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Message: <blockquote data-quote="erik_the_guy" data-source="post: 4370295" data-attributes="member: 70483">There is a certain balance between heavy armor and light armor that makes either a good choice in certain situations.Heavy armor offers a better AC bonus, which increases while you advance in tiers at an accelerated rate. Light armor offers a modest AC bonus, which increases across tiers at a lesser rate. In general, a character with a very high INT/DEX score and light armor has the same AC as one in heavy armor.The following chart shows the AC bonus of two characters. One is in heavy armor (plate mail) and the other is in light armor (Hide). Both armors improve at about 11th and 21st level. We assume a maximized DEX or INT score for the light armor. I am ignoring shield/enhancement bonuses etc.Level___Armor Bonus___INT or DEX___Bonus     AC Bonus           _______PLATE/HIDE____PLATE/HIDE____PLATE/HIDE 1st________8/3___________0/5__________8/815th______11/4___________0/7_________11/1130th______14/5___________0/9_________14/14As you can see, if your ranger has maximum dex, his bonus to AC from Armor/Ability will be exactly that of a fighter in full plate at these points (it may vary up or down from that by a point or two at certain times). If your ranger is a melee character, then you likely maxed out strength, and have a dex score no higher than 14. In this case your AC will be about 3 points lower with light armor.If you are often in melee, you may want to consider investing the necessary feats to work up to scale (13 con required) or plate (15 con required). One benefit of doing this is that you do not have to increase your dexterity, since you do not need it for AC and most of your skills rely on strength. You could take a high CON instead for access to better armor, more HP, and more surges.On the other hand, if you value mobility you are best to stick with the light armor, since it does not impede movement or skills. If you can slip in and out of combat (as some strikers can) you do not need the extra protection of heavy armor since you are not a target as often. If you stand in combat for rounds at a time, don't throw a lot of points into dex, and focus on CON and heavy armor.</blockquote>

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