AC Tank - alignment question

[Pehtis]

I rolled a Dwarven fighter - Stalwart Defender not too long ago (level 10 atm). I rolled it as True Neutral for the Stability bonus on standard armors. I had no idea that the +2 AC did not stack with additional deflection items.

I feel I have totally gimped this toon because I have no UMD (do not intend to have it either) and True Neutral provides absolutely nothing beneficial. I want to save this toon by buying an alignment change. Thinking Chaos Neutral may be best but not sure.

So from an AC perspective what alignment is best?

[ColinQ]

I rolled a Dwarven fighter - Stalwart Defender not too long ago (level 10 atm). I rolled it as True Neutral for the Stability bonus on standard armors. I had no idea that the +2 AC did not stack with additional deflection items.

I feel I have totally gimped this toon because I have no UMD (do not intend to have it either) and True Neutral provides absolutely nothing beneficial. I want to save this toon by buying an alignment change. Thinking Chaos Neutral may be best but not sure.

So from an AC perspective what alignment is best?

Chaotic Neutural w/o UMD means u dont have access to Chaosgarde, which until recently is the only source of +2 dodge (which stack with higher dodges of chattering ring/DT armor)

On the otherhand..being chaotic means u dont take extra damage when tanking epic demon queen in the future.


My opinion, true neutral + moderate UMD

[Aranticus]

lawful good if you want to use chaosgarde but no umd
chaotic neutral if you want to tank lailat without suffering additional damage
true neutral if you want to use alignment gear without suffering negatives, or use stability items
any good if you want to use certain DR bypassing weapons but no umd

edit: there is superior stability

[Quikster]

Chaotic Neutural w/o UMD means u dont have access to Chaosgarde, which until recently is the only source of +2 dodge (which stack with higher dodges of chattering ring/DT armor)

On the otherhand..being chaotic means u dont take extra damage when tanking epic demon queen in the future.


My opinion, true neutral + moderate UMD

meh if you are blocking you dont take that damage either.

[Aranticus]

meh if you are blocking you dont take that damage either.

i'd only block on epic lol. on normal to elite she cant hit me most of the times

[ColinQ]

meh if you are blocking you dont take that damage either.

hmmmmmm..........learn something new everyday

[Quikster]

i'd only block on epic lol. on normal to elite she cant hit me most of the times

There are settings other than epic?

I wouldnt chose an alignment based on n-e damage output of that raid.

[Pehtis]

lawful good if you want to use chaosgarde but no umd
chaotic neutral if you want to tank lailat without suffering additional damage
true neutral if you want to use alignment gear without suffering negatives, or use stability items
any good if you want to use certain DR bypassing weapons but no umd

edit: there is superior stability

Superior Stability ?? I can't say I have ever seen this one. Admittedly I never really paid attention. Is it common?

I was leaning to Chaos Neutral because it opens up Chaos Alignment gear such as Iron Manacles (for interim ac). Also I don't recall ever receiving Law Damage as such so I figure that would be highly uncommon.

As for weapons I have been using Metaline Holy, Chaos Holy to by-pass DR on other toons, which is why I am leaning towards this alignment choice.

It just seems to me that Chaos Neutral is superior, especially when you don't have UMD.

[Aranticus]

Superior Stability ?? I can't say I have ever seen this one. Admittedly I never really paid attention. Is it common?

I was leaning to Chaos Neutral because it opens up Chaos Alignment gear such as Iron Manacles (for interim ac). Also I don't recall ever receiving Law Damage as such so I figure that would be highly uncommon.

As for weapons I have been using Metaline Holy, Chaos Holy to by-pass DR on other toons, which is why I am leaning towards this alignment choice.

It just seems to me that Chaos Neutral is superior, especially when you don't have UMD.

light and darknes, upgraded version gives superior stability

[emptysands]

light and darknes, upgraded version gives superior stability

Actually it's in the basic version. The upgraded version give DR5/Epic and Shield "Blashing".

I've got it on my Rocky Candy AC tank and it gives one better AC than the +6 Epic Kundarak Shield - although you can add HF plus Toughness and the DR is better on the later.

[Aranticus]

Actually it's in the basic version. The upgraded version give DR5/Epic and Shield "Blashing".

I've got it on my Rocky Candy AC tank and it gives one better AC than the +6 Epic Kundarak Shield - although you can add HF plus Toughness and the DR is better on the later.

thanks for correcting. i dun really use that shield, prefer lorriks and leviks for the DR goodness

[pSINNa]

I'd usually go lawful neutral myself.
Reasons - Lawful for the chaosgarde, neutral for the litany, but, that may just be me .

Coit out~

[emptysands]

thanks for correcting. i dun really use that shield, prefer lorriks and leviks for the DR goodness

I prefer large shields over tower shields, as they don't required APs for MDB bonuses. Also the +6 Resist can be handy.

[DrNuegebauer]

I rolled a Dwarven fighter - Stalwart Defender not too long ago (level 10 atm). I rolled it as True Neutral for the Stability bonus on standard armors. I had no idea that the +2 AC did not stack with additional deflection items.

I feel I have totally gimped this toon because I have no UMD (do not intend to have it either) and True Neutral provides absolutely nothing beneficial. I want to save this toon by buying an alignment change. Thinking Chaos Neutral may be best but not sure.

So from an AC perspective what alignment is best?

I think the DDO store charges about twice as much for the LR - it could be worth thinking about going the LR route and taking UMD?

Personally I think you'd find that a heckuva lot more useful in the long term.

[Aranticus]

I prefer large shields over tower shields, as they don't required APs for MDB bonuses. Also the +6 Resist can be handy.

lorriks is a standard shield

[joaofalcao]

I prefer large shields over tower shields, as they don't required APs for MDB bonuses. Also the +6 Resist can be handy.

If youre a fighter tank, than the Prestige Class gives you the extra +MDB for any sorts of shields. No need to expend the extra AP. Especially if youre wearing a mithral shield, like leviks.

[emptysands]

lorriks is a standard shield

True. +5 Large Shield with DR15 and AC+7. But I'd think it's more of a healers shield. Where as the Epic Kundarak Shield is +6 Large with DR12 and AC+8 - with the potential to slot HF and Toughness or +7 giving another AC point.

Personally I think the later is easier to make, than the former is to find.

The L&D is +5 Large Shield with DR7 and AC+7.

If youre a fighter tank, than the Prestige Class gives you the extra +MDB for any sorts of shields. No need to expend the extra AP. Especially if youre wearing a mithral shield, like leviks.

The Levikks is AC+9 and MDB4. DOSIII or SDIII will net an additional 3MDB or 7 = 24 DEX. So in total Levikks with +5 Deflection and 24DEX will have 9+5+7 = +21AC. Where as 28 DEX should be easy for a AC focused fighter build - L&D with Neutral toon @28DEX is 7+6+9 = +22AC or +7 EKS is 9+5+9 = 23AC.

To boost the MDB for 28 DEX you can spend 6 AP for Tower Shield Mastery II or another 6AP for TSM III at 30DEX. It all depends on how useful those extra ticks of AC are to your build - given that each point may or may not be an additional 5% miss chance.


There are lots of different paths, but unless you can find decent items - say a Holy Silver Khopesh - go neutral only if can get a decent UMD.

[Pehtis]

Therefore to summarise (please correct me), without UMD skill its best to go Chaos Neutral rather than True Neutral. Too bad I missed the DDO discount to alignment changes while contemplating the matter. I'm patient and will wait for the next deal.

[joaofalcao]

The Levikks is AC+9 and MDB4. DOSIII or SDIII will net an additional 3MDB or 7 = 24 DEX. So in total Levikks with +5 Deflection and 24DEX will have 9+5+7 = +21AC. Where as 28 DEX should be easy for a AC focused fighter build - L&D with Neutral toon @28DEX is 7+6+9 = +22AC or +7 EKS is 9+5+9 = 23AC.

To boost the MDB for 28 DEX you can spend 6 AP for Tower Shield Mastery II or another 6AP for TSM III at 30DEX.

I see your point. Sounds interesting.

That, of course, admiting you are not restricted by the MDB on your armor, like a dwarf SD3 on a DT(+9MDB) or a dwarf SD3 on an Epic Red Dragon Plate(+10MDB(can be 12, right?)).

I ve never considered such things on my defenders. Thanks for pointing me that out.

[emptysands]

I see your point. Sounds interesting.

That, of course, admiting you are not restricted by the MDB on your armor, like a dwarf SD3 on a DT(+9MDB) or a dwarf SD3 on an Epic Red Dragon Plate(+10MDB(can be 12, right?)).

I ve never considered such things on my defenders. Thanks for pointing me that out.

Red Scale Armor is AC+16 with base MDB 2. SD3 gets heavy MDB+2. FAM3 for 12AP is +3 and DAM3 for 12AP is +3. So potentially total of 10 MDB. If you had a couple Fighter Past Life Feats you could get another +2 MDB, max additional +3 MDB.

However, it seems unlikely 1) you'll spend 24 AP (or 30%) on MDB, ii) 30 DEX seems unlike on a heavy armor AC build.

It maybe be worth getting FAM2 and DAM2 for 12AP and +4MDB - MDB for Levik is 4 + 3 = 7 with the boost from SD3 add one TSM1 for 2AP gets +8MDB vs +8MDB for FAM2+DAM2+SD3+Base. 26 DEX at 7 (spectral) + 2 (tome)+ 3(exceptional) + 14 (base) seems more reasonable (*).

Heavy Armor build is likely to want to higher CON to make up for the loss of evasion - 16, 14, 18, 11, 8, 9 for 32 pt build.

Lots of different ways of looking at it. AC builds are tricky balancing act.