What armor for 12/6/2? Enhancements?

[SouCarioca]

I am rebuilding my 2nd toon to a 12/6/2 with my own changes, but my lack of familiarity is hurting my ability to choose. My 1st toon was a maxxed Drow Sorc, so no help from that experience.

I realize that as a Fighter I can use any armor, but the Evasion feat only works if one has Light Armor on. Should I keep only light or no armor (cloth) on? Or should I swap for specific moments, and if so when and for what? Also, are there any other restrictions I should know about?

This also brings up the issue of enhancements. I have a number of armor related enhancements, which would you recommend?

Finally, any assistance in what armors to look out for would be of great hep. I am obviously not the kind of guy who will make a mad dash for lvl 20 in a week, so the equipment along the way is a serious factor. Since my previous toon is a maxxed sorc, almost all his special items are mage related, except for 3 (intricate optics, spectral gloves, and titan gloves).

My deepest thanks to the experts, and happy new year to all btw.

[rpasell]

It depends on what your stats are. Basically, if you plan on taking the armor mastery enhancements, then you'll want the best mithral light armor you can find that doesn't cap your dex bonus to AC. If your DEx is high (dex based weapon finesse fighter for ex), then there will be a point around level 10 or so where you will probably be getting better AC in robes/outfits. If you are STR based, then find light mithral armor, and take the armor mastery enhancements until you've matched your dex bonus to AC to your armors max dex bonus plus enhancement.

For example:

Mithral Chain has a max dex bonus of 6, your dex bonus is +8. You would need 2 levels of armor mastery to get your full dex bonus applies to your armor.

[Konek]

If the 2 is rogue, then you're going to be looking for light armor most likely unless you get a really high dex. If the 2 is monk you're going to be looking for cloth once your dex and wisdom are high enough that you get a better AC with armor bracers than you do with light armor.

While leveling you'll be looking for mithiril chain****s or breastplates depending on your dex score. If you're monk, you'll want to pick up armored bracers from waterworks, as they'll give you a very low min level +4 armored bracers. When you switch to cloth you'll be looking for things like Heavy Fort (if you don't have it), False life, 20 or 30 pt resists (you can swap these as needed, many quests only do 1-2 kinds of elemental damage and not needed the buff to be cast on you is a big advantage)

For armors, high + is more important than anything else, and normally you won't find much good on armor while leveling, especially if you're looking for mithiril.

The items you'll be looking for as you level aside from AC will be:

Highest Fortification Item Available (this is huge)
Strength item
Con Item
Dex Item
Wis Item (less important if you aren't monk but nice for saves)
Resistance Item
False Life Item
Korthos +2 hit set lasts a long time

Fitting all that on can be a struggle, especially if you're still wearing the Korthos hit gear. House P buffs can help make up for some missing stuff, as well as get you things like jump and 20 pt resists in quests without dispelling.

[SouCarioca]

It depends on what your stats are. Basically, if you plan on taking the armor mastery enhancements, then you'll want the best mithral light armor you can find that doesn't cap your dex bonus to AC. If your DEx is high (dex based weapon finesse fighter for ex), then there will be a point around level 10 or so where you will probably be getting better AC in robes/outfits. If you are STR based, then find light mithral armor, and take the armor mastery enhancements until you've matched your dex bonus to AC to your armors max dex bonus plus enhancement.

For example:

Mithral Chain has a max dex bonus of 6, your dex bonus is +8. You would need 2 levels of armor mastery to get your full dex bonus applies to your armor.

Thx, this was very helpful. +1

[SouCarioca]

If the 2 is rogue, then you're going to be looking for light armor most likely unless you get a really high dex. If the 2 is monk you're going to be looking for cloth once your dex and wisdom are high enough that you get a better AC with armor bracers than you do with light armor.

While leveling you'll be looking for mithiril chain****s or breastplates depending on your dex score. If you're monk, you'll want to pick up armored bracers from waterworks, as they'll give you a very low min level +4 armored bracers. When you switch to cloth you'll be looking for things like Heavy Fort (if you don't have it), False life, 20 or 30 pt resists (you can swap these as needed, many quests only do 1-2 kinds of elemental damage and not needed the buff to be cast on you is a big advantage)

For armors, high + is more important than anything else, and normally you won't find much good on armor while leveling, especially if you're looking for mithiril.

The items you'll be looking for as you level aside from AC will be:

Highest Fortification Item Available (this is huge)
Strength item
Con Item
Dex Item
Wis Item (less important if you aren't monk but nice for saves)
Resistance Item
False Life Item
Korthos +2 hit set lasts a long time

Fitting all that on can be a struggle, especially if you're still wearing the Korthos hit gear. House P buffs can help make up for some missing stuff, as well as get you things like jump and 20 pt resists in quests without dispelling.

I can always juggle it around, but I get the idea. Do the House P buffs really not dispell at all? Meaning neither at shrines nor by beholders? I have an Elemental Mithral Breastplate in my vault, which has the amazingly sweet combination of Dex with fire/cold +20 res, but it is Medium Armor, meaning my Evasion would be disabled.

[rpasell]

I can always juggle it around, but I get the idea. Do the House P buffs really not dispell at all? Meaning neither at shrines nor by beholders? I have an Elemental Mithral Breastplate in my vault, which has the amazingly sweet combination of Dex with fire/cold +20 res, but it is Medium Armor, meaning my Evasion would be disabled.

Mithral Breastplate is light armor so will work with evasion.

House P buffs can be dispelled.

[SouCarioca]

Mithral Breastplate is light armor so will work with evasion.

House P buffs can be dispelled.

I must be really confusing it with something else. Wow. +1 for you and -17.9 to me.....

Still, that is very cool, as Ive been holding on to this armor forever, and am looking forward to using it.

Thanks guys.

[rpasell]

I must be really confusing it with something else. Wow. +1 for you and -17.9 to me.....

Still, that is very cool, as Ive been holding on to this armor forever, and am looking forward to using it.

Thanks guys.

It's easy to miss, I didn't know for the longest time because Breastplates are medium. I figured it out when searching the AH for light armor and seeing Mithral Breastplates under the light armor category.

You will have a hard time finding reasonable Mithral Breasplates on the AH because (correct me if I'm wrong knowledge gamers) they are the best armor an evasion/STR based player can get when combined with armor mastery to keep the evasion bonus and get the best available dex bonus to AC.

[RoboVanguard]

You may not always need evasion. The reason I got the 2 levels of rogue was for the skill points, and the ability to run through traps without getting skewered (with a +8 cha bonus and pally levels I'm mostly ensured to have the reflex to get those nasty saves as well). So I throw on my light armor when I need it (kiting things that only throw spells like fireballs and stuff or going through trap heavy places), and keep my heavy armor on for when I need the AC and things like that.

[SouCarioca]

Yes, my plan so far is to use classic famous designs (such as the Monster), but instead of the usual flavor, try to go Dwarf/Dwarven axes (with Dwarf perks) as opposed to the eternal khopesh builds. I'll post in the Character Build area for feedback, once Ive done a bit of finetuning.

[krud]

what everyone else said, mith breastplate will give you the best AC while retaining evasion. The breastplate of destruction from the hound is a staple for str based evasion builds (+5MBP, +4protection, destruction). The chainshirt of crippling from the hound works just as well, if your dex is 24 or higher. If you can get your dex above 26 the dragontouched leather armor provides similar AC, with evasion, but is more customizable.

If you are going 2 monk for evasion, then you'll need robes to take advantage of the wisdom AC bonus. Again, dragontouched armor from SoS works well here too. Another advantage of robes is that they can be quickly changed to suit the situation, unlike other armor.