Touch AC Question...

War Golem · Oct 30, 2002

I know armor bonus does not count towards a creature's Touch AC, but if a character is wearing magic armor, does the magic enhancement bonus count?

If I am wearing Bracers of Armor, do they count towards my Touch AC?

Thanks.

-War Golem

noretoc · Oct 30, 2002

I believe the answer is no to both. The magical bonus on rmor is an enhancement bonus. It adds to another bonus, in this case the armor bonus. This means that a +2 leather armor, has a +4 armor bonus. Since touch attack ignore armor, it ignores all 4 points.

As for bracers of Armor, it is an armor bonus, so it is also not included in your touch AC.

The in-game explanation, is that a touch spell, for example need to touch any part of you, including your armor. Even if you armor is being enhansed, Touching it still triggers the spell (or other touch effect). If you have bracers of armor, then touching the armor of the bracers is just like touching normal armor., setting off the effect.

swkleink · Oct 30, 2002

The magic bonus would considered an enhancement for your armour - that is, making the armour more impenetrable. Thus, the magical bonus would be considered a magical armour bonus and would not affect your touch AC.

As for bracers of armour, their protection is considered an armour bonus and therefore, would not be considered in your AC for touch attacks.

Drew · Oct 31, 2002

What about the Shield spell?

AuraSeer · Oct 31, 2002

Drew said:
What about the Shield spell?

Shield grants a cover bonus, which is effective against touch attacks.

Greybar · Oct 31, 2002

The SRD is your friend!

Touch attacks come in two types: melee touch attacks and ranged touch attacks. A combatant can score critical hits with either type of attack. A combatant's opponent's AC against a touch attack does not include any armor bonus, shield bonus, or natural armor bonus. The target's size modifier, Dexterity modifier, and deflection bonus (if any) all apply normally.

John

Number47 · Oct 31, 2002

Note that the armor bonus of bracers or a Mage Armor spell IS effective against incorporeal touch attacks, because it is a force effect.

War Golem · Oct 31, 2002

Greybar said:
The SRD is your friend!

John

Thanks, John. I knew that's how Touch AC was described... what I wasn't 100% clear on is where an "Enhancement" bonus fit in (separate from Armor bonus, or stacked on Armor bonus). I could see it rationalized either way.

AuraSeer · Oct 31, 2002

The armor's "plusses" are an enhancement bonus to armor bonus, not an enhancement bonus to AC. That is, the enhancement applies to the armor, not to the wearer.

Another way of saying it is, the plusses don't add a new bonus type, they just increase the existing bonus. It's still an armor bonus, which means it still doesn't help against touch attacks.