The AC/Reflex Conundrum

[HeinorNY]

gains an innate +2 to AC!!

So what?

 

[SteveC]

From what I've seen, and based on how Star Wars Saga handles it. AC is simply Reflex Defense + Armor bonus, with a cap for max Dex.

If you take a look at the Pre-gens from D&D Experience this works out with the exception of the Paladin, but he is wearing plate armor, which may have unexpected rules. The rest of the characters, however, balance out.

--Steve

 

[KevinF]

I think the key to making sense out of this is to remember that each defence works against a completely different kind of attack.

Some attacks such as virtually all of the fighter, ranger and paladin attacks are made against AC. This implies that while dexterity and intelligence are important for allowing lightly armored characters to dodge the attacks, the attacks themselves are inherently difficult to dodge.

While the spell casters, orbs, blasts, bursts, etc... are typically against REF. A quick "twitch" might be all it takes to avoid a magic missile, because they are relatively easy to dodge and if you are hit, these attacks agnore your armor.

Think about it, I suspect we can all agree that its probably easier to dodge a dodgeball from 30' away (heck Iv'e even seen them dodged at 1'), than it is to dodge the swing of a sword from an opponent standing 3' in front of you.

Your AC represents your total ability to avoid/block/absorb most typical melee and ranged attacks.

Your Ref represents your ability to dodge attacks that are typically ranged, and certain characters may excel at dodging these types of attacks.

 

[Larrin]

The difference is that in 3.5, your touch AC and reflex save are independent. In 4e, your touch AC and reflex defense are one in the same.

actually they aren't because touch AC is gone. You're ability not to be 'touched' is now purely reflexes, not a penalized AC. Its a different mindset. The concept of a "touch attack" is probably gone, as far as names are concerned. AC and Ref are based on many of the same factors (which makes sense) but individual classes will be able to focus on making one better than the other. Its perfectly fine for a rouge to have a higher ref than AC, because while he'll dance circles around the mage, he'll get hacked to pieces by the warrior when he attacks your AC.

Bottom line; any one defense can be higher than any other (including AC) there is no reason for it not to be this way.