does death-ward enhancement do?
#20
bahamut920
Mar 25, 2009 1:17:33 I don't recall any Death Ward armor, but I am aware of an armor enhancement called soulfire, from Complete Divine (I think... if not, it's Complete Warrior), which, at a +5 armor enhancement, renders you immune to all forms of death effects, energy drain, etc.
#21
jameswilliamogle
Mar 25, 2009 7:12:00 For touch attacks, you're mainly worried about spells. The Reflecting enchantment is pretty nice for this sort of thing... Its +5, though. An animated reflecting mithril heavy shield with greater magic vestment would be an expensive item, for sure, but grant you several nice bennies (invest in Spellcraft to know what spell is being cast on you before you decide to reflect it).

17 vs. 23 touch AC isn't a monsterous difference in the grand scheme of things; it "feels" similar to 20% concealment vs. 50% concealment. Enemy spellcasters will have a harder time hitting you, but grapple / disarm / trip enemies are going to be about the same, regardless.

I'd do the Monk's Belt setup, and get a Ring of Blinking (which is going to help you in more ways than just defensive - Blink still works against Truesight, though not quite as effectively, and allows Sneak Attack).
#22
pithica
Mar 25, 2009 7:33:05
What does death-ward enhancement do?

I don't recall any Death Ward armor, but I am aware of an armor enhancement called soulfire, from Complete Divine (I think... if not, it's Complete Warrior), which, at a +5 armor enhancement, renders you immune to all forms of death effects, energy drain, etc.

Death Ward armor is in the MIC on page 10. 1/day it lets you ignore death effect or negative energy effect. It's a +1 enhancement.
#23
bloodofgods
Mar 25, 2009 13:52:46
For touch attacks, you're mainly worried about spells. The Reflecting enchantment is pretty nice for this sort of thing... Its +5, though. An animated reflecting mithril heavy shield with greater magic vestment would be an expensive item, for sure, but grant you several nice bennies (invest in Spellcraft to know what spell is being cast on you before you decide to reflect it).

17 vs. 23 touch AC isn't a monsterous difference in the grand scheme of things; it "feels" similar to 20% concealment vs. 50% concealment. Enemy spellcasters will have a harder time hitting you, but grapple / disarm / trip enemies are going to be about the same, regardless.

I'd do the Monk's Belt setup, and get a Ring of Blinking (which is going to help you in more ways than just defensive - Blink still works against Truesight, though not quite as effectively, and allows Sneak Attack).

The one problem with this is my dm feels the ring of blinking is too powerful (for rogues since it always allows sneak attack) and thus negates it existence
#24
bloodofgods
Mar 25, 2009 13:54:38 Or he uses the rule that since your blinking, your enemies have a 20% miss chance (the same as your) or your miss chance goes up to 50% (the same as their's)
#25
jameswilliamogle
Mar 25, 2009 15:24:32 Yeah then its not worth it. Cloak of Displacement, maybe? Heck, I say just play a Druid. Never buy any magic items and still pwn the game. Your DM sounds like a real hard-ass.
#26
sofawall
Mar 25, 2009 15:57:25 Dang houseruling DMs who don't even know what's good or not...

I'll bet he allows Shapechange and Gate, doesn't he?

I guess I'm lucky, as the players I'm DMing are absolutely useless at optimization, except one, but he's only semi-proficient, and is playing a ranger anyway, so no trouble from him. I can therefore let my players basically run free with the rules, and they still won't break my game.

(It actually got to the point where I had to help the cleric player be as useful as the dwarven monk...)

EDIT: Just checked the blink spell, umm, why does it make you take half damage from falling, wouldn't it make you take no damage (because you're only falling short distances in between blinks)? Their logic confuses me.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 bloodofgods Mar 23, 2009 2:12:42	Hello I am playing a rogue in a campaign we are running, and I am having a problem with armor class and need some opinions The problem I am having is I can't seem to find out the benefit to using armor over a monks belt... I have 18 dexterity, 14 wisdom, and lots of cash to spend If i take a monks belt, my armor class base becomes 17, (4 dex, 2 wisdom, +1 bonus from belt), getting a +6 gloves of dex and 6+ periapt of wisdom this gets me to 23 base. Now doing this, I could buy bracers of armor +8 on me and that puts myself at 31.... In comparsion, the best armor a rogue can wear is +5 mithril chainmail/breastplate, which is a 10 armor bonus. Assume this plus the 7 dex we have from the last example and we are at 27 armor class. Add in a +5 animated shield, and we are at 34 armor class in this example. using the spell shield in the monks belt case, puts us at 35 armor class, so we are only off by a value of 1. However, in the monks belt case, my touch armor class is 23, and in the +5 armor, +5 shield, case my touch armor class in only 17. So my main question becomes would it just be better to do monks belt with a slightly higher armor bonus/touch armor class, or are there any armor enhancements that are worth getting? The core question becomes, are there any enhancement bonuses that make wearing armor worth it? And finally, is there are kind of magic armor enhancement that would add the armors armor bonus to a characters touch armor class? If so where is this found?
#2 sofawall Mar 23, 2009 2:21:40	If you're a light/unarmoured character already, or have a high wis, I like Monk's Belt.
#3 bloodofgods Mar 23, 2009 2:28:19	If you're a light/unarmoured character already, or have a high wis, I like Monk's Belt. I seem to agree. It seems like the only reason to go the armor method is it is a LOT cheaper, which would let said character focus more on their melee attributes, which is a good thing... Anyways, I would love more opinions and see if anyone knows if there is an enchancement armor that adds its armor bonus to touch armor class if you can't tell im kinda phobic about having low touch armor class because frankly high touch+evasion and good will saves makes most caster enemies pretty useless So once again, is it better to have the enhancements from shield/armor or have a higher touch armor class?
#4 bloodofgods Mar 23, 2009 11:41:49	anyone?
#5 cole_caecus Mar 23, 2009 12:28:11	Lets see... this is what i would do, if you have the gold. Get the monks belt. Get bracers of armor +8. Put Fortification, Heavy +5 bonus, immune to Crits and Sneak Attacks Put Styptic on it +1 Bonus, automatically stabilise when dying, and resist blood draining abilities. Put Displacement on it, +1 Bonus, 5 rounds a day displacement. Thats what i would do.
#6 gorfnad_the_shiznit Mar 23, 2009 16:58:12	What is your character's Int score and build? Wisdom is an odd score for a rogue to really on. Dex and Int are the best ones. I've made some Rogue builds before that utilize a similar tactic to yours but are probably more efficient at getting there. Something like Rogue 3/ Monk 2/ Swashbuckler 3/ Invisible Blade 5/ Master Thrower 2/ Duelist 5 with Carmendine Monk (or Kung-Fu Genius) with Dex 20 and Int 20 would have an AC of 30 (38 against Attacks of Opportunity) without any magic items.
#7 bloodofgods Mar 23, 2009 17:23:45	What is your character's Int score and build? Wisdom is an odd score for a rogue to really on. Dex and Int are the best ones. I've made some Rogue builds before that utilize a similar tactic to yours but are probably more efficient at getting there. Something like Rogue 3/ Monk 2/ Swashbuckler 3/ Invisible Blade 5/ Master Thrower 2/ Duelist 5 with Carmendine Monk (or Kung-Fu Genius) with Dex 20 and Int 20 would have an AC of 30 (38 against Attacks of Opportunity) without any magic items. Nice thought, we're sadly MOSTLY core, I have no idea what invisible blade, swashbuckler, or duelist is and my stats CORE at level 9 are 18 str, 18 dex, 16 con, 16 int, 14 wisdom, 8 charima We used 4d6 drop 1 dice method for determining stats
#8 muertog Mar 23, 2009 17:29:40	Swashbuckler is a base class from Complete Warrior, Duelist is a prestige class from Dungeon Master's Guide (Core!), Invisible Blade is a prestige class from Complete Warrior.
#9 sofawall Mar 24, 2009 4:14:46	Lets see... this is what i would do, if you have the gold. Get the monks belt. Get bracers of armor +8. Put Fortification, Heavy +5 bonus, immune to Crits and Sneak Attacks Put Styptic on it +1 Bonus, automatically stabilise when dying, and resist blood draining abilities. Put Displacement on it, +1 Bonus, 5 rounds a day displacement. Thats what i would do. What are you putting these abilities on?
#10 dr_rocktopus Mar 24, 2009 4:47:36	Swash is my favorite class. It's not the best, not even nearly. But it's still my favorite. Probably due to the history behind it. The Complete Warrior book is also my fave complete, and really helps out your lonely second-class citizens. It might be worth picking up for your campaign.
#11 reis Mar 24, 2009 5:28:56	also using a monk's belt takes up your waist slot, which is not inconsiderable considering items like belt of battle etc
#12 cole_caecus Mar 24, 2009 11:54:45	What are you putting these abilities on? On the Bracers of Armor. You can put armor special abilities on bracers of armor. Bracers of Armor and Armor Special Abilities A character who has the Craft Magic Arms and Armor and Craft Wondrous Item feats, as well as mage armor and all the other prerequisites necessary, can add the armor special abilities shown on Table 8–6 in the DUNGEONMASTER’s Guide to a set of bracers of armor. The cost is the same as for adding a special ability to normal armor: an increase in the effective bonus of the bracers. Just as magic armor can never exceed a +8 enhancement bonus, bracers of armor never provide more than a +8 armor bonus. However, special abilities can increase the effective bonus as high as +13 (bracers +8 with an ability valued at +5, such as heavy fortification). The market prices for bracers of armor with an effective bonus higher than +8 are as follows: 81,000 gp (+9), 100,000 gp (+10), 121,000 gp (+11), 144,000 gp (+12), 169,000 gp (+13). Any special ability that can be added to armor can be added to bracers of armor. Armor qualities with a cost expressed in gp rather than an effective bonus can be added to bracers for the same price. If you are using the Epic Level Handbook, characters with Craft Epic Magic Arms and Armor and Craft Epic Wondrous Item can create bracers of armor with a higher effective bonus than +13. To calculate the market price for such items, square the total effective bonus and multiply the result by 10,000 gp.
#13 muertog Mar 24, 2009 18:52:25	On the Bracers of Armor. You can put armor special abilities on bracers of armor. Bracers of Armor and Armor Special Abilities A character who has the Craft Magic Arms and Armor and Craft Wondrous Item feats, as well as mage armor and all the other prerequisites necessary, can add the armor special abilities shown on Table 8–6 in the DUNGEONMASTER’s Guide to a set of bracers of armor. The cost is the same as for adding a special ability to normal armor: an increase in the effective bonus of the bracers. Just as magic armor can never exceed a +8 enhancement bonus, bracers of armor never provide more than a +8 armor bonus. However, special abilities can increase the effective bonus as high as +13 (bracers +8 with an ability valued at +5, such as heavy fortification). The market prices for bracers of armor with an effective bonus higher than +8 are as follows: 81,000 gp (+9), 100,000 gp (+10), 121,000 gp (+11), 144,000 gp (+12), 169,000 gp (+13). Any special ability that can be added to armor can be added to bracers of armor. Armor qualities with a cost expressed in gp rather than an effective bonus can be added to bracers for the same price. If you are using the Epic Level Handbook, characters with Craft Epic Magic Arms and Armor and Craft Epic Wondrous Item can create bracers of armor with a higher effective bonus than +13. To calculate the market price for such items, square the total effective bonus and multiply the result by 10,000 gp. I am going to have to call BS on this one unless you can provide a page number. Was going through my 3.5 DMG and do not see information on enchanting Bracers o Armor past +8, nor of adding armor enchantments. Bracers of Armor are on page 250. Table 8-6 does not exist. Table 7-5 has info on Armor special abilities, 7-6 only has info on Shield special abilities. Side note, some armor augment crystals DO work on bracers of armor, but make sure that the requirements for the crystal do not specifically state shield or a type of armor. This info is in the MIC, page 221.
#14 cole_caecus Mar 24, 2009 19:27:59	I am going to have to call BS on this one unless you can provide a page number. Was going through my 3.5 DMG and do not see information on enchanting Bracers o Armor past +8, nor of adding armor enchantments. Bracers of Armor are on page 250. Table 8-6 does not exist. Table 7-5 has info on Armor special abilities, 7-6 only has info on Shield special abilities. Call it what you want, i copy pasted it directly from the Arms and Equipment Guide, Page 130.
#15 muertog Mar 24, 2009 19:41:44	Call it what you want, i copy pasted it directly from the Arms and Equipment Guide, Page 130. Arms/Equipment guide is 3.0 material.
#16 jameswilliamogle Mar 24, 2009 19:43:40	Arms/Equipment guide is 3.0 material. 3.0 material is good for 3.5 unless there was a specific update for that material... I think its a DM call on whether the 3.5 rules on crafting were meant to supercede this portion of A&E or not, though (I'm not sure either way; I'm inclined to lean on the "probably not" side, though). His DM would definitely say no ("mostly core"). The rules for custom items are in the DMG, though, so he might get it through that way.
#17 cole_caecus Mar 24, 2009 19:52:24	Meh, its just what i would do. I know Arms and Equipment is 3.0, but since there wasnt an update for it, then its rules still apply. As for the whole Core Only thin, i would at least ask the DM. he isnt taking any items from the book, just a rule. But, as you said, its ultimatly up to the DM.
#18 zenogu Mar 24, 2009 22:14:45	in case your DM won't allow enhancing Bracers of Armor, the only good point to wearing armor would be the... enchantments. Heavy Fortification could be a life-saver, as is Death-Ward armor (literally)
#19 bloodofgods Mar 25, 2009 0:37:29	in case your DM won't allow enhancing Bracers of Armor, the only good point to wearing armor would be the... enchantments. Heavy Fortification could be a life-saver, as is Death-Ward armor (literally) What does death-ward enhancement do?
#20 bahamut920 Mar 25, 2009 1:17:33	I don't recall any Death Ward armor, but I am aware of an armor enhancement called soulfire, from Complete Divine (I think... if not, it's Complete Warrior), which, at a +5 armor enhancement, renders you immune to all forms of death effects, energy drain, etc.
#21 jameswilliamogle Mar 25, 2009 7:12:00	For touch attacks, you're mainly worried about spells. The Reflecting enchantment is pretty nice for this sort of thing... Its +5, though. An animated reflecting mithril heavy shield with greater magic vestment would be an expensive item, for sure, but grant you several nice bennies (invest in Spellcraft to know what spell is being cast on you before you decide to reflect it). 17 vs. 23 touch AC isn't a monsterous difference in the grand scheme of things; it "feels" similar to 20% concealment vs. 50% concealment. Enemy spellcasters will have a harder time hitting you, but grapple / disarm / trip enemies are going to be about the same, regardless. I'd do the Monk's Belt setup, and get a Ring of Blinking (which is going to help you in more ways than just defensive - Blink still works against Truesight, though not quite as effectively, and allows Sneak Attack).
#22 pithica Mar 25, 2009 7:33:05	What does death-ward enhancement do? I don't recall any Death Ward armor, but I am aware of an armor enhancement called soulfire, from Complete Divine (I think... if not, it's Complete Warrior), which, at a +5 armor enhancement, renders you immune to all forms of death effects, energy drain, etc. Death Ward armor is in the MIC on page 10. 1/day it lets you ignore death effect or negative energy effect. It's a +1 enhancement.
#23 bloodofgods Mar 25, 2009 13:52:46	For touch attacks, you're mainly worried about spells. The Reflecting enchantment is pretty nice for this sort of thing... Its +5, though. An animated reflecting mithril heavy shield with greater magic vestment would be an expensive item, for sure, but grant you several nice bennies (invest in Spellcraft to know what spell is being cast on you before you decide to reflect it). 17 vs. 23 touch AC isn't a monsterous difference in the grand scheme of things; it "feels" similar to 20% concealment vs. 50% concealment. Enemy spellcasters will have a harder time hitting you, but grapple / disarm / trip enemies are going to be about the same, regardless. I'd do the Monk's Belt setup, and get a Ring of Blinking (which is going to help you in more ways than just defensive - Blink still works against Truesight, though not quite as effectively, and allows Sneak Attack). The one problem with this is my dm feels the ring of blinking is too powerful (for rogues since it always allows sneak attack) and thus negates it existence
#24 bloodofgods Mar 25, 2009 13:54:38	Or he uses the rule that since your blinking, your enemies have a 20% miss chance (the same as your) or your miss chance goes up to 50% (the same as their's)
#25 jameswilliamogle Mar 25, 2009 15:24:32	Yeah then its not worth it. Cloak of Displacement, maybe? Heck, I say just play a Druid. Never buy any magic items and still pwn the game. Your DM sounds like a real hard-ass.
#26 sofawall Mar 25, 2009 15:57:25	Dang houseruling DMs who don't even know what's good or not... I'll bet he allows Shapechange and Gate, doesn't he? I guess I'm lucky, as the players I'm DMing are absolutely useless at optimization, except one, but he's only semi-proficient, and is playing a ranger anyway, so no trouble from him. I can therefore let my players basically run free with the rules, and they still won't break my game. (It actually got to the point where I had to help the cleric player be as useful as the dwarven monk...) EDIT: Just checked the blink spell, umm, why does it make you take half damage from falling, wouldn't it make you take no damage (because you're only falling short distances in between blinks)? Their logic confuses me.