What now? AC and others.

[Mibgluc]

I just hit level 14 and for the most part, it's time to get my AC up higher I think.

Currently, my unbuffed AC is 40, with bark +3 and mage armor I'm sitting at 47 AC. 51 with a shield clickie when I really need it.

But, this is just enough for GH and seems I'm going to need higher going on to higher level areas.

Current equipment:

Head - minos legens
Neck - necklace of contemplation
Robe - Deathblock of Invuln (use resist pots or run with someone who can cast resist energy)
Bracers - chaosgardes
Gloves - ogre power gloves +4
boots - dextrous boots +5
belt - health belt +4
goggles - blindness ward
trinket - dusk heart
cloak - protection +4
rings - devotion and wisdom

Any gear suggestions for my current level would be great, thanks.

[Rusty_Can]

Starting from lvl 13, you should be able to wear:
+ 6 Dex and Wis item: both could help to raise your AC
+ 5 Protection item (you are currently wearing +4)
+ 6 Armor item (better than mage armor; +8 AC bracers available at higher levels)
weapons of Parrying and Greater Parrying: +1/2 Insight bonus to AC (some items or combination of items can give you +3/4/5 Insight bonus to AC at higher levels)

Other items, a bit harder to find, could improve your AC:
Icy Raiment (http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...IcyRaiment.jpg) (ML 14)
Chattering Ring (http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...teringRing.jpg)

You didn't post your features; Combat Expertise (+5 to AC), Dodge (+1 Dodge bonus to AC) and Mobility (+4 AC, when tumbling) are defensive features.

However, other party members will help your AC:
Clerics can give you +2 luck bonus to AC casting Recitation
Rangers can give you +5 Natural Armor bonus to AC (better than standard potions)
Lvl 15 bards can sing Inspire Heroics, giving you +4 Dodge bonus to AC
Paladins will help your AC and saves with their aura

[Mibgluc]

Starting from lvl 13, you should be able to wear:
+ 6 Dex and Wis item: both could help to raise your AC
+ 5 Protection item (you are currently wearing +4)
+ 6 Armor item (better than mage armor; +8 AC bracers available at higher levels)
weapons of Parrying and Greater Parrying: +1/2 Insight bonus to AC (some items or combination of items can give you +3/4/5 Insight bonus to AC at higher levels)

Other items, a bit harder to find, could improve your AC:
Icy Raiment (http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...IcyRaiment.jpg) (ML 14)
Chattering Ring (http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...teringRing.jpg)

You didn't post your features; Combat Expertise (+5 to AC), Dodge (+1 Dodge bonus to AC) and Mobility (+4 AC, when tumbling) are defensive features.

However, other party members will help your AC:
Clerics can give you +2 luck bonus to AC casting Recitation
Rangers can give you +5 Natural Armor bonus to AC (better than standard potions)
Lvl 15 bards can sing Inspire Heroics, giving you +4 Dodge bonus to AC
Paladins will help your AC and saves with their aura

Thanks Rusty.

Yes I do have dodge as a feat, no CE and don't plan on getting it. Also have alchemical bonus on robes, will look for some of the items you mentioned.

As far as armor bonus, are there any slots I can find that in other than wrists? Yes, better than mage armor, but I'd lose chaosgardes so I gain no AC there.

[Krag]

Icy Raiment is fairly easy to obtain. Skelly groups are quick to fill and drop rate is reasonable.

[Rusty_Can]

As far as armor bonus, are there any slots I can find that in other than wrists? Yes, better than mage armor, but I'd lose chaosgardes so I gain no AC there.

Some robes give armor bonus to AC, usually +6, e.g. dragonscale robes (http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...nscaleRobe.jpg) and dragontouched shroud/outfit (http://compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Reave...efuge_Crafting.), but both options require some dedication (aka grinding).

Anyway, consider that
- "Mage Armor" spell can be dispelled, hence in some quests you won't have any armor bonus to AC;
- one of the best "gear setup" for AC at high level is: +8 AC bracers + 4 Dodge bonus from Icy Raiment + 3 Dodge bonus from Chattering Ring = +15 AC.

Yes I do have dodge as a feat, no CE and don't plan on getting it.

Just remember that you can use Defensive Fighting stance (granted to any class at creation) to gain +2 AC, if things are going pear-shaped.

[SolarDawning]

The above suggestions are all good ones.
Chiefly: Get a good armor bracer. It'll be a huge help. Track down an Icy Raiment. I got mine on my first Garamol run in the Subteranne, which was crazy luck, but loot runs on him do seem popular.
If you don't like Combat Expertise, that's your choice, but don't complain about missing that five AC. I've had it from level 2, and almost never play with it off. The to-hit penalty is not noticable on nearly all mobs (My attack bonus being so high as it is), and that extra 5 AC is a lifesaver.
At level 16, my monk runs with 59 AC, completely unbuffed.

[Mibgluc]

The above suggestions are all good ones.
Chiefly: Get a good armor bracer. It'll be a huge help. Track down an Icy Raiment. I got mine on my first Garamol run in the Subteranne, which was crazy luck, but loot runs on him do seem popular.
If you don't like Combat Expertise, that's your choice, but don't complain about missing that five AC. I've had it from level 2, and almost never play with it off. The to-hit penalty is not noticable on nearly all mobs (My attack bonus being so high as it is), and that extra 5 AC is a lifesaver.
At level 16, my monk runs with 59 AC, completely unbuffed.

I never said I didn't like Combat Expertise, great feat. I won't have the int to take the feat though (maybe after I TR) and even then, I use a lot of finishers, that just becomes another clickie to use in the heat of battle.

[rimble]

As far as armor bonus, are there any slots I can find that in other than wrists? Yes, better than mage armor, but I'd lose chaosgardes so I gain no AC there.

Yeah, you don't gain any AC, but it's time to step up to AC 6 bracers and lose the Mage Armor pots.

[RobbinB]

You could also get into reaver's refuge as soon as possible (ML?) and make some DT armor. I believe the robes/vestments have a base +6 armor bonus so you wouldn't need mage armor or +6 AC bracers, then you could either wear chaosguardes or AC +8 bracers to improve that by 2 more. (Tier 1 gives you potential for fearsome which is in itself a form of AC.) Tier 2 DT gives you the possibility of dex or wis +6 or exceptional bonus +1 to either of those (or protection +5 i believe); Tier 3 gives you the potential for either the inherent AC +4 bonus or dodge +3 bonus (non-stacking with chattering ring) if you are patient and/or lucky enough to get one of those.

[LAWPRE]

If you have not used a +2 or +3 tome, I would get both Dex and Wis. This will increase your AC by at least +2. Likewise, Use either of these tomes IF it will get your Int high enough for CE.

There is not much that you can do about getting hit in GH (I presume you mean GiantHold as opposed to Greater Heroism or some other place that has been added in the last 18 mos). There is a reason why there are Giant Strength Items. Some of them are strong enough that AC 100 would still get hit.

With point two in mind, you might try having Fire Shield or Ice Shield cast on you. Along the same lines, is get items that "biteback". That way, the mob is taking dps from hitting YOU>

Similarly, if your do not have anything that provides DR, you may want to look into those items as well. I am not sure what those items are but I do know that some are available.

[Mibgluc]

If you have not used a +2 or +3 tome, I would get both Dex and Wis. This will increase your AC by at least +2. Likewise, Use either of these tomes IF it will get your Int high enough for CE.

There is not much that you can do about getting hit in GH (I presume you mean GiantHold as opposed to Greater Heroism or some other place that has been added in the last 18 mos). There is a reason why there are Giant Strength Items. Some of them are strong enough that AC 100 would still get hit.

With point two in mind, you might try having Fire Shield or Ice Shield cast on you. Along the same lines, is get items that "biteback". That way, the mob is taking dps from hitting YOU>

Similarly, if your do not have anything that provides DR, you may want to look into those items as well. I am not sure what those items are but I do know that some are available.

I've used +2 tome to all, so yeah, still can't get CE

Invuln robe adds -5/dr against evil, and I'm at the point where I can avoid getting hit by the ogres in GH, at least 90% of the time, but figuring when I move onto the Vale, I'm going to need more than where I'm at.

Thanks for the feedback every one, gives me some things to aim for.

[TPICKRELL]

Invuln robe adds -5/dr against evil, and I'm at the point where I can avoid getting hit by the ogres in GH, at least 90% of the time, but figuring when I move onto the Vale, I'm going to need more than where I'm at.

I run both GH and the Vale slayer frequently and I don't think I get hit much more in the Vale than I do In Gianthold. But when I'm taking on a mob of ogres in either place, I switch to para wraps to manage the incoming damage. Paras work very well for this purpose in both areas. Once everything is paralyzed and/or the mob is whittled down to a safe level, I switch to higher damage or weighted wraps to speed up the fight. I find the Orges in general to be the most dangerous in terms of damage received. Although the Spiders in the Vale are similar because they can be very hard to damage.