Can AC go below 0?

[Ogrork the Mighty]

I'm thinking of a broad side of a barn. Say, size modifier -8 and Dex modifier of -5 for a total of -3 (10-8-5). Does that sound right?

 

[AuraSeer]

Sure, AC can be negative; there's no rule against it. It's still possible to miss, because some characters will have a negative attack modifier.

 

[azmodean]

For an example of someone who might miss the broad side of a barn (AC-3), how about a lvl 5 ranger with a longbow (let's assume +10 bonus to attacks with the bow)... at 1000', which gives them a -20 to hit. They still need to roll a 7 or better to hit. (of course, this kind of range doesn't come up too often except with sieges and mass battles)

 

[Ferret]

Why would you be seiging a barn? Dire donkeys? There is definately a way to get negative AC. Large oozes do it regularily.

 

[cmanos]

Sure, AC can be negative; there's no rule against it. It's still possible to miss, because some characters will have a negative attack modifier.

and a roll of 1 always misses

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Interesting discussion, though I can't think of many times when anything less than an AC 2 will make a difference. The arrow fired from extreme range is the only one that comes to mind...

 

[Felix]

For a second there, I was about to respond to the title of the post...

"Actually, in 3e and 3.5, Armor Class improves by going up, and not by going down like what used to be the case in ADnD. Even then, though, AC could go below 0."

And then I realized I would look like a goon. Heh.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

I was thinking more along the lines of using the Power Attack feat to take a big penalty for a big increase in damage output. If the AC is so bad it's in the negative, all the better for Power Attack...

 

[Lord Pendragon]

I was thinking more along the lines of using the Power Attack feat to take a big penalty for a big increase in damage output. If the AC is so bad it's in the negative, all the better for Power Attack...

Power Attack is capped at your BAB. So with a 10+ strength, you can full Power Attack and still hit an AC 2 on everything except a 1, which is an automatic failure. Again, I don't really see much of a reason to need an AC in the negatives.

 

[FireLance]

Power Attack is capped at your BAB. So with a 10+ strength, you can full Power Attack and still hit an AC 2 on everything except a 1, which is an automatic failure. Again, I don't really see much of a reason to need an AC in the negatives.

Just in case some Real Roleplayer (tm) wants to play Cedric the 1st-level Gnome Commoner, with a Strength of 1 and an improvised weapon "because it's in character, you know" for a net attack bonus of -9.

Yes, I'm being snarky.