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Message: <blockquote data-quote="FrogReaver" data-source="post: 9544716" data-attributes="member: 6795602">The analysis around the benefits of AC is deeply flawed and relies almost entirely on single enemy attack values while ignoring crits.  You often see it cited that going from 10% to 5% chance to be hit effectively doubles (+100%) your survivability to attacks.  But that just isn't true.*Note: the goal of the below is to show that accounting for crits and non-uniform enemy attack bonuses tends to lessen the actual benefit of each additional AC compared to what is normally cited.Analysis Assumptions<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Crit Damage is 1.5x normal damage</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">You face Attacks with bonuses 4, 5, 6, 7 each 25% of the time</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Damage per attack is the same (could add in some non-uniformity there as well, but didn't initially)</li> </ul>Analysis Conclusions<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Using the above assumptions the highest Effective HP increase was only +33% for a single AC bonus.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The lowest I compared to was 11 AC to 12 AC which was +6.7% effective hp.</li> </ul>To put things in perspective for Defensive Duelist.  <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">At level 5 it grants +3 AC.  For a base 17 AC character that's +43% more effective hp vs attacks than base AC using the above assumptions.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">At level 5 it grants +3 AC.  For a base 20 AC character that's +75% more effective hp vs attacks than base AC using the above assumptions.</li> </ul>Ultimately, while +1 AC doesn't add a ton of value except at really high base AC's (but even then no where near as much as is often claimed), defensive duelist +3 or more AC adds a ton of value even at standard AC values, and while it is more at higher AC's, giving up the option to dual wield, or easily pull out a bow due to wearing a shield can easily tank DPR.Personally I like the idea of having a shield user's AC, while being able to dual wield for damage and pull out a bow easily if needed.</blockquote>

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