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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jack Simth" data-source="post: 3467940" data-attributes="member: 29252">We have a Wizard, Wisdom of 12 for whatever reason (classic case - can't wear armor anyway).  All his big guns go into Intelligence - Headband of Intellect +6, the +5 Int Tome, and all his level boosts.  He picks up a Monk's Belt for the 13k, and looks into ways to use it to up his AC further.Well, if he gets a +6 Peripat of Wisdom, he spends 36k to get another +3 AC.  Or he could spend 32k to get a +4 Amulet of Natural Armor (same slot) for 32k.  He saves pennies going with the natural armor.  Sure, the Peripat adds to Will saves as well... but a Wizard already has a good Will save.  The appropriet Tome is obviously out (not exactly saving money there).  He can cast a Quickened Owl's Wisdom on himself... but that lasts minutes, and is only good for a +2.  A Quickened Mirror Image does more for his defenses in most cases.Once he's already maxed out everything else, then it's a benefit.  Until then?  Not so much.About the only time it gets very good is for the Wisdom based characters (Cleric, Druid, and so on) - but they can use armor and shield, which is incompatable with the Monk's belt, and so must compare it to armor and shield from an optimization standpoint.Core Almost worst-case Scenario: Venerable Druid at 20th, base 18 Wis, +6 Peripat, +5 Tome, +3 from aging bonuses, +5 from level up, Wisdom of 37.  +13 Wis modifer, gets +14 AC from the Belt.  Now, the Druid can't use Mithral Armor, so we're comparing it to Dragonhide Fullplate and a Tower Shield (+12 AC, before magic, max Dex +1).  Up to +5, the Bracers of Armor that the Belt druid can buy match, exactly, the cost of enchanting the Fullplate, so we'll ignore them (well, the Druid can get Wilding on the fullplate, keeping it in animal form without worring about it too much, while the Bracers merge (core, anyway).  So far, the Armored Druid is looking at about 4k in extra costs, vs. the 13k for the Belt, but is down... two points of AC (varies based on a secondary stat, Dex, which is capped for the Armored Druid).  Putting a +3 on the shield costs 9k, and puts the armored Druid above the belt druid in terms of normal AC, but puts the prices about the same (armored druid actually slightly cheaper).  The belt Druid is lighter, can go faster, and can take advantage of a more dex (but that adds additional expense).  The Armored Druid can take Total Cover at will.  Overall, slightly in favor of the Belt Druid, but surprisingly not by all that much.The high Dex, High Wis Druid is about the best case for the Belt, and really only ecks out a few more points of AC for the cost.  Not a lot.  Clerics are often better off with Mithral, due to the increased Dex cap.  There is a break-even point, though.Basically, at low- to Mid levels (about 1-10), the Monk's belt isn't worth not having shield and armor.  At Mid to High (about 11-16), it's mostly style (break even).   Once wealth is hardly a concern anymore (about 17+), the Belt starts to get ahead (with support from other items).  When you hit Epic, it comes into it's own (again, with support from other items).  If you spend most your game-time at 17+, yeah, the Belt is going to seem a bit overpowered.  Otherwise?  Not so much.</blockquote>

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