Touch Attacks & Bracers of Armor

[Harmon]

Got a new Player recently, that made a comment about a ruling our GM made with regards to a Touch Attack and a character’s Bracers of Armor and wanted some thoughts on it.

Situation- the party goes down a long stairway, finds a door, the Traps Engineer opens the door, and Listen checks are called for. Wings are heard flapping, but only shadows of something high against the ceiling can be seen. A dozen Stirges attack a nearly all Flat Footed party.

One of the PCs is wearing BoA at the lead of the group, the Stirges attack him. Melee Touch attacks inflict a few points of stat drain. He and the new Player argue that Bracers should cover vs. Touch Attacks, the GM says no and I agree with him. The new Player makes a comment that indicates it won’t be so in his campaigns (he has some GMing plans).

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Well, they provide an armor bonus and Touch Attacks ignore armor bonus. So...nope, it wouldn't apply. Unless you house rule it, of course

 

[Seravin]

Well, they provide an armor bonus and Touch Attacks ignore armor bonus. So...nope, it wouldn't apply. Unless you house rule it, of course

I agree with AMG; except that I believe Bracers of Armor do apply against Incorporeal Touch Attacks since they are a force effect.

 

[rurbonas]

I agree with your GM.

The glossary in the PHB (pg. 314) says: "The target's armor bonus, shield bonus, and natural armor bonus... do not apply to AC against a touch attack."

The Bracers of Armor description (DMG pg. 250) says: "... granting him an armor bonus of +1 to +8, just as though he was wearing armor."

It seems pretty clear to me that it does not apply against touch attacks. Your new player might be confusing normal touch attacks with incorporeal touch attacks. Since the armor bonus from the Bracers of Armor is a force effect, it DOES help defend against the incorporeal touches of (for example) wraiths. In the third part of the "There, Not There" Rules of the Game article on WotC's site, Skip Williams notes the confusion that could be created by calling the attacks of incorporeal creatures "incorporeal touch attacks."

Just my $0.02. Good luck talking things out with your new player.

 

[pbd]

Armor bonus vs Deflection bonus

The player may also be confusing the armor bonus from the bracers with a deflection bonus. A deflection bonus does protect against touch attacks, whereas the armor bonus does not.

Although I think a case can be made for armor enchantment bonussesto help againt touch attacks; technically it is a magical field helping to protect the user.

 

[shilsen]

I agree with AMG; except that I believe Bracers of Armor do apply against Incorporeal Touch Attacks since they are a force effect.

What he said. Incorporeal touch attacks are the only type of touch attacks where bracers of armor will apply.

 

[Piratecat]

On a side note, remember that stirges don't drain con until the round AFTER they attack. that gives you a few seconds to get them off of you.

 

[Harmon]

On a side note, remember that stirges don't drain con until the round AFTER they attack. that gives you a few seconds to get them off of you.

That little fact has escaped me- I wonder if I have forgotten a House Rule on the little blood suckers or if we never realized that thanks for pointing that out.

 

[the Jester]

Your dm made the right call, and snarky comments won't do that player any good at all imho- a new player being unpleasant is hamstringing his odds of being called back for next time.