Dex bonus to AC

[Lordrel]

Really stupid question, but I am at work and this is bugging me....

If a character is wearing armor that has a max dex bonus, does that affect the dexterity for other things, like the reflex save? I can think how it would, but the rules seem to state that the max dex bonus listed for armor is max dex bonus to AC, implying that it is not affected elsewhere. So if the max dex bonus is reduced for everything, does this affect prerequisits for feats? Say I'm in platemail but need a 40 dex for a feat (stretch)....

 

[Victim]

Armor only reduces the dexterity bonus to AC. It doesn't effect Reflex saves and other stuff.

 

[IceBear]

What victim said. I could certainly see someone house ruling that it does affect Reflex saves (some DM I played one session under didn't realize that it was only for AC until I brought it up - he then said, "Doesn't make sense, so I'll stick with my way". Couldn't really argue with him other than it's not how the rules are written )

IceBear

 

[argo]

No, the max dex bonus affects only the ammount of dex you can apply to your armor class. The logic here is that the Armor Check penalty already represents your armor making it harder for you to move. Limiting dex based skills and such by the max dex bonus in addition to the check penalty would be double dipping. And as for Ref saves; they are as much about your ability to quickly recognize danger and find sutable cover as they are about your ability to physically get out of the way. A lightly armored rouge who makes his Ref save can be said to have dived out of the way while a fighter clad in full-plate who makes the same save could be said to have curled up in a ball with his shield over his head. Nothing says that making a Ref save means that you went bouncing around like Jackie Chan.

 

[IceBear]

No, the max dex bonus affects only the ammount of dex you can apply to your armor class. The logic here is that the Armor Check penalty already represents your armor making it harder for you to move. Limiting dex based skills and such by the max dex bonus in addition to the check penalty would be double dipping. And as for Ref saves; they are as much about your ability to quickly recognize danger and find sutable cover as they are about your ability to physically get out of the way. A lightly armored rouge who makes his Ref save can be said to have dived out of the way while a fighter clad in full-plate who makes the same save could be said to have curled up in a ball with his shield over his head. Nothing says that making a Ref save means that you went bouncing around like Jackie Chan.

Understood. And that's why in MY games, I run as per the books (just explaining, earlier, how in another game that I didn't run the DM didn't agree)

IceBear