Help with AC?

[Asmor]

Hey, out of the blue I basically had a game fall into my lap and so I'm finally gonna get the chance to play... I made a level 3 human rogue/fighter (primarily fighter, I just took 1st level of rogue to get a lot of skills and I'll probably train up to 3rd level in it to get evasion and the extra sneak attack die).

I envision my character as an agile and wily combatant, and to that end dexterity is his primary attribute. Actually, I rolled 15, 14, 14, 13, 10 and 9, so there's not much of a difference between my low strength (13) and my high dex (15). The 14s went in intelligence and constitution. He specializes in the spiked chain and uses it whenever possible, but also keeps a dagger in his boot and a couple darts on his belt.

Anyways, I decided to just go with leather armor, as that gives me the best AC available without an armor check penalty. The problem is, I've only got AC 14 (2 dex + 2 armor), which seems kinda low to me. I've got 5 ranks in tumble, so I can take -4 to my attack to gain +3 AC, but that doesn't seem like a good deal... Especially since I only have +5 to hit with my chain and +4 with any of my secondary weapons.

In addition, between taking the rogue for first level and some crappy rolls, I have 19 hp.

So... am I just making much ado about nothing or do you think my AC is a bit low too? And how can I improve it?

Also, if you have any other tips, I'd love to hear them.

 

[Darkness]

For starters, take masterwork studded leather armor, if you can afford it. That gives you 1 more AC than leather and has no ACP, either.

 

[Asmor]

For starters, take masterwork studded leather armor, if you can afford it. That gives you 1 more AC than leather and has no ACP, either.

Thanks, that's a great idea that never occurred to me. Unfortunately, it's about 80 gp out of my spending range right now if I traded in my leather armor... I'll just make a mental note to pick some up when time and finances permit.

Here are my feats... I'd really prefer to keep all of them, but if anyone thinks I absolutely should, for example, switch out weapon focus for say dodge, I'll consider it.

Weapon Finesse
Combat Expertise (Taken solely as a prereq for improved disarm, I doubt I'll use this much for the same reason I probably won't use the fighting defensively option)
Improved Disarm
Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Spiked Chain)
Weapon Focus (Spiked Chain)

 

[Telperion]

Don't know how much starting money your DM is giving you, but according to the DMG you should have 2700 gp. I think you should be able to buy a masterwork studded leather with that.

Of course if your DM isn't giving you quite so much that's a different story...

 

[BigAlzBub]

If your GM allows stuff from the splat books, go for improved buckler defence, it knocks 1 off your to hit rolls but allows you to use a shield.

 

[MerakSpielman]

Can you use a buckler at the same time as a spiked chain? I can't remember.

Fighting defensively is a decent option in certain circumstances. If your hp get too low, turn on the total defense and get outa there. Did you put some ranks in Tumble?

You should have taken Combat Reflexes, btw. The spiked chain will give you AoOs when people approach you, but right now you're limited to 1/round.

Looks like you'll be saving up your money for AC-increasing magical items.

 

[Asmor]

Don't know how much starting money your DM is giving you, but according to the DMG you should have 2700 gp. I think you should be able to buy a masterwork studded leather with that.

Of course if your DM isn't giving you quite so much that's a different story...

The DM is giving us the max gold listed for our class in the PHB... which would be a whopping 240 gp, iirc.

He also has the massively screwed up rule with languages... I've got a 14 intelligence and know 7 languages, but apparently except for common I have to make checks to ask simple things like "How much will you pay for this gem."

But I'm just happy to have a chance to play. It's his game, his rules.

 

[Synchronicity]

As regards your levels for a moment, if you're going to 3rd in Rogue, you may as well get 4th as well. It's a sweet level: you get BAB and that oh-so-nifty ability, Uncanny Dodge. I'm of the opinion that if you enter rogue, you may as well leave after 4th because you get BAB for every level after 1st and decent stuff at all levels.

Bit of a tangent there. As regards your original question, Improved Buckler Defense from Complete Warrior is decent. You can use your off-hand for a second or two-handed weapon, still use a buckler, and merely suffer a -1 to hit. If you have full starting cash of 2,700 and your GM allows it, suck it up and buy the cheesiest armour in the world - a mithril chain shirt. +4 AC, no acp, 1,100 GP.* Sure it's expensive, but worth every penny. Beyond that, there aren't that many tricks you can pull at your level. Once you have the money, get the buckler enchanted and make one end of your spiked chain defending for more AC.

*[tangential rant]It's well known that there are only two armours in the D&D world: mithril chain shirts and mithril full plate. Unless you're a dwarf, where you may be wearing bizarre armour quarried from solid stone, because you're just that hard. I'm constantly amazed there's so much bloody mithril in the world.[/tangential rant]

 

[Asmor]

Can you use a buckler at the same time as a spiked chain? I can't remember.

Fighting defensively is a decent option in certain circumstances. If your hp get too low, turn on the total defense and get outa there. Did you put some ranks in Tumble?

You should have taken Combat Reflexes, btw. The spiked chain will give you AoOs when people approach you, but right now you're limited to 1/round.

Looks like you'll be saving up your money for AC-increasing magical items.

I think you're right about the combat reflexes... Reading up on Disarm, which I plan on doing a lot, it looks like I'll get an attack of opportunity every time my opponent tries to pick up his weapon, which should be pretty often considering I get +8 between having a 2 handed weapon and the feat... What to get rid of, though? Weapon Focus?

 

[MerakSpielman]

You're going to need a lot of feats to flesh out this concept. I'd drop weapon focus for now, but you'll surely want it back at some point. Combat Reflexes is too important a feat for a dex-based spiked-chain-wielder to not get it.