Ring of Protection vs. Bracers of Armor

[billd91]

Bracers of Armor provide a armor bonus and normal armor provides a armor bonus. So like bonuses do not stack.

There are specific exceptions like dodge bonuses. But in the main, like bonuses do not stack. You take the best one of the ones you've got. So while you can wear them, only one of them does you any good at any one time.

 

[dcollins]

I know bracers didn't stack with armor in 1st/2nd edition, but I have never been able to find where it says this in 3.X.

As the previous posters said, that's the whole point of the bonus type system. Two "armor bonuses" (plate mail, bracers of armor) do not stack.

For additional confirmation, read the paragraph in the PHB under "Armor: Armor Qualities: Armor Bonus", where it uses bracers of armor as an example.

 

[StormCrow42]

To add just a bit more confusion to the subject, which the above posters are correct that you lose the AC bonus that bracers of armor gives to touch attacks, bracers of armor do apply against INCORPOREAL touch attacks, unlike regular armor.

 

[CronoDekar]

Indeed you have been. In the example above, it's not a "magical bonus", it's an armor bonus. It doesn't really matter what the source is, it's the bonus type that you have to be aware of.

Just a minor exception -- as of 3.5 natural armor is divided into enhancement bonuses to natural armor and natural armor you have... naturally (see Barkskin spell). But that's the only exception besides dodge and unnamed.

 

[RigaMortus2]

So is double the price for an item that grants the same AC really worth that much money, when all you are getting out of it is the ability to retain the AC bonus when flat-footed and against incorporeal attacks? 32k vs 16k (for +4 to AC) seems like a BIG difference for such a small benefit.

 

[StormCrow42]

It also stacks with your armor, which is why it costs more.

 

[Rystil Arden]

Just a minor exception -- as of 3.5 natural armor is divided into enhancement bonuses to natural armor and natural armor you have... naturally (see Barkskin spell). But that's the only exception besides dodge and unnamed.

It isn't an exception--those are different bonus types (just like a magic platemail has a stackable enhancement bonus to the armour bonus)

 

[Legildur]

So is double the price for an item that grants the same AC really worth that much money, when all you are getting out of it is the ability to retain the AC bonus when flat-footed and against incorporeal attacks? 32k vs 16k (for +4 to AC) seems like a BIG difference for such a small benefit.

Small benefit? I think that the ability to stack a deflection bonus with an armor bonus more than justifies the additional expense. How many armored characters do you see walking around with bracers of armor? Not many, although I do promote the practise because of their usefuleness against incorporeal touch attacks as noted by StormCrow42, but only if no one else has a use for them. Now, how many armored characters do you see walking around with a ring of protection? A lot more, regardless of expense.

 

[AuraSeer]

I don't think the doubled price is primarily because of flat-footedness or touch attacks; those attack types tend to be relatively rare. IMO it's there mostly to control the stacking of bonuses.

The base unit of magic AC increase is the armor bonus. That's the cheapest: it costs 1000 gp times the bonus squared. Its price is the same whether you buy it as an enhancement on armor, or as a set of bracers. (Note that wearing bracers +1 is basically equivalent to wearing normal clothes +1, if such things exist.)

The other common types of magic AC bonus, deflection and natural armor, are "extras" that stack over and above what your armor provides. That means you can use multiple types to achieve very high AC totals. In order to balance the game and keep ACs at reasonable levels, these extra bonuses are doubled in price, so you must make more sacrifices if you want to try and be unhittable.

 

[Legildur]

I should also mention that Rings of Protection are, IMO, inherently more valuable than bracers of armor - particularly to armored types. Many characters that wear armor would desire Gauntlets of Ogre Power, Gloves of Dexterity, Bracers of Archery, or similar to enhance their combat abilities. Wearing any of those would negate the ability to wear bracers of armor. And you can wear 2 rings.

I can't think of a single base character class that would not want to have a Ring of Protection, but only the Monk, Sorceror and Wizard would generally want the Bracers of Armor.

It looks like a supply/demand thing to me.