Light Armor vs Medium Armor

[SylvanPhoenix]

I'm currently building up my red dragon scales to build the Cormyrian Red Dragon Armor. I originally was going to build the medium version but now I'm wondering if I shouldn't go with light. It appears that the light version would allow a max dex bonus of 15 which would allow me to have a 15% dodge. If I go with medium I'd be at 7% dodge due to the max dex bonus of 7. I currently have a dun robar stunning ring (4% dodge), bracers of the wind (3% dodge) and the wolf cloak (2% dodge). Adding in the base 6% dodge from uncanny dodge, it means I should be able to hit 15% passive dodge. I can also do the Eldritch ritual for another 1% too. Am I calculating this out right or am I off in my assumptions on how this will all stack? How does that compare with the loss of PRR?

Cheers,
Sylvan

[WruntJunior]

If you get the light version, you almost have to get an armor kit. Personally, that decides it for me.

[shadereaper33]

The light armor will give you an extra 8% to your max dodge chance, but will change your base PRR from 20 to 14. Assuming no other sources of PRR, it will change your damage reduction from PRR from 11.8% reduction (at 20) to 8.5% damage reduction (at 14). So, you would gain a max of 8% dodge, at the cost of 3.3% damage reduction, assuming no other sources of PRR. If you have other sources of PRR, the loss of damage reduction would be even lower. Given that information, I would say that the dodge chance would provide more survivability that the additional PRR. Changing to the light armor will also reduce your AC by 7, though being as you are a barbarian, I don't know how much, if any, affect that would have on your survivability. Ultimately, the extra dodge will reduce the chance for you get hit, while the extra PRR will reduce the damage you take when you do get hit. Another factor to consider is that if you go with the medium armor, you won't need all of that gear for dodge, which opens up some of those slots for other item consideration, such as the bear cloak for the extra defense, and the bracers of twisting shade for the perma-blur, resistance bonus, and exceptional seeker.

[lethargos]

Light armour keeps future evasion as an option too.
either from tr or destiny...

[goodspeed]

the main difference is do you want possible evasion, which is possible with a couple of ED's or even just a splash of rog which really benefits just about every possible class outcome. Or do you want a lil extra PRR.

Personally with gear giving you tons of saves and stats and everything else, the thought that my barb or such and such can't get a decent enough save isn't true anymore. And their are ALOT of fireballs and magic aoe's at end game. And they hurt like a mother.

[me_TOO]

just an fyi the eldritch ritual does not give 1% dodge, it adds +1 dodge AC