Enhancement bonuses of Magical Armor versus Touch Attacks?

[Kid Charlemagne]

This has come up in my game recently... Do the enhancement bonuses of armor count versus a touch attack?

Example: Human, 10 Dex, +2 magical leather armor for a total of AC 14 under ordinary circumstances. Is his touch AC 12 or 10?

The description of touch attacks mentions many kinds of bonuses that do and don't apply, but doesn't specifically mention enhancement bonuses. I assumed that the enhancement bonus is part of the armor bonus, but can't find a definitive statement to back that up.

I'd like an official ruling, although I'm perfectly willing to make the judgement call if need be.

 

[Arcanus]

I would say no.

I believe the rules to say ( don't have books handy) only natural armor, dexterity and deflection bonuses can be used to get an AC against touch attacks.

In our campaign we extended this to cover bonuses also. So spells that grant cover (i.e. Shield) or hiding behind tower shields etc... grant an AC against touch attacks also.

Right now it really sucks for my sorcerer. Haven't been hitting the big bad clerics lately.

 

[Zhure]

Dodge , cover, DEX, deflection... I think that's it for touch AC. Natural specifically doesn't count against touch attacks.

Greg

 

[Caliban]

This has come up in my game recently... Do the enhancement bonuses of armor count versus a touch attack?

No.

Example: Human, 10 Dex, +2 magical leather armor for a total of AC 14 under ordinary circumstances. Is his touch AC 12 or 10?

10

The description of touch attacks mentions many kinds of bonuses that do and don't apply, but doesn't specifically mention enhancement bonuses. I assumed that the enhancement bonus is part of the armor bonus, but can't find a definitive statement to back that up.

A touch attack bypasses natural armor and armor bonuses. An an enhancment bonus to armor increases the armor bonus of the armor, it doesn't provide a seperate enhancement bonus to AC.

I'd like an official ruling, although I'm perfectly willing to make the judgement call if need be.

DMG, page 177, Enhancement: "An enhancement bonus represents an increase in the strengh or effectiveness of a characters armor or weapon..."

 

[Caliban]

Dodge , cover, DEX, deflection... I think that's it for touch AC. Natural specifically doesn't count against touch attacks.

Greg

The only things touch attacks bypass are natural armor and armor.

Any other AC bonus still applies, such as luck, sacred, profane, circumstance, competence, insight, haste, moral, etc.

 

[Zhure]

Heh. That'll teach me to post while watching tv. I knew that and said it all backwards.

Greg

 

[Henrix]

The enhancement bonus of a magical armor increases the armor bonus.
So, it does not help versus touch attacks.

 

[Wolf72]

although that'd be a cool new armor enhancement ... +4 enhancement bonus ... the armor also provides protection from touch/ranged touch attacks

(rough rough idea)

 

[Artoomis]

although that'd be a cool new armor enhancement ... +4 enhancement bonus ... the armor also provides protection from touch/ranged touch attacks

(rough rough idea)

The way to do this, perhaps, is have the enchantment change the type of protection completely. Like Armor of Dodging or something. It's something I've thought about, as I have a character with AC 21 but it's 10 vs. touch attacks. I'm petrified of anything that strikes with touch attacks!

 

[Wolf72]

that works. I'd still make sure to give it a high enhancement rating