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Message: <blockquote data-quote="dmnqwk" data-source="post: 6838796" data-attributes="member: 6804204">In 5th edition, Armour is no longer a single, stackable, number but instead utilises a couple of methods:Standard Armour Class calculation is 10 + dexterity modifier, everyone has access to this calculation at all times.Wearing Armour offers a second calculation, such as Leather offering you 11 + dexterity modifier.Mage Armour, the spell, offers a further calculation of 13 + dexterity modifier.Barbarian offers you 10 + dexterity modifier + constitution modifierBarkskin offers you 16 only (no modifications allowed).Natural Armour offers you a precise number (no modifications allowed).While it may seem Barkskin is a new kettle of fish, in 5th edition there are precisely 2 ways of calculating Armour Class:1) X + modifiers, wherein X represents a base number (such as 10 for the standard formula or 13 for a Mage Armour spell) and X represents additional bonuses (such as dexterity modifier or wisdom modifier)2) Set Armour to X, where X is a specific number which is not altered by other factors (like Barkskin)Each monster or player can have multiple armour calculations, unlike previous editions wherein you would have a single calculation that may have additional modifiers such as +2 AC versus piercing weapons, but ultimately each calculation is made... and then you pick the one you wish to use:If a Druid with a Dex of 20 has mage armour cast on her, then casts Barkskin on herself before shifting into a Brown bear... she will have the following armour calculations available:Universal calculation of 10 + dex mod (so 10 in the bear's case)Bear's Natural Armour Class of 11Mage Armour of 13 + dex (so 13 for the bear)Barkskin 16As far as I know, the druid may freely choose which armour class is used (unless somewhere the rules say you must use the highest, in which case she is forced to use the 16) but has 4 differing calculations to take advantage of. When she shapeshifts back into druid form, her options are now:Universal 15 (base 10 + 20 dex offering an additional 5)Mage Armour 18 (13 + dex mod of 5)Barkskin 16This means in normal form her AC becomes 18, if she chooses. Having multiple Armour Class options available isn't too common, especially when you ignore the Universal option (since 90% of the time you'll be wearing armour or have some kind of spell/ability to buff your AC instead) but it still exists.</blockquote>

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