Warforged Wizard Summoner with Damage Reduction?

[Crann]

It is a hard concept to wrap your brain around, and you might need to play through it to get it.

The basic concept, is that the to hit number is generated using a 20 sided die simulator. The monster "rolls" 1d20 to hit you, and then adds it's to-hit bonuses. If the number that is generated is higher than your armor class, then your are hit.

Here is an example using some testing I did on an AC build, might not be completely accurate, but it is close:

If a monster has +43 to hit, like the dps types in Gianthold wilderness(the CR15 hobgoblins for example), then if they roll a 2 or higher they will hit an AC of 44 (1's always miss). That makes a AC of 43, 23 or 10 all get hit on a 2 by that monster.

There are other factors such as glancing blows, and positioning, etc. which make it not quite that simple....but in a nutshell you either have an AC that helps, or you don't. Wizards/Sorcs generally don't, they have Disaplcement and stoneskin to avoid taking damage.

[pipboy1]

No offense, but no...sh...t

In DnD there is a 20 dice. I have played DnD for years. What I do not like is you can cast spells endlessly therefore buffs are so frequent that AC does not matter as much. Then you have nothing apparently in the end game that has a lower BAB. I am quite aware of the system, but the buffing ability and the lack of multiclassing options is killing me. I mean I see how multiclassing can be overdone like I see in NWN, but this is the opposite extreme.

So duh, AC is a percentage chance overall if made correctly because normally you can not cast a million spells, but if everything has that high of BAB just to play uber duper mode then of course AC does not matter and buffing is the most important. That is why I am not really that interested.

I mean I can play a Paladin in this game and his alignment means nothing in a quest. You can do the most evil deed possible, and it just does not matter at all with the alignment. So why bother? I feel like I am playing a more advanced version of Space Invaders except you must repeat the same level over and over in order to have a chance in the next stage.

Anyway I may play off and on. This is not the worse MMO. I am certainly happy that it is free in North America, but that is the only reason I am here. I do not usually play MMO's for this reason. And this is no different than most uber duper something with very little story. I am sure people enjoy it, but it is not for me. And some of replies have just made me want to not play even more. I will not let the door hit me on the a.... I swear.

[r3dl4nce]

simply ddo is not a role playing game, but a cooperative multiplayer online game based on lore of D&D. You can search for a better MMORPG, but you won't find mmorpg with RPG, sorry.

[ghettoGenius]

Don't believe everything you read here on these boards ... some of us can be pretty opinionated.

I'll just say a few things. Augment Summoning is no joke, I've seen it in action. Seriously considering a way to squeeze it in at least while I level my ranger AA (with empathy enh can charm vermin and eles). Some people do find Mental Toughness and Improved MT useful, especially those clerics/rangers/wizards who have fewer sp than sorcs/FvS. Just understand that a sacrifice (like that of all feats) is in order, usually being some metamagic feat. If you feel you have enough metamagic and can live without the others then more sp is always good.

[Tsuarok]

No offense, but no...sh...t

Oh, sorry, thought you were taking Mithral Body for the AC, but I guess you must have been taking it for the 15% asf and the -2 skill check

[Fon_Win]

No offense, but no...sh...t

In DnD there is a 20 dice. I have played DnD for years. What I do not like is you can cast spells endlessly therefore buffs are so frequent that AC does not matter as much. Then you have nothing apparently in the end game that has a lower BAB. I am quite aware of the system, but the buffing ability and the lack of multiclassing options is killing me. I mean I see how multiclassing can be overdone like I see in NWN, but this is the opposite extreme.

So duh, AC is a percentage chance overall if made correctly because normally you can not cast a million spells, but if everything has that high of BAB just to play uber duper mode then of course AC does not matter and buffing is the most important. That is why I am not really that interested.

I mean I can play a Paladin in this game and his alignment means nothing in a quest. You can do the most evil deed possible, and it just does not matter at all with the alignment. So why bother? I feel like I am playing a more advanced version of Space Invaders except you must repeat the same level over and over in order to have a chance in the next stage.

Anyway I may play off and on. This is not the worse MMO. I am certainly happy that it is free in North America, but that is the only reason I am here. I do not usually play MMO's for this reason. And this is no different than most uber duper something with very little story. I am sure people enjoy it, but it is not for me. And some of replies have just made me want to not play even more. I will not let the door hit me on the a.... I swear.

If you're looking for something closer to pnp ruleset, you can join a static/PD group. Static groups can set artificial limitations (no munchkin, no buying from AH, whatever the group decides). check the static/permadeath forum.

[fox5s]

I wouldn't say it's munchkin but it is definately power gaming. It's hard to proply translate PnP to and MMO. However, having played many MMOs starting way EQ in addition to a fair abount of PnP, I think they did a pretty fair job in the conversion.

Also, they are telling you about a lot of end game stuff. The monsters at the levels it sounds like you are playing at can still be affected by an AC of certain levels. However, no matter what your AC is you can still be affected by grazing hits (one of the things that I don't like that they added). That mechanic alone makes damage reduction a great thing to pick up.

Here are links to the ddowiki on grazing hits and all the specific changes from PnP to an MMO.

http://ddowiki.com/page/Grazing_Hits

http://ddowiki.com/page/PnP_differences

Both will help you out a lot IMO if you are coming from the PnP.

[Crann]

Oh, sorry, thought you were taking Mithral Body for the AC, but I guess you must have been taking it for the 15% asf and the -2 skill check

I am hoping he was taking it at least because it looks cool.

I would have been very appreciative if someone would have taken the time to explain how AC works in DDO to me a year ago. I too played PnP for many years....20 years ago, and the concept of how AC works in DDO is about as far away from those rules as you can get.

[pipboy1]

Well regardless I am just finding out that Mithral Body and Docents are a higher value than Mage Armor now. I could have the bonus from the docent and the Mithral versus just mage armor. I made a new character based on expert advice found here and have been disappointed that no one cleared that up. Thanks for the help when it was intended as help. As for people just trying to flame...well you know what I could say...............

So +11 AC (+7 AC Mithral Body,Dex bonus, and +4 Docent)) versus just +4 Mage armor I guess is just stupid on my part.

[pipboy1]

I am looking more at now a Lvl 12 Wizard, Lvl 6 Ranger, Lvl 2 Rogue. I know I am just stupid. Thanks again.

Edit: No I am going to make it Lvl 12 Wizard, Lvl 8 Rogue

[Kyln]

Well regardless I am just finding out that Mithral Body and Docents are a higher value than Mage Armor now. I could have the bonus from the docent and the Mithral versus just mage armor. I made a new character based on expert advice found here and have been disappointed that no one cleared that up. Thanks for the help when it was intended as help. As for people just trying to flame...well you know what I could say...............

So +11 AC (+7 AC Mithral Body,Dex bonus, and +4 Docent)) versus just +4 Mage armor I guess is just stupid on my part.

Ok I am not sure where you are getting your numbers from, but I think that comparison is a bit off. Any warforged gets composite plating, that is +2 to armor vs. the +5 from Mithral Body. Yes, you can get an extra +3 in AC with that feat, but everything else in your line-up is applicable to any WF wizard. You also get a skill check penalty, increased spell failure, and a Dex modifier cap.

Looking back on my build, I already feel like I made several mistakes. I took max intelligence and a very high constitution as a WF, but spread my points out from there, trying to avoid to negative modifiers. If I had it to do over again (ignoring re-roll or re-incarnation), I would either raise my strength for slightly better melee or my charisma for UMD. I mention this because I too was worried about AC when i started, that is why we are giving you the advice that we are. Experimenting with AC is fine, but when it is difficult or expensive to change things made in that experimentation, we are trying to help you avoid that (play with enhancements all day long for example).

AC is fine for early content and in early quests it can matter, I wore the black widow bracers for a long time. However, AC just does not keep up with enemy AB as the game progresses if you are a caster, at least in my experience. Even in early levels I quickly found damage reduction (lesser spear block bracers from Korthos and the lesser sword block cape from the harbor) combined with blur did me more good than mage armor and AC items. Invulnerability would have been even better if I had owned an item with it.

If you want to do AC for rping reasons--thats fine. I tend to have themes for many of my characters, concepts that I try to build around. However, if you ask for advice, I think it is safe to assume that you are asking for what would work best. If you have concerns other than efficiency, than you need to be clear about that up front. If you are dead set on trying to boost your AC you should try and find a decent light mithral shield, it has 0% arcane spell failure and you might find one with some good mods. It's an item, and a small expense for a dabble into trying to make AC matter.

[pipboy1]

The +11 AC was from...
+5 Mithral Body
+2 Dex
---+4 Docent(possible)

I have +9 AC from
+5 Mithral Body
+2 Dex
+2 Docent

Now if I have Mage Armor it does not stack so if getting any use from Mage Armor it is just + 4 AC. It does not stack with the above.

You can remove the arcane failure of course for Mithral Body through enhancments.

Now Shields?

How much of AC bonus can you receive from a Mithral Shield? Is it more that +4?
Shield Spell does not stack with a shield, and in order to use a shield I need another feat. So Shield the spell gives a +4 AC. Is it worth picking up a Shield for it.

I played a Warforged Fighter tank before this with Adamantite Body(and no shield-two handed weapon fighting).

So I am wondering other than the shield and the difference in Mithral versus Adamantite......what would I loose in AC to go from a Tank build?

[Kyln]

Now Shields?

Shield Spell does not stack with a shield, and in order to use a shield I need another feat.

You don't need a feat to hold a shield, and with a light mithral shield there is no penalties to attack or skills even if you lack the feat. the base value is 1, and you can add a +5 to that, plus whatever else comes on the shield. Thats 6 AC with no feats, no enhancements, and no ASF. Of course you are giving up whatever else would be in that hand, but everything is a trade-off. Use nightshield for the saves and magic missile immunity instead of the shield spell.

[pipboy1]

You don't need a feat to hold a shield, and with a light mithral shield there is no penalties to attack or skills even if you lack the feat. the base value is 1, and you can add a +5 to that, plus whatever else comes on the shield. Thats 6 AC with no feats, no enhancements, and no ASF. Of course you are giving up whatever else would be in that hand, but everything is a trade-off. Use nightshield for the saves and magic missile immunity instead of the shield spell.

That makes sense. Ok I see now rogues can now use Mithral light shields without a penalty right?

What are the dex bonuses on end game items? I mean will there be anything bigger than +6 to dex? I am thinking about this because of the Mithral Body max dex.

[Merlocke]

It makes no difference. You will be hit regardless. Displacement is better.

With items like Con Opp and the Torc in game, casters are typically much better off taking damage anyways.

[Kyln]

Displacement is better.

True, but the OP wants to do AC.
_______________________________________

On the max dex issue, I don't know honestly. There is up to +4 tomes, +7 dex on items, and +1 exceptional dex end game, none of which I would count on. I would not spend a feat to raise the dex cap on Mithral body either if that is what you are considering. As I mentioned in my previous thread, if you are going to experiment with AC, try to make only easily reversible decisions in your build/gear.

[pipboy1]

It makes no difference. You will be hit regardless. Displacement is better.

Let me put this differently.

Why would I not have Displacement and Shroud of the Wraith on top of AC? Displacement I clearly plan to use. And the Concealment bonus from the Wraith form.

What are the differences between the AC I can obtain on a Warforged Fighter and a Warforged Wizard? I understand that if I have less feats for Mithral Body and other defensive measures I could replace it with improved spell casting.

I was looking to try to focus on spells that effect friendlies like buffing, and summons. I was not planning to use this build to focus on casting spells on hostile targets.

Am I hindering my AC by selecting Mithral Body? Will I receive items that raise my Dexterity more than 6 points. I have never gotten to the late game. If I am hindering the AC then Mithral Body needs to go yes.

Where are the numbers for 80 AC coming from? Can someone explain how this is done? Why could I not have an AC as high as a Warforged Fighter with a 2 Handed Weapon?

[pipboy1]

This thread helps.

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=216284

I will have to look at it more. But I did not find these stats before. So yes it is possible but of course the spell casting would not be as good. That is what I was looking for originally.

Now I could add Displacement and Shroud of the Wraith on this I would be happy.

[pipboy1]

(10)10 Base						

Armor Bonus
	5  Mithral Body
	6  Docent

(21)11 Total Armor Bonus

Shield Bonus
	6  Mithral Light Shield +5

(27)6 Total Shield Bonus

Deflection Bonus
	5  Deflection(+5 Protection)

(32)5 Total Deflection Bonus

Dodge Bonus
	1 Dodge Feat
	3 Chattering Ring
	2 Chaosgarde

(38)6 Total Dodge Bonus

Natural Armor
	4 Seal of the Earth 

(42)4 Total Natural Armor Bonus

(47)5  Dex Bonus
(52)5  Combat Expertise

52 Total Non Buffed

Now I could use Improved Uncanny Dodge to give +6 more Dodge Bonus right?
(58)

All of the items are from post that I have never seen in the game yet.

I have added buffs, but I am not aware of everything in the game yet.

Well I will just have to figure it out myself.

But this with Shroud of the Wraith and Displacement then more AC buffs would be ok right?

Or does everything have a 52 BAB beginning Attack at least?

[r3dl4nce]

AC is a BIG problems to obtain in ddo, because of the d20 system. In endgame, if you stay below 70 AC (90+ in epic) you are hit everytime from mobs (except when they roll 1). So if you think to reach these values you can have a use for AC, otherwise it's only time wasted farming for items you could have spent farmin for items to give you better spellcasting power.