Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="hanniball" data-source="post: 3232563" data-attributes="member: 48357">Warning:  Somewhat long post  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> If by "considerably" you mean 6 points lower, then you are correct.  Everything in my 55 AC build was core-only save for the Alter Self cast via Anyspell (PGtF).  Edit:  Divine Spell Power and Divine Shield are also non-core.Dude, what is impressive when compared to pun-pun?  Also, it doesn't take a "great variety of books" to generate an optimized character, or "power-gamey" as you put it, as the core rules can provide significantly powerful characters and builds.  Utilizing most of these rules to create an effective character is not regretable, but encouragable in my opinion.  Obviously, with great power comes even greater responsibility as a role-player, however.Thanks.  Honestly, I just threw every AC boosting effect I could think of off the top of my head and it turned out decent and playable.  The only thing non-Phb is the Anyspell spell from the Player's Guide to Faerun.  That's how I get the +6 natural armor bonus to enhance with Barkskin.  Helpful, but far from necessary.While I agree, how does one specifically differentiate "flavor text" from "game mechanics?"  I can think of a few Prc requirements that appear to be nothing but flavor text.Have you read the PhBII's description of the polymorph subschool?  As per this rules change, all gear worn or carried melds into the new form.  Also, you lose all class features and special abilities.  If this doesn't balance Polymorph, I don't know what will.  WotC's feeble attempts are the Trollshape and Dragonshape spells (PhBII again) which are powerful in their own right, but simply pale in comparison to Polymorph and Shapechange, respectively.Ok, so you get one attack, every other round, and you need a 18-20 to hit the ACs presented...doesn't make for a very sound argument, considering the minimal use of non-core material used to generate a high AC.Note that in any spellcasting-based high AC build, caster level modification is essential and, therefore, makes dispelling much more difficult in an appropriate CR encounter.  Also note that Dispel Magic actually only dispels one spell at a time.The best offense is a good defense.  At least there are many that adhere to this particular doctrine.I'm not sure what you mean by "real D&D," but in the campaigns I've played in Polymorph and Alter Self have seen extensive use.  It is extremely entertaining to play a frail wizard type that, when required to participate in melee combat, can become an effective combatant through the use of such spells.  It also makes for a great escape plan and situational problem solver, as it can grant flight capabilities, reach, specific damage types (slashing, piercing, bludgeoning), swim/burrow/climb speed, and an effective disguise.Your statement is not only generalized, but just plain wrong.What constitutes "easy" in your opinion?  Casting a few spells is pretty damn easy for any cleric and, as Deset Gled has shown, any wizard as well.  If boosting one's attack bonus through the use of magic is "easy" then so, too, is enhancing one's armor class.Spells and powers that allow a character to bypass specific aspects of another's AC is not a bonus to hit and should, therefore, not be included in this particular discussion, IMO.  Otherwise one word destroys a massive amount of AC potential:  Wraithstrike.*whew* Finally, where did the OP go?  S/he hasn't posted since the first page.</blockquote>

Verification