Balance Debate Question: +1 Dodge to One Target vs +1 Armour vs all

[KarinsDad]

Was a poll needed?

#1 works all of the time against a single opponent including touch attacks.

#2 works all of the time against multiple opponents with the exception of opponents doing touch attacks.

#1 is better defense for and against spell casters.

#2 is better defense for and against weapon users.

So, I suspect that since most combats have more weapon users and fewer spell casters in many campaigns, by default the poll is skewed to answer with #2 (even over #3). But, power is not the same as utility and the results of the poll do not really indicate a power comparison as claimed. It indicates a utility comparison.

 

[Rystil Arden]

Was a poll needed?

#1 works all of the time against a single opponent including touch attacks.

#2 works all of the time against multiple opponents with the exception of opponents doing touch attacks.

#1 is better defense for and against spell casters.

#2 is better defense for and against weapon users.

So, I suspect that since most combats have more weapon users and fewer spell casters in many campaigns, by default the poll is skewed to answer with #2 (even over #3). But, power is not the same as utility and the results of the poll do not really indicate a power comparison as claimed. It indicates a utility comparison.

I originally also thought a poll was not needed, until this became a point of contention in another thread. I figured everyone would follow the exact logic in your post.

 

[Stalker0]

#2. While touch attacks come up more than the flatfooted condition the fact that dodge is only 1 person is what make the +1 armor come up on top. I'd say in most fights your fighting at least 2 if not more people, and even more than 1 spellcaster. I'd rather have a bonus against everything I'm fighting.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

IcyCool is correct--they are clearly not situationally equivalent. The question is which has the edge overall.

Pssst. I think you missed my opening point:

Much of this is situational.

Of course it is situational. It is more DM dependant than anything. How does the DM play? Is the DM capable fo using good tactics? Poor tactics? Does the DM use more magic? More weapon combatants? Monsters with natural attacks or spell/psi -like abilities?

Unfortunately, I'm not really sure the poll will give you what you are looking for. It seems as though some people are not getting to your question. Reading the choices, I suspect most people click on #2 simply because option #2 is a common houserule and bookkeeping simple. [Heck, in my games I even use that as a houserule]. Unfortuantely that isn't your question. You aren't asking which easier or even which is personally preferred for ease of gameplay. Rather, which is more useful.

To that, I'd say it depends on the table and who's behind the screen.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

The large majority of the time option 2 will be better.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

The vast majority of the time #2 is better.

It boils down to this. Do you see more or
(A) situations where a single combatant is attacked by more than one combatant, ot
(B) ray or other touch attacks?

Now it is true that a touch attack is probably more nasty than your run-of-the-mill normal attack. But the frequency is so skewed towards A over B that it is not going to make enough of a difference.

Keep in mind that the Dodge vs. one opponent does not help you by RAW unless you have had an opportunity to designate the effect and chose the correct one for the following round.

 

[irdeggman]

By allowing the armor bonus to bypass the rules for stacking bonuses it becomes much more powerful.

The reason to take Dodge in the first place (other than as a prerequisite for other feats) is that Dodge Bonuses always stack while armor bonuses specifically do not.

 

[Nail]

FWIW, I'd say Option #2 is "more effective overall". In most games I've run or seen, the distinction between a Dodge AC bonus and an Armor AC bonus comes up rather infrequently.