Dog AC?

[BananaHat]

Can someone tell me what base AC the dog has at level 20? The unofficial guide in the guide forums listed 17 base and 30 with the dex mod from 23 dex, which makes no sense. It would be nice to know how high of an AC the dog could get if built for it.

If you don't know off hand but have a high level arti, could you tell me how survivable the dog feels and how it is spec'd out?

[djsonar919]

My dog right now has 61AC unbuffed. I took all the armor enhancements I could, and crafted a stability docent. The dog's survivability is pretty decent. I send him in to chomp on Harry's ankles, he can be a good pair of nose hair tweezers to Velah, and he hasn't been banished by Horath yet, even without equipping boots. By no means does the dog produce huge damage numbers, but it does produce damage nonetheless.

[Drakos]

I'm the one that wrote the unofficial guide you referenced. I'm not sure, right now, how I arrived at the final AC of 30 at level 20, I might have accidentally included some upgrades in that total. I agree it doesn't add up. I do know that the rest is right and the AC breakdown would be:

Base 10 + Plating 2 + Dex 6 + Bonus AC 5 = 23 AC.

I'll have to look at my notes when I get home to see how I arrived at 30 instead of 23. It doesn't help that I am not playing an Artificer on live servers so I'll have to jump on Lamannia to investigate it further.

[BananaHat]

Thank you for the responses. I had figured a 7 AC deficit as well, which is too small for forgetting adamantine plating, but too large for forgetting augment summoning + other buffs or something like that.

Hmm... 61 with stability but unbuffed has potential... Throw in 5 natural armor, 5 enhancement when it starts working, 3 more deflection (unless you meant the higher versions of stability, assuming the +2 version here), 1 haste/AoS, 2 more DT docent, 3 dodge and 3 from +6 dex on said docent, 2 insight from greater parrying module...

85 or so AC depending on the deflection answer. Throw another 4 on if the bard is bored. Geared out, you have a pretty decent off-tank if it doesn't have to fight for aggro and only distract something.

[Drakos]

Hmm... 61 with stability but unbuffed has potential... Throw in 5 natural armor, 5 enhancement when it starts working, 3 more deflection (unless you meant the higher versions of stability, assuming the +2 version here), 1 haste/AoS, 2 more DT docent, 3 dodge and 3 from +6 dex on said docent, 2 insight from greater parrying module...

Not sure you can get Stability on a DT Docent.

[BananaHat]

Not sure you can get Stability on a DT Docent.

Right, which is why I added the 2 for equipping a DT docent instead of the stability docent that was mentioned with the 61 AC. You can cast shield of faith for up to a 5 deflection bonus to AC. The DT docent I was envisioning has something/dex 6/dodge 3. I was going to use insight 4, but then remembered parrying is an insight bonus as well. Oh, add alchemical +1 AC bonus to my above numbers, forgot to add that to the docent.

[Drakos]

After looking at my notes that were generated by examining the pet at each new level without any A's and no Augment Summon feat; the AC at 20th level (with the +6 from a 23 DEX) is 30. The progression is:

15, 15, 15, 16, 17, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 22, 24, 25, 25, 26, 28, 28, 29, 30

Without Dex:
13, 13, 13, 14, 14, 14, 15, 16, 16, 17, 18, 18, 19, 20, 20, 21, 22, 22, 23, 24,

When you also remove the Base of 12 (10 +6 2 plat):
1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 10, 11, 12

Also, they seem to have made some changes on Lamannia because now at 20th they have 32 AC.

[EddieB_TBC]

Not sure you can get Stability on a DT Docent.
You can put superior stability (+6 AC) on a docent easily enough if you have a crafting toon.

Dog usually sits 63-65 AC with just my lvl 18 arti buffs and whatever it can get from the ship stat buffs.
Have not have presence of mind to remember to look on the couple of raids I've had him in yet... not that I think people are going to actively buff an arti's dog. Heh.

[tharveysinjin]

My dog right now has 61AC unbuffed. I took all the armor enhancements I could, and crafted a stability docent. The dog's survivability is pretty decent. I send him in to chomp on Harry's ankles, he can be a good pair of nose hair tweezers to Velah, and he hasn't been banished by Horath yet, even without equipping boots. By no means does the dog produce huge damage numbers, but it does produce damage nonetheless.

I have been wondering how to fill the armor slot on a dog. So, it is with a docent eh?

[smeggy1384]

I have been wondering how to fill the armor slot on a dog. So, it is with a docent eh?

Yes, you should receive one for the dog, as well as a module, and if a WF you get a second docent when you start out (or choose the skip option with jeets).

[EddieB_TBC]

I have been wondering how to fill the armor slot on a dog. So, it is with a docent eh?

Yep. And the weapon modules can be made from handwraps in a device workstation used to make traps. Be careful of alignment though, dogs are true neutral.

[BananaHat]

Thanks for checking your numbers. So let's see...

32 base with base dex
14 adamantine enhancements
4 danger avoidance enhancements
2 augment summoning
2 dex enhancements (each tier adds 2 dex)
1 ship dex
5 deflection
5 natural armor
5 docent enhancement
2 DT docent
3 dex +6 on docent
3 dodge on docent
1 alchemical on docent
2 insight from greater partying module
1 haste
-------------
82 AC

86 with a bard who is very bored
More with a paladin or halfling who wants to help

I miss anything else?

[djsonar919]

It's a shame that the dog's AC scales pretty decently by end game, but the output of damage does not.

[EddieB_TBC]

I miss anything?
wow I was thrilled at the 65 AC, looks like I have more work to do.
:D

[Drakos]

81 AC

85 with a bard who is very bored
More with a paladin or halfling who wants to help

I miss anything?

You listed +1 for Dex enhancement and later +3 (from Dex bonus from DT armor). Aren't these both enhancement bonuses that wouldn't stack?

[lanthan]

The +1 from dex enhancement is from spending ap on dex so it stacks with the +6 item. However it should be +2 as each rank of the enhancement gives +2 to dex.

[BananaHat]

The +1 from dex enhancement is from spending ap on dex so it stacks with the +6 item. However it should be +2 as each rank of the enhancement gives +2 to dex.

Ah ha, nice catch! Thank you, I will edit the above post.

[Carpone]

It's a shame that the dog's AC scales pretty decently by end game, but the output of damage does not.
The dog is best used as a boss debuffer. +5 <something> of Improved Destruction = -8 AC/-8% Fortification as soon as U11.1 goes live, and doesn't require real DPS to gimp themselves to get this benefit.

[TheDearLeader]

The dog is best used as a boss debuffer. +5 <something> of Improved Destruction = -8 AC/-8% Fortification as soon as U11.1 goes live, and doesn't require real DPS to gimp themselves to get this benefit.

Improved Destruction is bugged (http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p=4114192&postcount=1). -4 AC/-4% Fortification.

[BananaHat]

The dog is best used as a boss debuffer. +5 <something> of Improved Destruction = -8 AC/-8% Fortification as soon as U11.1 goes live, and doesn't require real DPS to gimp themselves to get this benefit.

I had planned on using my dog as a debuffer, but it is nice to know what he is capable of, hence I started this thread. It also gives a feel for how much AC is possible for a certain level of effort.

I will probably make a survival set of gear for the pup for when I just want him to stick around, adding some damage but not dying too fast so I don't have to worry about him. Alternatively, I'll have a set of damage gear with guard effects on the docent and actual damage effects on the module instead of parrying. Artificers are all about having the right tools for the right job.

Either way I think I'll be grabbing evasion for him. A dead dog does no damage and evasion can go a long way.

[Carpone]

Improved Destruction is bugged (http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p=4114192&postcount=1). -4 AC/-4% Fortification.
My comment still stands. This will get fixed. Until then, it's still worth using the dog as a debuffer over a real melee DPS toon.