Best Heavy Armor for a Divine Gish

[Aragorn]

Hey there!

Im in a planescape Gestalt, heavy optimization game.  Frank and K's Tome is our bread and butter.

However, I have run into a problem. Im playing a with Homebrewed classes, the Dawnblade//Priest. The sheet is here. http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=341878

Since the Dawnblade can ignore movement restrictions in heavy armor, and both classes are divine spellcasters, I plan on using heavy armor. However, this may be the first time I have ever attempted to use heavy armor in a high Op game and im not sure what to do. I was thinking about Stone plate with a bunch of armro mods, but I would like to know if there is a better option. I have about 40% of my WBL for level 12 available. I can enchant the armor daily with magic vestment, so no more than a +! is needed, im looking for best base armor and enhancements. Anything goes.

So, whatcha got for me?

[X-Codes]

Re: Armbands of Dex and Str +2... WTF!?  Drop the Dex +2 if the DM is making you pay a ridiculous 8k for the extra bit.  That is just disgustingly wasteful.  Same for the Natural Armor +2 amulet, 10k for a +2 bonus?  It's seriously not even worth the 8k it costs normally.

More bad item picks in there, but that's enough of that... You need more stuff to boost your casting like Metamagic rods, Karma beads, and an Ankh of Ascension.

At your level, your Dex mod to AC is going to matter a lot more than your Armor to AC.  Generic Full Plate will let you use your vanilla +1 bonus after scrapping those terrible armbands, and a +1 bonus will let you add some useful mods.  At this level, look for Mindarmor and Death Ward (although Mindarmor might not be totally necessary).

[phaedrusxy]

Non-Tome: this

But if you're using Frank and K, you can probably find better in their Races of War.

[Aragorn]

I get 12 items of 15k worth or less for free. Those are the only items I have selected so far.

There are decent armors, but I don't really like any of them. Im thinking about THAALUD STONE ARMOR...

[JaronK]

Since you ignore movement penalties anyway, Mechanicus Gear is the best heavy armor to go with (+10 AC, 0 Max Dex, terrible ACP, slows you even more than normal).  If you've got the article on the topic, Dragon Magazine has options that can make it Reinforced for +1AC.  Mithral would let you use that Dex bonus, and Oerthblood is worth it if you can craft the armor yourself.  Also consider Netcutter Armor Spikes.

JaronK

[carnivore]

Clockwork Armor with Resist Cold 10

except it is out of your budget
 

[phaedrusxy]

I get 12 items of 15k worth or less for free. Those are the only items I have selected so far.

There are decent armors, but I don't really like any of them. Im thinking about THAALUD STONE ARMOR...

Races of War Mechanus Armor

Mechanus Armor

A powerful collection of gears and chains that offers the finest protection that the Clockwork Nirvana can devise. Sometimes, a small jet of steam or oil will be ejected for no particular reason.

    Knowledge (Engineering) Ranks: Benefit
    4: You gain a +2 bonus to Strength.
    8: You are not staggered or unconscious when reduced to zero or less hit points. You still die at -10 hit points, though it is not unknown for the armor to continue fighting for some time after that.
    13: You gain DR equal to the Armor Bonus of the armor, which is negated by adamantine weaponry.
    18: Your size increases one level, and receive all relevant bonuses and penalties.

Adamantine Carapace from the same work:

Adamantine Carapace

    BAB: Benefit
    +1: You gain Damage Reduction equal to your Base Attack Bonus, which is negated by Adamantine Weapons.
    +5: You gain a +2 bonus on Bullrush checks.
    +10: You do not provoke attacks of opportunity when charging.
    +15: You gain 5 points of Energy Resistance to Electricity, Acid, and Sonic.

[X-Codes]

Ankh of Ascention + Requilary Holy Symbol = 10k
Extend Rod = 11k
Lesser Chaining Rod = 14k
+1 Death Ward Ghost Ward Mindarmor TSA = 14,950gp
+1/+1 Ghost Ward Spellstrike Light Steel Shield = 12,165gp
+1 Defending Spellblade [Greater Dispel Magic] Club = 14,300gp

Bead of Karma = 20k, but buy one anyway

EDIT: Aside from the Headband you've got, I probably wouldn't take any of the other items you listed.

[Maat Mons]

If you're willing to spend three feats (two for crappy prerequisites), you can get the deflective armor feat (Races of Stone).  That lets you add your armor bonus to touch AC. 

Slap the restful enhancement (Dungeonscape) on your armor so you can sleep in it. 

Here are my notes on mundane armor modifications.  See if anything is useful to you. 

(click to show/hide)

Masterwork

• Masterwork: 1 better ACP, +150 gp, Player's Handbook p126
• Item of Renown: 2 better ACP, +300 gp, War of the Lance p23
• Item of Fame: 3 better ACP, +450 gp, War of the Lance p23
• Item of Glory: 4 better ACP, +600 gp, War of the Lance p23
• Item of Legend: 5 better ACP, +750 gp, War of the Lance p23

Alloy Components

• Oerthblood: +1 (light), +2 (medium), or +3 (heavy) luck bonus saves vs. magic, DR 1/- (light), 2/- (medium), or 3/- (heavy), *2 hardness, *1.5 HP, +10,000 gp (light), +20,000 gp (medium), +30,000 gp (heavy), Dragon 351 p45
• Pure Ore: masterwork, *2 hardness, *2 HP, +800 gp (light), +3,000 gp (medium), +7,000 gp (heavy), Dragon 347 p47

Artisan Craftsman Qualities

• Acid Washed: +4 saves vs. acid, rust, & disintegration, +100 gp (light) or +200 gp (medium or heavy), metal only, Dragon 358 p39
• Caster Armor: -5% ASF, +400 gp (light), +800 gp (medium), or +1,000 gp (heavy), Dragon 358 p39
• Environmentally Designed: +2 saves vs. heat or cold, +100 gp, Dragon 358 p40
• Lightweight: -20% weight, +200 gp (light or medium) or +500 gp (heavy), Dragon 358 p42
• Ornate: +2 diplomacy or intimidate, +400 gp, Dragon 358 p42
• Reinforced: +1 AC, +10% weight, +800 gp (light), +1,000 gp (medium), or +1,200 gp (heavy), Dragon 358 p42
• Resilient: +5 HP, +200 gp, Dragon 358 p42
• Segmented: +1 max. dex bonus, +200 gp (light or medium) or +300 gp (heavy), Dragon 358 p42
• Vital Coverage: +2 AC vs. critical confirmation, +200 gp (light), +400 gp (medium), or +1,000 gp (heavy), Dragon 358 p43

Templates

• Feycraft: -5% ASF, -10% weight, +1 bluff to deceive, -1 hardness, -5 HP, +500 gp, light or medium only, Dungeon Master's Guide II p274
• Fireshaped: +2 saves vs. fire & heat, +300 gp, metal only, Dungeon Master's Guide II p275
• Githcraft: -5% ASF, +1 concentration, +600 gp, Dungeon Master's Guide II p276
• Gloryborn: +1 AC when charging, +150 gp, Dungeon Master's Guide II p277
• Hellforged: +1 AC when adjacent to ally, +1 hardness, +5 HP, 1 better ACP, -1 max. dex bonus, +5% ASF, +1,000 gp, Dungeon Master's Guide II p277
• Pitspawn: 1 damage to attacker, +600 gp, Dungeon Master's Guide II p278
• Soulforged: +2 to resist bull rush & trip, +1 hardness, +5 HP, +400 gp, Dungeon Master's Guide II p279

Weapons

• Armor Razors: Slashing armor spikes, +10 lb., +50 gp, Underdark p65
• Armor Spikes: Weapon, +10 lb., +50 gp, Player's Handbook p124
• Elbow Blade: Punching dagger, +1 lb., +4 gp, Complete Scoundrel p110
• Knee Blade: Short sword, +2 lb., +20 gp, Complete Scoundrel p110
• Netcutter Spikes: Armor spikes, +4 escape net & web, +10 lb., +200 gp, Races of the Wild p167

Other Modifications

• Buoyancy: Don't double ACP for swim, 1 worse ACP, +50 gp, Underdark p65
• Camouflage: +2 hide in specific terrain, +2 lb., +300 gp, Underdark p66
• Camouflage Dye: +4 hide in specific forest, +300 gp, padded, leather, hide, or studded leather only, Races of Faerun p158
• Ceremonial: +1 max. dex, 2 better ACP, no speed reduction, half ASF, half weight, half AC bonus, twice normal cost of masterwork armor, Dungeon 105 p71
• Dwarvencraft: +2 hardness, +10 HP, +2 saves, +300 gp, metal or stone only, Races of Stone p159
• Fast-Donning Straps: No increase in ACP for donning hastily, +150 gp, Races of Stone p155
• Forestwarden Shroud: Tumble & move silently through undergrowth, +2 pounds, +100 gp, Races of the Wild p167
• Keel: +2 swim, +2 lb., +50 gp, Stormwrack p106
• Muffling: +2 move silently, +2 lb., +300 gp, Underdark p66
• Oil Chamber: Store & release oil, +1,000 gp, Dungeonscape p33
• Quick-Escape: Remove as standard action, double time to put on, +2 lb., +300 gp, masterwork only, Arms and Equipment Guide p16
• Riding Straps: +1 ride, +200 gp, Races of Stone p157
• Sanctified: Divine focus, +50 gp, Dungeonscape p34
• Signature Crest: Decoration, +50 gp, Races of Stone p158
• Stability Weights: +2 balance & to resist bull rush & trip, -1 max. dex bonus, +10% ASF, +1 armor category, +30 lb., +160 gp, Underdark p66
• Stinging Polyps: Paralyze grappled opponent for 1d4 rounds 1/day (fort DC 14 negates), +500 gp, living coral only, Stormwrack p106
• Susalian Chainweave: DR 3/piercing, +28,000 gp (light), +35,000 gp (medium), or +42,000 gp (heavy), Complete Warrior p136
• Ysgardian Heartwire: +2 AC vs. critical confirmation, +1,500 gp, Book of Exalted Deeds p38

Accessories

• Chahar-Aina: +1 AC, -1 ACP, 5% ASF, 10 lb., 75 gp, Oriental Adventures p75
• Dastana: +1 AC, -1 ACP, 5% ASF, 5 lb., 25 gp, Arms and Equipment Guide p15, Oriental Adventures p75
• Earthsilk Jersey: DR 1/shashing or bludgeoning, torn on critical hit dealing piercing damage, 2 lb., 150 gp, Races of Stone p160
• Gauntlet, Locked: +10 vs. disarm, +5lb. (breastplate, light armor, or no armor), 8 gp, Player's Handbook p124
• Gorget: +10 AC vs. garrote, -4 extended physical actions, 5 lb., 10 gp, Song and Silence p54
• Leather Collar: +4 AC vs. garrote, -2 extended physical actions, 2 lb., 2 gp, Song and Silence p54
• Thistledown Suit: -5% ASF, 1 worse ACP, 250 gp, Races of the Wild p168

[Aragorn]

I'm not willing to burn skill ranks on an armor, so tome armro is not an option. The bab based armor isn't good enough to use either.

Ankh of Ascention + Requilary Holy Symbol = 10k
Extend Rod = 11k
Lesser Chaining Rod = 14k
+1 Death Ward Ghost Ward Mindarmor TSA = 14,950gp
+1/+1 Ghost Ward Spellstrike Light Steel Shield = 12,165gp
+1 Defending Spellblade [Greater Dispel Magic] Club = 14,300gp
Bead of Karma = 20k, but buy one anyway

EDIT: Aside from the Headband you've got, I probably wouldn't take any of the other items you listed.

TSA?
Why a club and not another weapon? Spell blade?

Forgive my ignorance, it's why I'm asking for help.

Maat, we get a regular feat every level so I might do it for the armor. The mods are very helpful, thank you.

While I'm at it, any other random items less than 15k you suggest?

[Jackinthegreen]

If you're willing to spend three feats (two for crappy prerequisites), you can get the deflective armor feat (Races of Stone).  That lets you add your armor bonus to touch AC. 

Slap the restful enhancement (Dungeonscape) on your armor so you can sleep in it. 

Deflective Armor only works when the user is psionically focused.  So far I do not get the impression the OP's character has that capability.

Why use a straight enhancement when the Restful property can be gotten through an armor crystal?  It's something like 500g in the MiC.  Or there's the possibility of putting the Called property on it which makes donning it a standard action and a few other perks.

Since others have gone over heavy armor, I'll put in a word about shields.  A mithral gauntlet shield can be used without any non-proficiency penalty.  It's a heavy shield, but it keeps the hand free for things besides using a weapon (such as casting a spell).  Shield AC can be applied to Touch AC via two feats.  Parrying Shield has no prereqs, but only applies the shield bonus to AC.  Shield Ward has prereqs, but it allows the character to use the shield's AC as a bonus against trip attempts and other things in addition to having it apply to touch AC.

[Havok4]

The stone armor you mentioned from Anarouch the empires of shade is probably the best bet for heavy armor you can get. The +12 armor bonus is as high as it goes for normal armor.

[Maat Mons]

Deflective Armor only works when the user is psionically focused.  So far I do not get the impression the OP's character has that capability.

The three feats I was referring to are deflective armor, heavy armor optimization, and wild talent.  Wild talent gives the ability to gain psionic focus. 

Why use a straight enhancement when the Restful property can be gotten through an armor crystal?

Restful is a flat 500 gp whether it's the armor special ability of the armor crystal.  The advantages of the armor crystal are that it can be transferred between armors, and it doesn't require a base +1 enhancement bonus.  The advantage of the armor special ability is that you can use a different armor crystal. 

[Rebel7284]

Soulfire Armor (+4) from the book of exalted deeds is probably the best ability you can put on your armor.

[Jackinthegreen]

The three feats I was referring to are deflective armor, heavy armor optimization, and wild talent.  Wild talent gives the ability to gain psionic focus.

That it does.  Perhaps it's just me, but I don't think everyone will instantly think of the feat's unlisted prereq feat.  Better to be specific and detailed when giving advice after all.

Restful is a flat 500 gp whether it's the armor special ability of the armor crystal.  The advantages of the armor crystal are that it can be transferred between armors, and it doesn't require a base +1 enhancement bonus.  The advantage of the armor special ability is that you can use a different armor crystal.

Both are good options, but the crystal won't be used full time.  What kind of armor crystal would you use in place of Restful for a sleeping character?

[Maat Mons]

… the crystal won't be used full time.

That's a good point.  I was imagining keeping the same crystal on all the time. 

[Aragorn]

Soulfire is to expensive for the campaign Im in. In an undead heavy games its a life saver, but for now deathward will be fine.

Im getting a restful crystal. No need to pay more for a permanent version.

Good news! I can get the armor crafted for half price for free! So my budget is now 60% of WBL for a level 12 PC. That means im looking for even more ways to boost my AC, reduce ACP, and boost dex bonus. A few enchantments like deathward will also likely be added.

Still not sure what all these are.

+1 Death Ward Ghost Ward Mindarmor TSA = 14,950gp
+1/+1 Ghost Ward Spellstrike Light Steel Shield = 12,165gp
+1 Defending Spellblade [Greater Dispel Magic] Club = 14,300gp

Clarification is much appreciated.

[X-Codes]

+1 Death Ward Ghost Ward Mindarmor TSA = 14,950gp

That's the stone armor.  Death Ward gives you a 1/day negation of a death effect, Ghost Ward lets you apply your armor bonus to AC to your touch AC, Mindarmor gives you a +5 bonus to saves vs. mind-affecting 3/day.

+1/+1 Ghost Ward Spellstrike Light Steel Shield = 12,165gp

Instead of light steel shield, use the shield gauntlet.  +1/+1 means it's enhanced as a weapon and as a shield.  Ghost Ward applies your shield bonus to AC to your touch AC.  Spellstrike is like defending, only it boosts saving throws instead of AC.

+1 Defending Spellblade [Greater Dispel Magic] Club = 14,300gp

Spellblade negates any one targeted spell cast on you, and lets you throw it back at the caster as a free action on your turn.  Club because it's cheap, if you want a Longsword or something then go for it, but your spellcasting is going to be what's really important, anyway.

[Aragorn]

Do you have to be wielding the weapon for spellstrike to work? Because with the class features I will be able to channel any Divine touch spell I know through my weapon. Thats what I planned on doing. Preferably with a better weapon, like a bastard sword.

[X-Codes]

Do you have to be wielding the weapon for spellstrike to work? Because with the class features I will be able to channel any Divine touch spell I know through my weapon. Thats what I planned on doing. Preferably with a better weapon, like a bastard sword.

I'd rather have 50 gp and a club than a Bastard Sword.