AC / Level?

[Taldaas]

I did a few searches and couldn't find anything, so if this already exists can someone point me in the right direction?

Is there a chart or table or something that shows how much AC a tank should have at various levels? I have been building myself as a tank character and thought I was doing well with 36 AC and 170HP at level 9.

Then I was reading a thread a little bit ago and saw someone mention to not even try to tank at level 11 unless you have 300+HP and 50+AC.

Any input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Aaxeyu]

I did a few searches and couldn't find anything, so if this already exists can someone point me in the right direction?

Is there a chart or table or something that shows how much AC a tank should have at various levels? I have been building myself as a tank character and thought I was doing well with 36 AC and 170HP at level 9.

Then I was reading a thread a little bit ago and saw someone mention to not even try to tank at level 11 unless you have 300+HP and 50+AC.

Any input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

It's not really about what level you are, it's where you are.
Before you get to gianthold your Ac will be fine, but once you are there you will need a decent build and nice gear to be able to tank reliably.
A s&b character with less than 40-50 AC is quite useless there.

[Quikster]

It's not really about what level you are, it's where you are.
Before you get to gianthold your Ac will be fine, but once you are there you will need a decent build and nice gear to be able to tank reliably.
A s&b character with less than 40-50 AC is quite useless there.

I would go a step farther. If you are wearing a shield in GH your ac better be above 50. Otherwise dump the shield for a second vorpal or some better dps.

[calvinklien]

--

[calvinklien]

--

[Lorien_the_First_One]

because everyone has a couple of those laying around...

Check the brokers in house D, the Shav, and the inspired quarter. Check the AH. don't just look for your preferred weapon type, but all slashing weapons.

At this point in the game most of the vets have more vorps than they need and since vorps aren't selling very well on the AH anymore (I often have them expire unsold when I'm only charging base price) many of them end up at the brokers

[Quikster]

because everyone has a couple of those laying around...

You cant find a better dps weapon than a shield? Really? Maybe this game isnt for you then......

[Taldaas]

Thanks for all the replies so far. Just one more question.

Well if 50+ AC is necessary is that even reasonably possible for a fighter with poor dex? I walked into the game with the assumption that heavy armor and heavy sheilds would mean dex would have very little meaning (Yep, should have researched more first).

I've looked at about a dozen AC threads here on the forum and in about all of them ~ 15 AC is coming direction from dex or dex related feats. It seems to me that this means any one created with an 8 dex can kiss tanking good bye?

[calvinklien]

--

[Zenako]

Thanks for all the replies so far. Just one more question.

Well if 50+ AC is necessary is that even reasonably possible for a fighter with poor dex? I walked into the game with the assumption that heavy armor and heavy sheilds would mean dex would have very little meaning (Yep, should have researched more first).

I've looked at about a dozen AC threads here on the forum and in about all of them ~ 15 AC is coming direction from dex or dex related feats. It seems to me that this means any one created with an 8 dex can kiss tanking good bye?

Even with an 8 starting dex all is not completely lost long term.

+2 Tome at some point pushes it to 10, and a +6 Dex item makes it 16. Even Full plate has some DEX bonus allowed.

A LOT of AC builds past the basics depend on having access to various specific rare items that drop (some more rare than others).

What is your INT? The +5 AC from CE is one of the big differences in how much AC you can readily achieve. You need a base 13 (Base number + Inherent bonus = 13 or more).

Also if you play with friends and have for example a Ranger who can drop nice Barkskins down those can help a lot.

[calvinklien]

--

[Quikster]

i was talking about vorpal weapons. i'm not sure if you were just being sarcastic though so i'm going to put a little more sugar in this coffee. this game is VERY much for me. i dig it. 5* (although monster AI needs some serious work...)

I understand your comment. But it seemed you didnt finish reading mine, you see vorpal and go in a huzha about it and commented. I said vorpal or dps for the very reason you stated, not everyone has a vorpal, or two for that matter

[grodon9999]

ranged rangers, archers, own slayer areas. period. with the right bow and a manyshot, any boss is toast.

My "broken" 28-point build Arcane archer (R16) is over 400 kills in vale right now. You just have to use stealth, high-ground, and tactics to get your kills.

Back on topic . . . in GH my buffed AC was in the low 40s but I still kept getting hit a lot. 50 is probably right for a "tank." That said, I don't think I've even seen a "tank" since level 10.

[Yajerman01]

I run around GH alot, clearing the entire slayer area each run. I dont buff and have a base AC at 50. Suffice to say, at 50, you can pretty much go head to head with most mobs and still manage to reach a shrine or quite area to heal up.

Of course, I stayed at a Holliday Inn, so my actual abilities might be flawed.

If you can at least squeeze a 45 AC and obtain a blur somehow, you can manage the same, unless of course your hitting with daggers.

[shawnystyle7]

My "broken" 28-point build Arcane archer (R16) is over 400 kills in vale right now. You just have to use stealth, high-ground, and tactics to get your kills.

Back on topic . . . in GH my buffed AC was in the low 40s but I still kept getting hit a lot. 50 is probably right for a "tank." That said, I don't think I've even seen a "tank" since level 10.

Archers dont tank, they kite so AC is next to meaningless. I have a lvl 20 kensai heavy repeater. She has maxed all vale slayers most of devil battlefield, soloed all the new inspired quarter stuff at around level 18, and easily solos a lot of quests that will wipe groups, ie coal chamber. Big deal, kiting is lame. All with an whooping ac of 28ish, DR/5 and a bunch of immunites/resists. The point is that when you are grouped, kiting is highly aggitating. I stand their and take my licks when i draw aggro. I even stand there in raids and help box in the bosses. Ya i could prolly bump her ac into the 40's or so with the right gear, but it wouldnt matter in anything in GH or beyond. You'd think i would have some sympathy for archers in a group setting but i dont. Mine has **** AC and no mellee ability yet I dont kite in groups.

[MrWizard]

I understand your comment. But it seemed you didnt finish reading mine, you see vorpal and go in a huzha about it and commented. I said vorpal or dps for the very reason you stated, not everyone has a vorpal, or two for that matter

god, I finally had to clean out my bank account, had 2 bank slots full of vorpals of all kinds.
Hated to part with some of them, especially the first two I ever pulled, but space is becoming a premium.

Thelanis AH has a ton on there right now with starting bids at the suggested retail price, no buy out...lots of them.

[Taldaas]

Even with an 8 starting dex all is not completely lost long term.

+2 Tome at some point pushes it to 10, and a +6 Dex item makes it 16. Even Full plate has some DEX bonus allowed.

A LOT of AC builds past the basics depend on having access to various specific rare items that drop (some more rare than others).

What is your INT? The +5 AC from CE is one of the big differences in how much AC you can readily achieve. You need a base 13 (Base number + Inherent bonus = 13 or more).

Also if you play with friends and have for example a Ranger who can drop nice Barkskins down those can help a lot.

Off the top of my head I believe I bumped my Int to 10. Level 9 so far, so it's not an immediate worry, but I noticed doing level 8/9 quests that I am starting to get hit much more often, so I am trying to at least start what I need to do now.

Does CE stack with Defensive Fighting? If not, then it should only be a total of a 3 AC difference (+1 more from not having dodge). I do play with friends, but they are a rogue and a cleric, so no bark skin for me unless I keep potions (which I recently started to do).

I've been looking through the various bonus types and think I could upgrade my deflection bonus by 2 possibly (iron manacles from Delera's) but can not find anything other than end game that gives insight or luck bonuses to AC. Any suggestions for mid level items that impact those 2?

[grodon9999]

Archers dont tank . . .

I so don't want to get off topic but . . .

Yes, archers can't tank but you can draw aggro. Kiting in a groups is bad play, but drawing the aggro of a monster or 4 and then guiding them through the FWs, BBs, and the whirling steel of your DPS fighters (as well as your own dual-blades, you did put the Bow away when the monsters got close, right?) has worked for me (so far, I could be completely wrong once we get the heck out of GH).

[Quikster]

Off the top of my head I believe I bumped my Int to 10. Level 9 so far, so it's not an immediate worry, but I noticed doing level 8/9 quests that I am starting to get hit much more often, so I am trying to at least start what I need to do now.

Does CE stack with Defensive Fighting? If not, then it should only be a total of a 3 AC difference (+1 more from not having dodge). I do play with friends, but they are a rogue and a cleric, so no bark skin for me unless I keep potions (which I recently started to do).

I've been looking through the various bonus types and think I could upgrade my deflection bonus by 2 possibly (iron manacles from Delera's) but can not find anything other than end game that gives insight or luck bonuses to AC. Any suggestions for mid level items that impact those 2?

improved parrying gives insight +2 (parrying +1)

Cleric can buff you with shield of faith if you dont have a higher protection item then the clerics spell, as well as recitation (+2).

If the rog is halfling by any chance they can take an enhancement line that gives you a 1 min buff.

[Taldaas]

Would it be worth it to dump my leveling stats and human enhancement stats into dex in order to get myself high enough for dodge and or CE? Does that count for the purpose of taking the feats?