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Character Builds & Optimization
The AC on a Budget challenge
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<blockquote data-quote="Greenfield" data-source="post: 6232278" data-attributes="member: 6669384"><p>Ok, let's look at the pros and cons...</p><p></p><p>There's always the competition between slot economy and cash economy. Lots of little items are cheaper, but they end up running into each other competing for item slots. You can make them "off slot" or even slotless, but that runs the cost up again.</p><p></p><p>There are other tricks as well. A slotless Hand of Glory costs 16k, but lets you wear an extra magic ring. Doesn't really come into play here, but it's the kind of thinking needed for this.</p><p></p><p>If he has a decent Wisdom, a Monk's Belt works, but he can't wear any other armor. A Periapt of Wisdom would be cheap AC in that case, but would keep him from wearing an Amulet of Natural Armor.</p><p></p><p>Dastana aren't "armor", but count as Shields instead. Similar to a Buckler, they allow 2 weapon fighting, which I would construe as working with a bow as well.</p><p></p><p>If we go with actual armor, he could go as heavy as Full Plate if it was Mithral or Glass Steel. (Both drop armor weight by one category). It restricts movement and DEX though. Maybe Mithral or Glass Steel Chain Mail?</p><p></p><p>An Animated shield would leave his hands free for two weapon or archery, but gets expensive. Still, +1 Animated Shield costs (+1 enchantment, +2 Animated) 9k and gives a total AC bonus of +3, so it's one of the cheaper +3s out there. </p><p></p><p>Over all, I'm thinking Monk's Belt, Periapt of Wisdom, Gloves of Dexterity, a Ring and either Dastana or an Animated Shield.</p><p></p><p>The Periapt vs the Natural Armor amulet is a question. With the Monk's Belt they give the same bang for the buck, but the Periapt also adds to Touch AC, as well as enhancing his spell capacity. It also leaves him open to casting <em>Barkskin</em> on himself.</p><p></p><p>Dastana get a better bang for the buck than the Shield, but they conflict with actual Bracers. </p><p></p><p>So...</p><p></p><p>Bracers of Armor +5, for 25K</p><p>Monk's Belt 13K for current Wisdom bonus to AC. Call it 3</p><p>Periapt of Wisdom +4, another 2 AC for 16k</p><p>Ring of Protection +3, for 18k</p><p>Animated Shield +1 gives 3 to AC for 9k</p><p>Gloves of Dexterity +4 give 2 points to AC for 16k.</p><p></p><p>My total on that is 97k out of my 100k budget, and a non-flatfooted AC of <drumroll> 28.</p><p></p><p>Seems like we should be able to do better than that. Even with <em>Barkskin</em> at maximum level, he's still only at 33.</p><p></p><p>C'mon you guys, somebody make me look like a piker here.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Greenfield, post: 6232278, member: 6669384"] Ok, let's look at the pros and cons... There's always the competition between slot economy and cash economy. Lots of little items are cheaper, but they end up running into each other competing for item slots. You can make them "off slot" or even slotless, but that runs the cost up again. There are other tricks as well. A slotless Hand of Glory costs 16k, but lets you wear an extra magic ring. Doesn't really come into play here, but it's the kind of thinking needed for this. If he has a decent Wisdom, a Monk's Belt works, but he can't wear any other armor. A Periapt of Wisdom would be cheap AC in that case, but would keep him from wearing an Amulet of Natural Armor. Dastana aren't "armor", but count as Shields instead. Similar to a Buckler, they allow 2 weapon fighting, which I would construe as working with a bow as well. If we go with actual armor, he could go as heavy as Full Plate if it was Mithral or Glass Steel. (Both drop armor weight by one category). It restricts movement and DEX though. Maybe Mithral or Glass Steel Chain Mail? An Animated shield would leave his hands free for two weapon or archery, but gets expensive. Still, +1 Animated Shield costs (+1 enchantment, +2 Animated) 9k and gives a total AC bonus of +3, so it's one of the cheaper +3s out there. Over all, I'm thinking Monk's Belt, Periapt of Wisdom, Gloves of Dexterity, a Ring and either Dastana or an Animated Shield. The Periapt vs the Natural Armor amulet is a question. With the Monk's Belt they give the same bang for the buck, but the Periapt also adds to Touch AC, as well as enhancing his spell capacity. It also leaves him open to casting [I]Barkskin[/I] on himself. Dastana get a better bang for the buck than the Shield, but they conflict with actual Bracers. So... Bracers of Armor +5, for 25K Monk's Belt 13K for current Wisdom bonus to AC. Call it 3 Periapt of Wisdom +4, another 2 AC for 16k Ring of Protection +3, for 18k Animated Shield +1 gives 3 to AC for 9k Gloves of Dexterity +4 give 2 points to AC for 16k. My total on that is 97k out of my 100k budget, and a non-flatfooted AC of <drumroll> 28. Seems like we should be able to do better than that. Even with [I]Barkskin[/I] at maximum level, he's still only at 33. C'mon you guys, somebody make me look like a piker here. [/QUOTE]
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