NPC creation question: AC/Defenses

[Shieldhaven]

So, I'm writing some NPC statblocks. These are NPCs in the sense that they will soon be enemies to the PCs, but they're humanoids who I would like to have belong to classes. I'm trying to use the rules on "Creating NPC Design Steps," DMG p. 187.

Specifically, I'm assigning AC and defenses, and I don't understand how the Level Bonus and Magic Threshold factor in.

"If you gave the NPC a magic item that grants a bonus to defenses, you must also subtract the magic threshold from that bonus, as noted in the sidebar."

So I have a 13th NPC with +3 platemail (+11 AC). If I subtract 5 from this, he gets +6 AC from his armor and +6 AC from his class levels. 22 AC for a 13th level soldier is blatantly wrong. If he were created as a monster rather than a soldier, he'd have 29 AC. If I ignore the level bonus and threshold table, he comes up with a 27 AC, which is at least close, and I can make up the difference with a heavy shield. Defenses are in about the same boat.

The Level Bonus and Magic Threshold sidebar at the bottom of p. 187 serves to confuse the issue. It implies strongly that the rules artificially inflate the NPC's defenses, attack bonus, and damage bonus. I don't see any evidence that this actually the case, though.

Please advise.

Haven

 

[spinmd]

"So I have a 13th NPC with +3 platemail (+11 AC).

An NPC's defenses includes the following:
1/2 Level
Ability modifier (if appropriate)
NPC Level Bonus
In addition, AC includes:
Armor (non magical bonus only)
Then magic gets added on if it exceeds the Magic Threshold.

So for your example of 13th NPC with +3 platemail, his AC would be:
10 + 6 (1/2 level) + 8 (armor bonus) + 5 (NPC Level bonus) + 1 (magic armor exceeding the +2 threshold) = 30

Hope that helps

 

[Stalker0]

Step 1: Calculate the NPCs AC just as you would a PC. Aka, magic armor, half level, etc.

Step 2: Add the NPC level bonus. For a 13th level NPC for example, you get +5.

Step 3: Subtract the magic item threshold from the creature's AC. In this case, the threshold is 2. Since you gave the creature +3 armor, it only counts as +1 armor for the purpose of AC.

 

[Shieldhaven]

Wow, watch as I completely fail my reading-for-comprehension check.

Thanks, folks. All clear now.

/facepalm

Haven