Astrosicebear
First Post
High AC is old edition thinking. Its all about the HP now.
D&D 5E Bounded Accuracy: does it deliver as promised?
High AC is old edition thinking. Its all about the HP now.
Sacrosanct
Legend
In theory, sure. But you can only cast shield 4 times (since it's not a spell you can cast with higher slots) unless you use your sorcery to give up spell slots to purchase lower ones. And I just can't see that happening very often in actual game play with everything else going on (need for spells in non-combat, various tactics in combat, etc) And with the way 5e is, you won't get full plate until at least mid levels I'm guessing.
TLDR version: I'm not a big fan of very specific theory builds because they rarely ever end up that way in actual play
ExploderWizard
Hero
NOW?
Allow me to let you in on the worst kept secret of D&D.
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ALL ABOUT THE HIT POINTS BABY!! WHHHOOOO!!!!!!!!
You can cast any spell at higher slots. Not every spell gives a benefit for doing so.
The way to really get this going is to use a level 18 wizard with Spell mastery and something that gives heavy armor. Then you can cast shield at will. Of course, then you would be sacrificing your signature spell. I really like how 5e is an edition of trade-offs.
This. You can create a character capable of reaching (and even maintaining) astronomical ACs, but your damage output is going to be somewhere between fluffy bunny and corn dog.
T
TDarien
Guest
Well, there's nothing preventing you casting shield in a higher-level slot, it just doesn't give any additional benefits if you do.
D
dco
Guest
As always, but bonuses work differently. You start with +2 proficiency bonus to some skills/attacks/saves and it improves by +1 each 4 lvls, contrary to +1 base attack each lvl.
All rolls are d20+characteristic bonus (+5 max for players with some exceptions)+ proficiency bonus, maximum typically is 11 and players normally start with something between +2 and +7.
AC doesn't improve with level and magic items are rare, monsters are usually between 12-18 AC and players a bit more for all their career unless the DM gives them something. There are also far less buffs at the same time and few of them add simple bonuses.
When you are lvl 20 with 18AC a wolf with +4 can hit you and with advantage (roll 2 dice choose the highest) it can do it easily. It's the same the other way, with lvl 1 you can hit a mighty dragon.
Sacrosanct
Legend
but it would still be more advantageous to swap out a higher level spell for spell points, and use those points to buy 1st level slots, than just use shield at a higher slot. Sorry for wording it poorly
Hrothgar Rannúlfr
Explorer
Agreed. Seeing players begin to find creative ways to avoid combat but still accomplish their goals is nice. There's a newfound fear and respect for monsters that was missing, for a while.
variant
Adventurer
The game is not balanced around magical items. Magical items are outside the purview of the system and are added solely at the discretion of the DM. If a DM breaks the game by giving his players a lot of magical items, that is solely his fault.
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