getting useful armor class

[blametroi]

I've got a level 18 halfling fighter, heavy on strength and con. She hits hard but her AC is useless and she takes damage almost like a barbarian. So far no clerics complain, but I wonder if I should be trying to improve her armor class. Her standing AC is 13. She's a THF and Kensai.

Should I go the robe/outfit route or start trying to get better AC. Recommendations?

[Jiirix]

thf.. so you dumped DEX, right? Then AC isn't the way to go for you.

DR will help a bit or spells from clickies.

[blitzschlag]

I've got a level 18 halfling fighter, heavy on strength and con. She hits hard but her AC is useless and she takes damage almost like a barbarian. So far no clerics complain, but I wonder if I should be trying to improve her armor class. Her standing AC is 13. She's a THF and Kensai.

Should I go the robe/outfit route or start trying to get better AC. Recommendations?

i don't see how robe/outfit would give you better ac with a pure fighter.

you have 2 options.

a) respec stalwart defender and grind out some serious ac gear
b) be a monksplash and heavy on dex/wisdom and grind out some serious ac gear

i'd recommend the first. you loose dps but could gain some useful ac...

[richieelias27]

I've got a level 18 halfling fighter, heavy on strength and con. She hits hard but her AC is useless and she takes damage almost like a barbarian. So far no clerics complain, but I wonder if I should be trying to improve her armor class. Her standing AC is 13. She's a THF and Kensai.

Should I go the robe/outfit route or start trying to get better AC. Recommendations?

With a standing AC of 13 and nearly at endgame, you will never have useful AC without a lesser rez. Go for HP/DR instead.

[TFPAQ]

I don't know how you are geared, but an AC of 13 at your level is basically no AC. 'Neked you AC is 10.

If you are a STR/CON build you really can only go for high HP (400 min. 500+ ideal) and possibly pick up various "block" gear (preferably axeblock, etc) and possibly plan on making or picking up as many "guard" equipment as possible (acid guard, fire guard, earth, etc ...)

You can't do anything about your AC that would be a reasonable grind.

Sorry...

[blametroi]

i don't see how robe/outfit would give you better ac with a pure fighter.

you have 2 options.

a) respec stalwart defender and grind out some serious ac gear
b) be a monksplash and heavy on dex/wisdom and grind out some serious ac gear

i'd recommend the first. you loose dps but could gain some useful ac...

My rational for robe/outfit is partly style (if AC doesn't matter, don't wear heavy amor) and partly because it seems generally cheaper to get robes/outfits. DT armor types all seem to support the same options, the only difference being base AC.

I'm not afraid to lesser her, she was my first toon and a 28 point build and I already did a greater on her and tomed her up. HP is 514 at level 18 geared, and fully buffed strength (kensai, +6 gloves with the +6 psionic boost) is mid 40s.

Sounds like I should stick with her as she is for this life. It's not that I effed her up as much as I made a base choice that limits future options in this life. I can run with that

Thanks to all replies.

[unbongwah]

Generally speaking, fighters either build for DPS (Kensai) or tanking with a side of DPS (SD). It is the latter which will get you a viable endgame AC, but only if you've got the build and gear to support it. So I'd say either stick with Kensai and find means other than AC to mitigate the hits (high HPs, DR item, Displacement & Stoneskin, etc.); or LR into a proper SD tank, but only after you research the right build & gear.

[Quikster]

The advantage of robes or outfits on a non monk splash is fast swapping, and reduced skill checks. Outside of that its basically the same as heavy armor given the effects on the two are the same.

[blametroi]

Generally speaking, fighters either build for DPS (Kensai) or tanking with a side of DPS (SD). It is the latter which will get you a viable endgame AC, but only if you've got the build and gear to support it. So I'd say either stick with Kensai and find means other than AC to mitigate the hits (high HPs, DR item, Displacement & Stoneskin, etc.); or LR into a proper SD tank, but only after you research the right build & gear.

OK, those are all things I can do and I'll stick with Kensai.

I really enjoy beating things up (or down, depending on your perspective). I'm wondering if I should consider a lesser intoa TWF (funding is not an issue, and I'd rather experiment by changing her at a high level before she's capped than working through lower levels again).

One thing I have problems with in the game in general is the whole "either or" nature of things, there are few areas where any middle ground or creativity seems allowed.

I have one capped toon and I'm beginning to think that really starts in endgame (which never seems to end) so my perspective is still limited.

[grodon9999]

Going for AC absolutely WILL cause a drop in DPS. It's a sliding scale, the more DPS you're willing to lose the more the more defense you can gain. 2 levels of monk and a starting STR of 16 instead of 18 can get you decent AC with a sacrifice of DPS that I find acceptable, others might not. It really depends on what you want to to, I wanted to build something that could hate-tank and not be an SP-sponge.

It's not really an "either or," not quite that black and white.

The recent airship buffs allow for monk-splash builds to get another 5 AC. STR builds can now hit the defensive levels that used to only be hittable by DEX-based haflings.

My dorf-monster right now can hit a 77 AC while TWFing (72 with power-attack on, need more gear . . .). Yes, a pure fighter will do more damage but to me it's worth it being able to tank raid-bosses and be able to be kept up with heal-scrolls. Evasion is nice also. His HP are a little lite right now (no gear to speak of) so he won't be tanking Horoth anytime soon but he will once geared.

[Hadrian]

Healing amplification makes a big difference on a low AC character. Do what you can to get some.

It won't do a whole lot for you when being hit by a full heal, but it will make scrolls, auras and cure spells give you a lot more hit points.

[Aranticus]

as a kensai and fighter, you have bonuses to tactical DCs. use trip, stun, etc. when a mob is unable to attack, it deals you no damage. playing a fighter isnt about straight up dps, soak damage style. you have a range of abilities at your disposal, why not use them?