Super dwarves and giants...

[Wellby]

Folks,

It seems that a first level dwarven fighter, with full plate and mage armor can easily take on an Ettin....

Unless I've made a mistake: if one loses most of the dexterity bonus to AC, for wearing full plate, does a dwarf in the same situation also lose his racial dodge against giants?

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Unless I've made a mistake: if one loses most of the dexterity bonus to AC, for wearing full plate, does a dwarf in the same situation also lose his racial dodge against giants?

No. You only lose the racial dodge bonus vs. Giants if you are subject to a condition that denies dodge bonuses, such as Flatfooted and (I believe) Helpless or Stunned. Heavy Armor limits the amount of your Dex bonus you can apply toward AC, but doesn't restrict dodge bonuses in any way.

 

[reveal]

Folks,

It seems that a first level dwarven fighter, with full plate and mage armor can easily take on an Ettin....

Unless I've made a mistake: if one loses most of the dexterity bonus to AC, for wearing full plate, does a dwarf in the same situation also lose his racial dodge against giants?

1) You do not lose Dodge bonuses because of armor.

2) Mage Armor does nothing for a person wearing Full Plate. Mage Armor grants an Armor bonus. Full Plate grants an Armor bonus. Like bonuses do not stack.

Dwarf, in full plate, against a giant assuming the Dwarf has a Dex of at least 12 - AC 20 (+8 from plate, +1 from Dex and +1 Dodge bonus)

Same Dwarf, in full plate, against a giant assuming the Dwarf has a Dex of at least 12 with Mage Armor cast on him - AC 20 (+8 from plate, nothing from Mage Armor since the armor bonus given by the plate is higher at +8, +1 from Dex, and +1 Dodge bonus)

 

[Gruns]

The mistake...

I think the mistake you're making is thinking that the AC from Mage Armor and real armor stack.
In this case, the +4 AC from Mage Armor does nothing, since the Full Plate already surpasses this.
Later!
Gruns

 

[Gruns]

99% right on.

1) You do not lose Dodge bonuses because of armor.

Right on.

2) Mage Armor does nothing for a person wearing Full Plate. Mage Armor grants an Armor bonus. Full Plate grants an Armor bonus. Like bonuses do not stack

Mostly right on. Dodge Bonuses stack. (See below!)

Dwarf, in full plate, against a giant assuming the Dwarf has a Dex of at least 12 - AC 20 (+8 from plate, +1 from Dex and +1 Dodge bonus)
Same Dwarf, in full plate, against a giant assuming the Dwarf has a Dex of at least 12 with Mage Armor cast on him - AC 20 (+8 from plate, nothing from Mage Armor since the armor bonus given by the plate is higher at +8, +1 from Dex, and +1 Dodge bonus)

Again, mostly right on, except he's referring to the Dwarven Racial Dodge Bonus vs Giants. (+4 Dodge Bonus)
Thus, that dwarf's AC vs an Ettin would be 23 with or without Mage Armor on. If the same Dwarf had the Dodge feat, which gives the standard +1 Dodge bonus to any single PC he's fighting, then that Dodge bonus would stack with the Dwarven racial Dodge bonus and bump his AC up to 24. While we're at it, lets give him a Lg Shield to get him to 26. Not too shabby, but still most likely dying in 1 hit vs an Ettin...
Later!
Gruns

P.S.- reveal? A1C Law? (Or more likely Mr Law?)

 

[Wellby]

The last thing a newb should do is get into a rules kerfuffle....but...

NRBH, but isn't the dwarven dodge vs Giants a +4? Thus, an AC of 23 vs that nasty Ettin? (point taken about stacking AC bonuses, but I still think he's in incredible shape, no?)

 

[Wellby]

Yes, I forgot he also has a shield.
(this is Eberk, coming out of the basic set, well loaded, and going into 2nd level now, having some fun with 'Ettin's Riddle'. Although, the fun is quickly getting boring, as Eberk is having no trouble whatsoever dispatching the Ettin!)


I'm sure I"m just not familiar with some tricks the Ettin could pull. As it is, I believe he's +4 with the Greatclub. In other words, he only hits Eberk with a 20!

I'm the DM. What can this Ettin do to stop this pesky dwarf?

 

[Prism]

but I still think he's in incredible shape, no?)

Your right about the AC 23 but against 4 attacks from the ettin at +12/+12/+7/+7 the dwarf would probably last all of 1 round

Edit: Ah, I see now - the ettin in that adventure isn't a proper ettin - its a cursed human. Maybe the ettin could grapple the dwarf instead. Is the attack bonus of +4 correct? It should be +8 unless I'm missing something

 

[demiurge1138]

Is this a full-grown ettin? Or is this a weaker ettin than the basic. A straight from the MM ettin (CR 5, BTW), has a +12 attack bonus.

Demiurge out.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Is he a nonstandard Ettin?

Attack: Morningstar +12 melee (2d6+6) or javelin +5 ranged (1d8+6)
Full Attack: 2 morningstars +12/+7 melee (2d6+6) or 2 javelins +5 ranged (1d8+6)