D&D 5E AC 25+

[jadrax]

I think mage armour is not armour and definitely does stack with unarmoured defence. There is nothing in either description to suggest they dont stack. It is also not overpowered, since an mc sorcerer could get a similar ac by mcing with fighter or war cleric instead and simply wearing actual armour. The opportunity cost is the mc stat requirement and losing a level of sorcerer, plus fluff complications (if any - eg dont barbs hate magic?).

Mage Armour makes the target’s base AC become 13 + its Dexterity modifier. This is not +3 AC, it is a straight substitution.

now we don't know how Unarmoured Defense works, but I am guessing it will be 10 + Dexterity modifier + Another Stat Modifier.

In which case, its not doing anything that can stack. You AC is either 13 + Dex Mod or its 10 + Dex Mod + Stat Mod. Nothing says you can somehow have 13 + Dex Mod + Stat mod.

 

[Psikerlord#]

Mage Armour makes the target’s base AC become 13 + its Dexterity modifier. This is not +3 AC, it is a straight substitution.

now we don't know how Unarmoured Defense works, but I am guessing it will be 10 + Dexterity modifier + Another Stat Modifier.

In which case, its not doing anything that can stack. You AC is either 13 + Dex Mod or its 10 + Dex Mod + Stat Mod. Nothing says you can somehow have 13 + Dex Mod + Stat mod.

Ah, you are right and I am wrong - I should read before I post! Soz!

 

[jadrax]

Ah, you are right and I am wrong - I should read before I post! Soz!

That's alright. The rules are only out in basic form, and there's a metric ton of spoilers and leaked material. On top of that a lot of us are understandably making assumptions based on what was and was not in play test.

None of us can expect encyclopedic rules knowledge right now, don't sweat it.

 

[Branduil]

That's actually a pretty clever way to get around armor stacking problems.

 

[keterys]

That's actually a pretty clever way to get around armor stacking problems.

Yeah, kudos to them on taking steps like that

 

[MortalPlague]

I had two different players at two different tables try to stack the barbarian defense with mage armor. I think it's going to be a common mis-reading of the rules.

WotC should have a quick 'FAQ' style document about "These Combos Don't Stack".

 

[Plaguescarred]

It is a commun misunderstanding in Rules Q&A on WotC boards of what i could see.

 

[CM]

I had two different players at two different tables try to stack the barbarian defense with mage armor. I think it's going to be a common mis-reading of the rules.

WotC should have a quick 'FAQ' style document about "These Combos Don't Stack".

For some reason the idea popped into my head to woodburn the "thou shalt not stack" list onto a baseball bat and keep it handy at the table.

 

[Thaumaturge]

None of us can expect encyclopedic rules knowledge right now, don't sweat it.

But next week, all bets are off.

Thaumaturge.

 

[Iosue]

It strikes me that 5e has a much tighter design than might be seen at first glance. Just about every rules-exploit I've seen relies on a dubious and overly literal reading of the rules.