That never ending quest for more AC

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

My group recently had an encounter that left all but one member of the group armor-less: while sleeping in our palace at our rebellion's home base, there was an assassination attempt...

One member died... another came very, very close.

Can you do something like that? Have them spend the evening in a palace where they need to "check their weapons and armor at the door" or, simply remind them, that they cannot *always* have their armor on--catch them while they're bathing or sleeping or doing other things that do not allow them to be all clad in their gear.

 

[Mystery Man]

.....sick little mind you got there!!!!!

Mystery Man-

I'd caution you against going too far with this. Teaching players a lesson can sometimes lead to a vicious cycle of one-upsmanship, and could have some negative effects on your game..

No lesson teaching. Just an attempt to challenge and keep things from getting boring.

On the other, there is nothing wrong with trotting out challenges which take advantage of the weaknesses the party exhibits.....

Exactly.


They are level 13 btw.

 

[JoeGKushner]

13th level eh?

A lot of the anwers really depend on what type of armor they have. For example, are we talking bracers, rings, cloaks, etc..., or are we talking heavy armor?

Falling damage is always a favorite.

Drowning is another favorite.

Dragons with lots of spell like abilities to augment their physical abilities is another favorite. Nothing like watching a Dragon cast Bull's Strength on itself.

 

[Mystery Man]

13th level eh?

A lot of the anwers really depend on what type of armor they have. For example, are we talking bracers, rings, cloaks, etc..., or are we talking heavy armor?

You name it.

 

[francisca]

No lesson teaching. Just an attempt to challenge and keep things from getting boring.

Ah. I didn't read some parts of your post well enough, and read to much into the "hurt them badly" bit. My apologies.

 

[Teflon Billy]

rust monster with half-dragon template

OH HELL YEAH!

Thanks Diaglo, you made my day there

 

[diaglo]

splash damage from grenade like weapons.

how are the PCs causing damage? if ranged... you use back. but bigger weapons or magic from cover/concealment. or switch to melee with reach.

 

[Castellan]

If you've got a copy of The Draconomicon, try pitting the party against a ranger or two armed with the spell, Find The Gap. It's not OGL, so I can't reprint, but it effectively eliminates Armor Bonuses, Shield Bonuses, and Natural Armor Bonuses when the ranger makes his attack, and lasts for 1 round per level, so it'll make combat a lot more dicey.

 

[Prism]

You name it.

What sort of AC are we looking at? 30? 35?

Advancing monsters by Hit Dice is a good way of adding about the same amount in attack bonus through additional BAB and strength (depending on progression) to their attack roll for only a few CR's. A level or two in a class gives them an elite stat array and a few more bonus's to hit

An advanced Girillon (21HD) for example gets +29 to hit on 4 attacks a round and thats CR10. Most other base CR10 creatures don't get near that - a fire giant at CR10 is only +20

Although it takes a bit of extra work it should be possible to exceed most AC's while keeping to an appropriate EL

 

[Mystery Man]

What sort of AC are we looking at? 30? 35?

Advancing monsters by Hit Dice is a good way of adding about the same amount in attack bonus through additional BAB and strength (depending on progression) to their attack roll for only a few CR's. A level or two in a class gives them an elite stat array and a few more bonus's to hit

An advanced Girillon (21HD) for example gets +29 to hit on 4 attacks a round and thats CR10. Most other base CR10 creatures don't get near that - a fire giant at CR10 is only +20

Although it takes a bit of extra work it should be possible to exceed most AC's while keeping to an appropriate EL

The Paladin/Fist of Raziel's AC can go as high as 38 or 39 if I remember correctly. Touch attacks do have him at a disadvantage but constantly using touch attacks would seem like I'm trying to "get him" all the time and pretty much rendering all that gold he spent kind of useless. And he does use that AC to try his best to keep everyone else out of harms way so I'm not going to fault him. I also have a Spellsword/Sorcerer that can get his AC jacked up there pretty high too.

So you see where straight melee is going to bore us (players and DM) pretty soon until they are up there in level to handle those things that can hit them and have them survive more than one round.



...and yes the advanced rust monster/half dragon is now built and in my database. To be used if/when they start getting too big for their britches.