Shield Mastery CSR Response

[Danceofmasks]

Shields don't have enhancement bonuses.

 

[Cadfan]

1. It only makes Shield Specialization useless if you have two feats to blow instead of one.

2. The reason that shields give a flat AC boost instead of one that grows as you invest feats and magic enhancements is because AC boosts are equally valuable regardless of level. This is something that 3e got very wrong, and 4e is getting mostly right: +3 AC is just as powerful at level 1 as it is at level 30.

 

[ravenight]

Shields don't get enhancement bonuses to AC, afaik. I agree that there's no real reason for the shield and armor mastery feats not to stack. Likewise, I'd think that shield mastery should stack with lightning reflexes.

 

[Danceofmasks]

Shields don't get enhancement bonuses to AC, afaik. I agree that there's no real reason for the shield and armor mastery feats not to stack. Likewise, I'd think that shield mastery should stack with lightning reflexes.

They're both feat bonuses, so no ... shield specialization and lightning reflexes does not stack.

 

[theNater]

ozziewolf: Don't let it freak you out. To pull even to the defender, the striker needs to start with a 20 in dex or int. This is really expensive in point buy and really difficult by rolls.

Xorn or Xorne: Your math is really messed up. I recommend recalculating everything, and double-checking all of your assumptions.

However, addressing your main issue, think of it like this. Your standing AC is affected by only one suit of armor, no matter how many suits you may be wearing. Your standing AC is affected by only one shield, no matter how many shields you may strap to your arms. Your standing AC is affected by only one feat, no matter how many feats you may know. This prevents unrestricted AC boosting, which means that people creating monsters can know your approximate AC based on your level, without knowing what feats you have.

 

[Xorn]

I already said my initial thoughts were incorrect, but thanks for pointing out what I already stated. I hadn't actually noticed there are no magic shields, a point which I happily conceed, and also forgot that masterwork plate advances better than hide.

I reserve the right to say that it feels wonky that armor and shield bonuses stack but feats do not. I understand the 1 armor, 1 shield, 1 class, 1 race, 1 feat, 1 item, 1 enchancement, 1 power, and any untyped bonus stacking mechanics, and I understand why it is built this way.

It still think it feels weird, if that's alright.

A rogue starting with 20 Dex (finishing with 28) wearing Elderhide armor with Two-Weapon Defense and Hide Specialization has:

10 + 9 + 5 + 1 + 1 = 26 base AC. (Enhancement bonuses and the rest should be the same.)

The paladin in Godplate w/ Heavy Shield and Plate Specialization has:
10 + 14 + 2 + 1 = 27 base AC.

There's the fixed math. That rogue is hurting in other abilities in getting that 20, but that's where he's going to top out. With +6 enhancement and +15 for 30th level, somewhere around 47 actual AC at 30th, right? The paladin should have 48.)

 

[erik_the_guy]

A rogue starting with 20 Dex (finishing with 28) wearing Elderhide armor with Two-Weapon Defense and Hide Specialization has:

10 + 9 + 5 + 1 + 1 = 26 base AC. (Enhancement bonuses and the rest should be the same.)

The paladin in Godplate w/ Heavy Shield and Plate Specialization has:
10 + 14 + 2 + 1 = 27 base AC.

There's the fixed math. That rogue is hurting in other abilities in getting that 20, but that's where he's going to top out. With +6 enhancement and +15 for 30th level, somewhere around 47 actual AC at 30th, right? The paladin should have 48.)

That's not so bad. In order to match what a defender does with the best armor, the striker has to max out a stat.
The best heavy armor at max level: AC + 14 (14)
The best light armor and dex mod at max level: AC + 14 (9+5)
And, since all strikers have dex or int as a main stat, this option is available to all of them.
I'm guessing that this is the formula they used.
Keep in mind all classes can use the same shields (defenders automatically, strikers if they blow 2 feats). Also keep in mind that all classes that meet the requirements can use the same feats, and you will find that all classes have the same endgame AC. The difference is that defenders can achieve that by spending only one or two feats and without having to balance stats.

What defenders have that strikers don't (to the same extent) are more hit points and powers that focus on defense. Keep in mind that a striker that maxes out a dex/int stat WILL NOT have a high constitution score.

 

[Klaumbaz]

Check the erratta on scale mastery, i think it does more than remove movement bonus. I would, but i can't ever get the gleeed forums to work.

 

[Lord Sessadore]

Scale specialization does do more than just remove the movement penalty - it gives you +1 AC when wearing scale armor. Just like all the other Armor Specialization feats

 

[Kordeth]

Scale specialization does do more than just remove the movement penalty - it gives you +1 AC when wearing scale armor. Just like all the other Armor Specialization feats

Yes, but it's a feat bonus, and it therefore doesn't stack with Shield Mastery. Ergo, as the OP said, if you're using shield mastery, all it does is remove the movement penalty.