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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JohnSnow" data-source="post: 5124324" data-attributes="member: 32164">Hmm, I think you're conflating two separate issues. I started looking at all the details before realizing it was needlessly wordy. The fix for the separating defense values already exists - in the form of Great Fortitude, Iron Will and Lightning Reflexes. But that's also the fix for the Defense equivalent of the "Masterwork Armor" issue.Most of the bonuses we're talking about wash out. Since every class gets the same level-based benefit to their attacks & defenses, and every class gets items, it really comes down to the difference in stat-based bonuses to defense.And honestly, the Fighter should start out 5 points ahead of the warlock (the difference between the bonus from his 18 Str (+4) combined with his Class Bonus to Fort (+2) compared to the Feylock's 12 Con (+1)). If they're both advanced smartly, the fighter picks up just 1 point on the Warlock's Fort Defense by 21st-level. Since there's 6 chances, the fighter has increased his strength 6 times for a total bonus of +3, whereas the Warlock should have split up his discretionary bonuses between Con and Int, and increased his Con 4 times (+2 total). This is where the defense boosting feats come in. If the Warlock takes Great Fortitude, his Fort is actually closer to the fighter's (only 4 points lower) than it was at 1st-level. That probably widens back to 5 points at 28th-level, as the Warlock probably doesn't increase his Con bonus (boosting it once only, or not at all) whereas the fighter DOES increase his strength (boosting it twice). Now the fighter is back to having a Fort Defense 5 points better than the Warlock's.I suppose the fighter could take Great Fortitude, but he needs Lightning Reflexes and Iron Will a lot more. We can compare attack bonuses if you like...Any character at level 21 should have a +7 stat bonus. The person he's attacking should have a stat bonus of no less than +3 to his weakest defense, which means he gives up 4 points to the attacker. Compare that to the same characters at Level 1, where the attacker has a +4 stat bonus, and his opponent has at least a +1 to his weakest defense. Over 20 levels, the change is 1 point, and the bad defense can be easily improved by spending a single feat.As I said above, everything else washes out. Frankly, this is a min/max problem. The character who neglects one of his defenses in order to max out an attack stat is just inviting trouble. Don't have a defense bonus below +1 at 1st level, and don't forget to improve your defense stats as you level up. And spend a feat or two to shore up your weakness. It's not that complicated.</blockquote>

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