A simple alteration to make decent AC more achieveable.

[Cloista]

I wont call this a 'fix' as it doesn't fix the underlying problem, however it should in theory allow AC even on non-specific AC builds to catch up enough to be 'useful' at high level (circa normal/hard Amrath/House C, no it won't make a difference in Epic, but that is a whole other ball game where AC is concerned and needs a thorough looking at).

My proposal is increasing base AC (currently fixed at 10) in line with increases to BAB, 1 to 1.

This would give, for example:

Fighter 1: 10 (base) + BAB 1 = 11 base AC.
Fighter 20: 10 (base) + BAB 20 = 30 base AC.


Monk 1: 10 (base) + BAB 0 = 10 base AC.
Monk 20: 10 (base) + BAB 15 = 25 base AC.

This then raises the achievable/useable AC bracket for all characters, especially those focusing in melee.

[Nysrock]

/not signed

If they raised fighters AC by 19 points then they would just make it so mobs had a higher to hit. That would be detrimental to the whole party. Besides, I can easily hit in the mid-70's on my Stalwart and that is without grinding out gear or having any hard to find items. While it isn't Epic AC it is also easy to achieve.

[Cloista]

They could, but if the aim is to make AC more useable, why would they?

The aim is to make useful (and no I don't mean unhittable, more in the range of 20% less hits) AC achieveable for more characters than specific AC tanks. In theory it would also allow those AC tanks to load up a little more threat/damage gear.

If the exact numbers were tweaked (1:2 or 1:3 perhaps) it may be better, but surely the theory is sound?

[voodoogroves]

No, monks should be able to achieve a decent AC.

There should be some benefit for heavier armors - right now it's slanted against that - but that isn't completely uncommon for PNP anyway. Arbitrarily giving AC boosts to some classes isn't the answer, and certainly not in the example you gave .

[wax_on_wax_off]

I wont call this a 'fix' as it doesn't fix the underlying problem, however it should in theory allow AC even on non-specific AC builds to catch up enough to be 'useful' at high level (circa normal/hard Amrath/House C, no it won't make a difference in Epic, but that is a whole other ball game where AC is concerned and needs a thorough looking at).

My proposal is increasing base AC (currently fixed at 10) in line with increases to BAB, 1 to 1.

This would give, for example:

Fighter 1: 10 (base) + BAB 1 = 11 base AC.
Fighter 20: 10 (base) + BAB 20 = 30 base AC.


Monk 1: 10 (base) + BAB 0 = 10 base AC.
Monk 20: 10 (base) + BAB 15 = 25 base AC.

This then raises the achievable/useable AC bracket for all characters, especially those focusing in melee.

/not signed

This change would actually allow epicly geared AC builds to AC tank in epic which would make a significant amount of epic content trivial.

A better change would be to introduce the opposed defense roll. Basically, you roll 1d20 to attack but you also roll 1d20 to defend (instead of the 10 base AC). This would increase the range of useful AC values by 10 points in both directions. It would be harder to have untouchable AC (which is an easy button in a lot of content) and it would be easier to have useful AC for most builds.

Something that would need to be worked out is what happens when you roll a 1 or a 20 on the defensive roll. Auto hit/auto defend perhaps but what if it is opposed by a corresponding 1 or 20? Some events could be added to make combat significantly more chaotic which could be a lot of fun.

[Thrudh]

This change would actually allow epicly geared AC builds to AC tank in epic which would make a significant amount of epic content trivial.

Explain please...

How would it make epics trivial if my AC character was unhittable in epics?

[Doomcrew]

OP, you are missing the point where the heavily geared AC builds
would be getting a +20 to their Ac as well. As has been said, the
recourse would be to up the mob to-hit modifier and the circle of
power creep spins on.

[gloopygloop]

I don't necessarily want AC to be easier to get. I would just like it to be worth having once you get it.

[sirgog]

I don't necessarily want AC to be easier to get. I would just like it to be worth having once you get it.

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/5...shot00022i.jpg would indicate that yes, you can get missed a lot in Epics. (That character is unbuffed, 90 AC baseline so 95 while actively blocking).

Outside Epics, AC has always made content easy.