AC question

[cignus_pfaccari]

In our relatively low-magic campaign, in which "magic shoppes" were few and far between, this was the reason the PCs kept the Bracers of Armor +1, rather than sell them.

That's why we usually wore those. Well, that, and there's almost no other useful set of bracers in the game.

And, if dispelled, the Mage Armor is never to be seen again, but the Bracers will reboot in d4 rounds.

Brad

 

[Aust Diamondew]

For people who can't wear armor, what are good ways to raise the AC for PC's around 6-7th lvl?

To adress your last question I recommend having mage armor cast on you (which last 1/hour level), ring of protection +1 and amulet of natural armor +1, buckler shield +1 (only 5% arcane spell failure).

There are a few other AC boosting spells that are either personal or have short durations:
Shield (wiz 1) 1 min/level, personal, +4 shield bonus to AC, magic missle immunity (won't stack with shields such as said buckler)
Shield of Faith (clr 1) 1 min/level, touch, +3 deflection by level 6 (won't stack with ring of protection)
Barkskin (Druid 1) 10 min/level, touch, +4 enhancement to natural armor at level 6 (won't stack with amulet of natural armor)
Cat's Grace (wiz 2) 1 min/level, touch, nets +2 AC (won't stack with gloves of dex later on)

Reduce person also will give a net increase to AC of +2 but it has a few drawbacks/advantages in addition to the AC increasing effects.

 

[Shin Okada]

For people who can't wear armor, what are good ways to raise the AC for PC's around 6-7th lvl?

There is a better version of Mage Armor spell, called Greater Mage Armor, in Complete Arcane. It provides +6 armor bonus to AC.

 

[Nail]

But it's 3rd level....there are other 3rd level spells a Wiz will want to cast (when he's around 6th level).

 

[Shin Okada]

But it's 3rd level....there are other 3rd level spells a Wiz will want to cast (when he's around 6th level).

Yeah. But it costs only 225 gp to make a scroll of 3rd-level spell at 6th level. And one scroll is usually enough for a day's dungeon delve. It may help if someone really needed high AC.

I don't know if said "who can't wear armor" is a wizard of sorcerer. If so, high AC may not that much important (may depends on party configuration) . But if a party caster is trying to help a party monk, or if he himself is a fighter mage type, +6 armor bonus is very good at that level.

 

[Krafen]

To adress your last question I recommend having mage armor cast on you (which last 1/hour level), ring of protection +1 and amulet of natural armor +1, buckler shield +1 (only 5% arcane spell failure).

A mithral buckler has no ASF.

 

[FEADIN]

Don't forget the fighter who can need some force armor when facing incorporeal creatures, even his fullplate is +0 ac in this case, bracers or mage armor can help.

 

[Scratched_back]

Hi all,

Just another use of bracers that I haven't seen mentioned yet, and a reason even fighter's love 'em:

I've played in numerous games where Bracers of Armour have been dished out to casters and rogues and other low/no armour wearers, then once they're replaced by a superior effect or item then the fighters and melee boys squabble over them. Turns out, they're ideal for sleeping in!

Most DMs worth their salt won't let a fighter sleep in full plate without magical assistance, it's just too restrictive. This way, when setting up camp and resting (i.e. without their armour) if there is any unexpected hassle, their AC isn't totally down the pan.

 

[Krelios]

Bracers and Full Plate, nope

Full Plate and Mage Armor, yes

Mage Armor and Bracers, yes

practically the only combinations i'd let work.

Isn't that inconsistent? Full Plate and +4 Bracers is exactly the same result as Full Plate and Mage Armor. The bracers also have Mage Armor as a prerequisite. That just seems wrong to me.

It's already pretty clear what stacks and what doesn't, and it seems clear to most of the posters here that there's a reason for it.

 

[kenobi65]

I've played in numerous games where Bracers of Armour have been dished out to casters and rogues and other low/no armour wearers, then once they're replaced by a superior effect or item then the fighters and melee boys squabble over them. Turns out, they're ideal for sleeping in!

Most DMs worth their salt won't let a fighter sleep in full plate without magical assistance, it's just too restrictive. This way, when setting up camp and resting (i.e. without their armour) if there is any unexpected hassle, their AC isn't totally down the pan.

That works. By the RAW, sleeping in Medium or Heavy armor will cause you to be fatigued the following day (unless you have the Endurance feat, and even that only helps with Medium armor). In our (lower-level) groups, where there aren't extra sets of Bracers of Armor floating around, the tanks got tired of attacks in the middle of the night that found them unarmored. So, they all invested in chain shirts (the best Light armor) to sleep in. We refer to them as "chainmail jammies."