Attainable SnB/armored AC

[Bart_D]

What kind of ACs are attainable wearing armor and using a shield?

It seems all AC-focused builds use monk and wisdom and wear nighties - is that because it is easier or can a dwarf (picking a race which can increase max dex bonuses) with armor and shield just not compete?

I don't really have experience building for AC but i'd think items like Cavalry Plate, dodge-crafted Wind Bracers, Min2 HP item, 3pc epic Abishai set, Stalwart set should be useful? Not sure where to get dodge+4 from though...

I bet there are threads about this but haven't found them - links would be helpful

[Lonnbeimnech]

Not sure where to get dodge+4 from though...

Stalwart Defender III: Superior Defensive Stance
◦ You may expend a Fighter armor boost to become a bastion of defense, gaining a +6 Competence bonus to Strength and Constitution, +20% maximum hit points, a +3 Competence bonus on all saves, and a +4 Dodge bonus to Armor Class. You also gain a 75% Competence bonus to threat generated with your melee attacks. While in this stance, you move 10% slower.

[Meat-Head]

What kind of ACs are attainable wearing armor and using a shield?

It seems all AC-focused builds use monk and wisdom and wear nighties - is that because it is easier or can a dwarf (picking a race which can increase max dex bonuses) with armor and shield just not compete?

I don't really have experience building for AC but i'd think items like Cavalry Plate, dodge-crafted Wind Bracers, Min2 HP item, 3pc epic Abishai set, Stalwart set should be useful? Not sure where to get dodge+4 from though...

I bet there are threads about this but haven't found them - links would be helpful

To be breif: Yes you can compete. It takes a good build and a lot of gear. There were a couple of sickly-geared AC tanks that duoed ToD raid a little while back! One was a S&B dwarf.

[psteen1]

I've attempted it on a heavy armor dwarf. Currently I'm doing it a lot better on a pajama paladin/monk human. For me the issue was the AP costs, which will get addressed in the next update (I really hope anyway!). The AP costs on the dwarf and fighter dex cap lines are just ridiculously expensive. If you go pajama build (esp with a monk), your dex and your wisdom go uncapped into your AC with no AP investment. That means that you can put your AP into things that increase your DPS, and so it is just much easier to do. Plus then you aren't using a shield, which means you are going TWF or THF, and so are doing more damage that way too. In my opinion it is just much easier to both have AC and DPS if you splash a little monk and go pajama-style.

[Monkey-Boy]

What kind of ACs are attainable wearing armor and using a shield?

The AC tops out at about 100 but at this current moment in time any AC over 95 is a waste. 95 is about what's needed in the hardest content where AC actually works so pursuing more then that yields little return.

It seems all AC-focused builds use monk and wisdom and wear nighties - is that because it is easier or can a dwarf (picking a race which can increase max dex bonuses) with armor and shield just not compete?

TWFing monk-splash "tanks" can gets slightly more AC (I think). . . but it doing so they kinda run out of gear slots for all the other stuff a tank needs. Intim items, CHR skills items, HP, threat enhancers, etc . . . all take up slots. The monk-splashes need more slots to squeeze out every last bit of DEX and WIS and that takes up a bunch of gear slots.

S&B tanks are better at this time because of shield mastery. Absorbs grazing hits where AC works and provides Damage mitigation where it doesn't.

S&B will also put out more threat.

I don't really have experience building for AC but i'd think items like Cavalry Plate, dodge-crafted Wind Bracers, Min2 HP item, 3pc epic Abishai set, Stalwart set should be useful? Not sure where to get dodge+4 from though...

I bet there are threads about this but haven't found them - links would be helpful

There is no Dodge 4 heavy armor, the leathers from Crystal cove have dodge 4 and are good is you have an absurd DEX bonus.

With your gear you could push out . . .

10 Base
1 Dodge
3 Stalwart
1 Alchemical Dodge
17 Epic Cav Plate slotted +7
9 Shield
1 Shield ritual
4 Bracers of wind (+3 and +1 Dodge)
10 Dex
4 Insight (Shroud Crafted)
5 Protection
2 Dodge Goggles(?)
5 Combat Expertise
1 Haste
5 Barkskin
4 Bard song
3 Abishai
2 Recitation
4 Stance
3 Airship
2 set bonus

96 - if you can get that Max Dex bonus. I think the Alchemical shields might be able to push out more AC. A few more points with +6 Protection and/or natural armor epic items.

[Bart_D]

Thanks, especially to Monkey-Boy for a very useful run-down

"4 Insight (Shroud Crafted)" sounds restrictive, but i guess i could make a couple for when AC is needed

Im not terribly restrained to the gear mentioned, but I think I have those you mention (almost able to put dodge+2 on bracers and isnt dodge+1 what you get from haste anyway?)... +10 from Dex will be difficult with Cav Plate though, and Barkskin/Bard/Recitation/Airship aren't guaranteed. +6s seem hard to fit in since they are on (otherwisw) pretty poor equipment... any suggestions?

[elraido]

My S&B. Yes you can get it done. Granted this is with a bard in party. Most of the time I am hovering around 85 self buffed (no buff less than 1:30). The pic does include the abishai cookies bonus though....that is really the only buff that consumes resources that aren't readily available.