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<blockquote data-quote="Edena_of_Neith" data-source="post: 2808641" data-attributes="member: 2020">I do not even know the right questions to ask, as you have adroitly pointed out.&nbsp; But I'm trying to learn the right questions.&nbsp; I'll get there.&nbsp; <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile&nbsp; &nbsp; :)"&nbsp; data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />&nbsp; Classes that grant natural armor are fine.&nbsp; TheRelinquished's post did give me some answers.&nbsp; Bill's post gave me a new awe of the dervish PrC.&nbsp; I see improved combat expertise is a very strong feat at high levels.&nbsp; No magic, just a character who is very, very good at defending himself.&nbsp; 20 levels = +20 to AC, if he wants it.&nbsp; Add in an extremely high dexterity (if he's not wearing armor) and he can add 4, 5, or 6 to that.&nbsp; Add in dodge, and he can add 1 more.&nbsp; So, he's up to AC 44 to 47, with no magic at all.&nbsp; He can't hit anything (at least, unless he has large magical bonuses to hit, to compensate for the loss of his BAB) but he can sure defend himself!&nbsp; And no anti-magic ray or antimagic shell anywhere is going to take that AC 44 to 47 away from him.&nbsp; Or let's say he wears heavy armor, because his dex is lousy.&nbsp; He has +7 from half plate (non-magical.)&nbsp; And +2 from his shield.&nbsp; Add in +1 for dodge.&nbsp; Then add +1, maybe, for dex.&nbsp; And then add +20 for improved combat expertise.&nbsp; Now, he's got an AC of 50 to 51, and antimagic can't take that away from him.&nbsp; Then he could Fight Defensively, and his AC would rise to 52 to 53.&nbsp; Remember I'm still translating from a 2nd edition mentality.&nbsp; To me, AC 53 is the equivalent of AC - 23.&nbsp; That's not a bad AC to have, without the help of any magic at all!&nbsp; If Elaborate Parry adds +4 to AC (as I think it does, reading above) that ups the AC to 57 to 58.&nbsp; And still no magic or psionic aid!</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Edena_of_Neith, post: 2808641, member: 2020"] I do not even know the right questions to ask, as you have adroitly pointed out. But I'm trying to learn the right questions. I'll get there. :) Classes that grant natural armor are fine. TheRelinquished's post did give me some answers. Bill's post gave me a new awe of the dervish PrC. I see improved combat expertise is a very strong feat at high levels. No magic, just a character who is very, very good at defending himself. 20 levels = +20 to AC, if he wants it. Add in an extremely high dexterity (if he's not wearing armor) and he can add 4, 5, or 6 to that. Add in dodge, and he can add 1 more. So, he's up to AC 44 to 47, with no magic at all. He can't hit anything (at least, unless he has large magical bonuses to hit, to compensate for the loss of his BAB) but he can sure defend himself! And no anti-magic ray or antimagic shell anywhere is going to take that AC 44 to 47 away from him. Or let's say he wears heavy armor, because his dex is lousy. He has +7 from half plate (non-magical.) And +2 from his shield. Add in +1 for dodge. Then add +1, maybe, for dex. And then add +20 for improved combat expertise. Now, he's got an AC of 50 to 51, and antimagic can't take that away from him. Then he could Fight Defensively, and his AC would rise to 52 to 53. Remember I'm still translating from a 2nd edition mentality. To me, AC 53 is the equivalent of AC - 23. That's not a bad AC to have, without the help of any magic at all! If Elaborate Parry adds +4 to AC (as I think it does, reading above) that ups the AC to 57 to 58. And still no magic or psionic aid! [/QUOTE]

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