AC improving items for a higher level party?

[Elder-Basilisk]

Nope, not every bad guy will have True Seeing. However, a lot of major bad guys will - major demons & devils, powerful spellcasters, etc.

Curiously, major demons have true seeing, in 3.5 though, most major devils do not have it. Greater mirror image is not a defense against a marilith but it works just fine against a cornugon.

Also, while we are discussing ways characters can boost their ACs, don't forget the recitation spell. +2 or +3 luck bonus to AC is a very handy stacking bonus. It can also be quickened productively around 17th level or so. A quickened recitation is a reasonable way to spend an 8th level slot. (Or your 7th level domain slot if you have the purification domain).

 

[NewJeffCT]

The Psion can use Inertial Armor to get at least +11 Armor bonus to AC all day long.

The Cleric can use a Mithral Breastplate with Magic Vestment to get +10 to AC. Add Twilight (MIC), Nimbleness (MIC), and Feycraft (DMGII) and even the sorcerer can wear it. A Twilight Mithral Chain Shirt would be simpler though.

I'm surprised that the Cleric only has a 20 Wisdom at this level. Either he started out low, or he hasn't boosted it hardly at all. I don't know the power level of your game.

+1 AC = Dusty Rose Ioun Stone
+6 AC = Mithral Buckler +5
+8 AC = Bracers of Armor +8
+5 AC = Ring of Protection +5
+5 AC = Amulet of Natural Armor +5
+3 AC = Gloves of Dexterity +6

That's +28 to AC
10 Base + 28 = 38 AC

You can replace the shield with a Monk's Belt, a +6 WIS item, and a Force Shield ring. That will give you at least the same bonus, maybe more. And the Monk's Belt does give WIS to AC as it's listed under the AC Bonus ability of the Monk. The best part is that though it won't stack with armor, it will stack with Bracers of Armor.

The cleric bumped up a couple of her other stats over time - Wis has gone from 18 to 20, but I think she also bumped CHA and CON up by 1 to go from 13s to 14s.

She's an archer-type cleric, so I'm not sure a buckler would work with her bow, and I think she already has Gloves of Dexterity +4, so an upgrade would be another +1 to AC. Other choices would be improving the amulet of natural armor by 1 or 2 more, and the same with her Ring of Protection.

 

[KerlanRayne]

The cleric bumped up a couple of her other stats over time - Wis has gone from 18 to 20, but I think she also bumped CHA and CON up by 1 to go from 13s to 14s.

She's an archer-type cleric, so I'm not sure a buckler would work with her bow, and I think she already has Gloves of Dexterity +4, so an upgrade would be another +1 to AC. Other choices would be improving the amulet of natural armor by 1 or 2 more, and the same with her Ring of Protection.

But does she have a +6 Wisdom item? If she already does, she started with a 12, which is really low. If she doesn't, why not. Wisdom is her primary stat. It's also nice with Zen Archery which I think is common for an archer cleric to reduce MAD.

As to the Buckler:

Buckler

This small metal shield is worn strapped to your forearm. You can use a bow or crossbow without penalty while carrying it.

You can also add the Shield Crystal of Arrow Deflection from the MIC to get +5 AC vs all ranged attacks.

 

[NewJeffCT]

But does she have a +6 Wisdom item? If she already does, she started with a 12, which is really low. If she doesn't, why not. Wisdom is her primary stat. It's also nice with Zen Archery which I think is common for an archer cleric to reduce MAD.

As to the Buckler: You can also add the Shield Crystal of Arrow Deflection from the MIC to get +5 AC vs all ranged attacks.

nobody in the group has a +5 or +6 item of any sort. Maybe I'm old school, but I generally go by the +1 every four levels, so weapons/items are at +4 at level 16 and +5 at level 20.

Some of the front-line fighters have belts of giant strength+4, while the sorcerer & paladin have cloaks of charisma... but, is there an equivalent wisdom or int improving item?

and, are there items that would let (for example) the psion add his INT bonus to his AC? Or, the rogue for that matter.

 

[kyrand]

Headband of Intellect & Periapt of Wisdom.

The cleric I play in one of my games swears by his Monk'S Belt, Periapt of Wisdom, and Gloves of Dexterity. And as soon as I can afford it, Bracers of Armor, here I come!

Note - I'm also benefitting from the AC bumps of some of the sacred feats, namely Vow of Peace and Vow of Nonviolence. Very easy to focus on healing and buffing when not trying to decide between that and unleashing a flame strike or something.

 

[NewJeffCT]

Headband of Intellect & Periapt of Wisdom.

The cleric I play in one of my games swears by his Monk'S Belt, Periapt of Wisdom, and Gloves of Dexterity. And as soon as I can afford it, Bracers of Armor, here I come!

Note - I'm also benefitting from the AC bumps of some of the sacred feats, namely Vow of Peace and Vow of Nonviolence. Very easy to focus on healing and buffing when not trying to decide between that and unleashing a flame strike or something.

Thanks - our cleric used Firestorm to great effect a couple of battles back...

Now, is there an INT-based item that is the equivalent of the monk's belt?