The Armor Class Handbook Discussion

[Captnq]

You are talking about spells mostly. What about armor itself?

Light Armor [Speed (30ft): 30, Speed (20ft): 20]
Chain Shirt (AC: 4 , Max Dex: 4 , ACP: -2 , ASF: 20% , Wgt: 25 , GP: 100 )
Chain Shirt [Mithral, Chainweave, Feycraft] (AC: 4 , Max Dex: 2 , ACP: 0 , ASF: 5% , Wgt: 22 , GP: 29600 )
Chain Shirt [Mithral, Chainweave, Thistledown, Feycraft] (AC: 4 , Max Dex: 2 , ACP: -1 , ASF: 0% , Wgt: 22 , GP: 29850 )
Chain Shirt [Mithral, Chainweave, Thistledown] (AC: 4 , Max Dex: 2 , ACP: -1 , ASF: 5% , Wgt: 25 , GP: 29350 )
Chain Shirt [Mithral, Chainweave] (AC: 4 , Max Dex: 2 , ACP: 0 , ASF: 10% , Wgt: 25 , GP: 29100 )
Chain Shirt [Mithral, Feycraft] (AC: 4 , Max Dex: 2 , ACP: 0 , ASF: 5% , Wgt: 22 , GP: 1600 )
Chain Shirt [Mithral, Thistledown, Feycraft] (AC: 4 , Max Dex: 2 , ACP: -1 , ASF: 0% , Wgt: 22 , GP: 1750 )
Chain Shirt [Mithral, Thistledown] (AC: 4 , Max Dex: 2 , ACP: -1 , ASF: 5% , Wgt: 25 , GP: 1250 )
Chain Shirt [Mithral] (AC: 4 , Max Dex: 2 , ACP: 0 , ASF: 10% , Wgt: 25 , GP: 1100 )
Chain Shirt [Pearlsteel] (AC: 4 , Max Dex: 4 , ACP: -1 , ASF: 20% , Wgt: 18 , GP: 600 )
Chain Shirt [Riverine] (AC: 1 , Max Dex: 4 , ACP: -1 , ASF: 20% , Wgt: 25 , GP: 9100 )
Chainmail [Blue Ice] (AC: 5 , Max Dex: 3 , ACP: -3 , ASF: 30% , Wgt: 20 , GP: 3150 )
Chameleon Leather (AC: 2 , Max Dex: 6 , ACP: 0 , ASF: 10% , Wgt: 15 , GP: 360 )
Cord (AC: 2 , Max Dex: 5 , ACP: -1 , ASF: 15% , Wgt: 15 , GP: 15 )
Elvin Chain [Mithral, Chainweave, Feycraft] (AC: 5 , Max Dex: 4 , ACP: -2 , ASF: 15% , Wgt: 36 , GP: 39650 )
Elvin Chain [Mithral, Chainweave, Thistledown, Feycraft] (AC: 5 , Max Dex: 4 , ACP: -3 , ASF: 10% , Wgt: 36 , GP: 39900 )
Elvin Chain [Mithral, Chainweave, Thistledown] (AC: 5 , Max Dex: 4 , ACP: -3 , ASF: 15% , Wgt: 40 , GP: 39400 )
Elvin Chain [Mithral, Chainweave] (AC: 5 , Max Dex: 4 , ACP: -2 , ASF: 20% , Wgt: 40 , GP: 39150 )
Elvin Chain [Mithral, Feycraft] (AC: 5 , Max Dex: 4 , ACP: -2 , ASF: 15% , Wgt: 36 , GP: 4650 )
Elvin Chain [Mithral, Thistledown, Feycraft] (AC: 5 , Max Dex: 4 , ACP: -3 , ASF: 10% , Wgt: 36 , GP: 4900 )
Elvin Chain [Mithral, Thistledown] (AC: 5 , Max Dex: 4 , ACP: -3 , ASF: 15% , Wgt: 40 , GP: 4400 )
Elvin Chain [Mithral] (AC: 5 , Max Dex: 4 , ACP: -2 , ASF: 20% , Wgt: 40 , GP: 4150 )
Feather Cloak (AC: 2 , Max Dex: 6 , ACP: 0 , ASF: 10% , Wgt: 3 , GP: 1000 )
Hide [Dragonhide] (AC: 3 , Max Dex: 4 , ACP: -1 , ASF: 20% , Wgt: 25 , GP: 6015 )
Hide [Shadow Silk, Githcrafted] (AC: 3 , Max Dex: 6 , ACP: -1 , ASF: 15%/0% , Wgt: 25 , GP: 3100 )
Hide [Shadow Silk] (AC: 3 , Max Dex: 6 , ACP: -1 , ASF: 20%/5% , Wgt: 6 , GP: 2500 )
Hooked Armor (AC: 3 , Max Dex: 4 , ACP: -2 , ASF: 15% , Wgt: 20 , GP: 65 )
Leather (AC: 2 , Max Dex: 6 , ACP: 0 , ASF: 10% , Wgt: 15 , GP: 10 )
Leather [Leafweave] (AC: 2 , Max Dex: 7 , ACP: 0 , ASF: 5% , Wgt: 15 , GP: 750 )
Leather [Shadow Silk] (AC: 2 , Max Dex: 8 , ACP: 0 , ASF: 10%/0% , Wgt: 4 , GP: 1750 )
Mammoth Leather (AC: 4 , Max Dex: 4 , ACP: -4 , ASF: 20% , Wgt: 30 , GP: 45 )
Nightscale (AC: 2 , Max Dex: 10 , ACP: 0 , ASF: 5% , Wgt: 3 , GP: 1000 )
Nightscale [Githcraft] (AC: 2 , Max Dex: 10 , ACP: 0 , ASF: 0% , Wgt: 3 , GP: 1600 )
Padded (AC: 1 , Max Dex: 8 , ACP: 0 , ASF: 5% , Wgt: 10 , GP: 5 )
Padded [Leafweave] (AC: 1 , Max Dex: 9 , ACP: 0 , ASF: 0% , Wgt: 10 , GP: 745 )
Padded [Shadow Silk] (AC: 1 , Max Dex: 10 , ACP: 0 , ASF: 5%/0% , Wgt: 2.5 , GP: 1500 )
Padded [Thistledown] (AC: 1 , Max Dex: 8 , ACP: 0 , ASF: 0% , Wgt: 10 , GP: 555 )
Resin Suit (AC: 4 , Max Dex: 3 , ACP: -4 , ASF: 25% , Wgt: 20 , GP: 250 )
Scale Mail [Dragonhide] (AC: 4 , Max Dex: 3 , ACP: -2 , ASF: 25% , Wgt: 30 , GP: 6050 )
Sectioned Armor (Fully Reduced) (AC: 3 , Max Dex: 3 , ACP: -2 , ASF: 20% , Wgt: 25 , GP: --- )
Sharkskin (AC: 3 , Max Dex: 6 , ACP: -1 , ASF: 10% , Wgt: 15 , GP: 85 )
Silk Swathes (AC: 1 , Max Dex: 8 , ACP: 0 , ASF: 5% , Wgt: 6 , GP: 400 )
Spidersilk (AC: 3 , Max Dex: 8 , ACP: -1 , ASF: 10% , Wgt: 5 , GP: 750 )
Spidersilk [Thistledown, Feycraft] (AC: 3 , Max Dex: 8 , ACP: -1 , ASF: 0% , Wgt: 4 , GP: 1500 )
Studded Leather (AC: 3 , Max Dex: 5 , ACP: -1 , ASF: 15% , Wgt: 20 , GP: 25 )
Studded Leather [Adamantine] (AC: 3 , Max Dex: 5 , ACP: 0 , ASF: 15% , Wgt: 20 , GP: 5025 )
Studded Leather [Leafweave] (AC: 3 , Max Dex: 6 , ACP: 0 , ASF: 10% , Wgt: 20 , GP: 765 )
Tumbler’s Breastplate [Githcraft, Thistledown, Mithral] (AC: 5 , Max Dex: 6 , ACP: -2 , ASF: 5% , Wgt: 30 , GP: 5300 )
Tumbler’s Breastplate [Glassteel] (AC: 5 , Max Dex: 6 , ACP: -1 , ASF: 15% , Wgt: 30 , GP: 6450 )
Twist Cloth, Gnome (AC: 1 , Max Dex: - , ACP: 0 , ASF: 5% , Wgt: 5 , GP: 150 )

Medium Armor [Speed (30ft): 20, Speed (20ft): 15]
Battle Plate [Glassteel] (AC: 9 , Max Dex: 3 , ACP: -4 , ASF: 40% , Wgt: 125 , GP: 13500 )
Breastplate (AC: 5 , Max Dex: 3 , ACP: -4 , ASF: 25% , Wgt: 30 , GP: 200 )
Breastplate [Adamantine] (AC: 5 , Max Dex: 3 , ACP: -3 , ASF: 25% , Wgt: 30 , GP: 10200 )
Chainmail (AC: 5 , Max Dex: 2 , ACP: -5 , ASF: 30% , Wgt: 40 , GP: 150 )
Chainmail [Riverine] (AC: 2 or 3 , Max Dex: 2 , ACP: -4 , ASF: 30% , Wgt: 40 , GP: 16150 )
Chitin (AC: 4 , Max Dex: 4 , ACP: -3 , ASF: 30% , Wgt: 20 , GP: 75 )
Full Plate [Dragon Hide] (AC: 8 , Max Dex: 1 , ACP: -4 , ASF: 35% , Wgt: 50 , GP: 12500 )
Full Plate [Mithral, Chainweave, Feycraft] (AC: 8 , Max Dex: 3 , ACP: -3 , ASF: 20% , Wgt: 45 , GP: 53000 )
Full Plate [Mithral, Chainweave, Thistledown, Feycraft] (AC: 8 , Max Dex: 3 , ACP: -4 , ASF: 15% , Wgt: 45 , GP: 53250 )
Full Plate [Mithral, Chainweave, Thistledown] (AC: 8 , Max Dex: 3 , ACP: -4 , ASF: 20% , Wgt: 50 , GP: 52750 )
Full Plate [Mithral, Chainweave] (AC: 8 , Max Dex: 3 , ACP: -3 , ASF: 25% , Wgt: 50 , GP: 52500 )
Full Plate [Mithral, Feycraft] (AC: 8 , Max Dex: 3 , ACP: -3 , ASF: 20% , Wgt: 45 , GP: 11000 )
Full Plate [Mithral, Thistledown, Feycraft] (AC: 8 , Max Dex: 3 , ACP: -4 , ASF: 15% , Wgt: 45 , GP: 11250 )
Full Plate [Mithral, Thistledown] (AC: 8 , Max Dex: 3 , ACP: -4 , ASF: 20% , Wgt: 50 , GP: 10750 )
Full Plate [Mithral] (AC: 8 , Max Dex: 3 , ACP: -3 , ASF: 25% , Wgt: 50 , GP: 10500 )
Heavy Plate [Blue Ice] (AC: 9 , Max Dex: 0 , ACP: -8 , ASF: 45% , Wgt: 50 , GP: 9000 )
Hide (AC: 3 , Max Dex: 4 , ACP: -3 , ASF: 20% , Wgt: 25 , GP: 15 )
Hide [Leafweave] (AC: 3 , Max Dex: 5 , ACP: -1 , ASF: 15% , Wgt: 25 , GP: 755 )
Interlocking Scale (AC: 4 , Max Dex: 2 , ACP: -6 , ASF: 30% , Wgt: 30 , GP: 250 )
Living Coral (AC: 6 , Max Dex: 3 , ACP: -4 , ASF: 20% , Wgt: 30 , GP: 16000 )
Mechanus Gear [Githcraft, Mithral, Thistledown] (AC: 10 , Max Dex: 2 , ACP: -10 , ASF: 30% , Wgt: 75 , GP: 11600 )
Scale Mail (AC: 4 , Max Dex: 3 , ACP: -4 , ASF: 25% , Wgt: 30 , GP: 50 )
Scale Mail [Bluewood] (AC: 4 , Max Dex: 3 , ACP: -3 , ASF: 25% , Wgt: 15 , GP: 50 )
Sectioned Armor (Partial) (AC: 5 , Max Dex: 2 , ACP: -3 , ASF: 30% , Wgt: 40 , GP: --- )
Serpentscale Mail (AC: 5 , Max Dex: 4 , ACP: -3 , ASF: 20% , Wgt: 25 , GP: 800 )
Shell (AC: 3 , Max Dex: 3 , ACP: -2 , ASF: 20% , Wgt: 20 , GP: 25 )
Tentacled Hide (AC: 3 , Max Dex: 5 , ACP: -3 , ASF: 20% , Wgt: 30 , GP: 315 )
Thunderhide (AC: 3 , Max Dex: 5 , ACP: -2 , ASF: 20% , Wgt: 25 , GP: 25 )
Tumbler’s Breastplate (AC: 5 , Max Dex: 4 , ACP: -4 , ASF: 25% , Wgt: 30 , GP: 450 )
Tumbler’s Breastplate [Astral Metal] (AC: 5 , Max Dex: 4 , ACP: -3 , ASF: 25% , Wgt: 30 , GP: 12450 )
Tumbler’s Breastplate [Pearlsteel] (AC: 5 , Max Dex: 4 , ACP: -3 , ASF: 25% , Wgt: 22 , GP: 1950 )

Heavy Armor [Speed (30ft): 20, Speed (20ft): 15]
Banded Mail (AC: 6 , Max Dex: 1 , ACP: -6 , ASF: 35% , Wgt: 35 , GP: 250 )
Banded Mail [Pearlsteel] (AC: 6 , Max Dex: 1 , ACP: -5 , ASF: 35% , Wgt: 27 , GP: 1750 )
Battle Plate (AC: 9 , Max Dex: 1 , ACP: -7 , ASF: 50% , Wgt: 125 , GP: 2500 )
Battle Plate [Astral Metal] (AC: 9 , Max Dex: 1 , ACP: -6 , ASF: 50% , Wgt: 125 , GP: 14500 )
Feeler Plate (AC: 8 , Max Dex: 1 , ACP: -6 , ASF: 35% , Wgt: 65 , GP: 2500 )
Full Plate (AC: 8 , Max Dex: 1 , ACP: -6 , ASF: 35% , Wgt: 50 , GP: 1500 )
Full Plate [Adamantine, Thistledown, Githcraft] (AC: 8 , Max Dex: 1 , ACP: -5 , ASF: 25% , Wgt: 50 , GP: 17350 )
Full Plate [Adamantine, Thistledown] (AC: 8 , Max Dex: 1 , ACP: -5 , ASF: 30% , Wgt: 50 , GP: 16750 )
Full Plate [Adamantine] (AC: 8 , Max Dex: 1 , ACP: -5 , ASF: 35% , Wgt: 50 , GP: 16500 )
Half-plate (AC: 7 , Max Dex: 0 , ACP: -7 , ASF: 40% , Wgt: 50 , GP: 600 )
Heavy Plate (AC: 9 , Max Dex: 0 , ACP: -8 , ASF: 45% , Wgt: 100 , GP: 2000 )
Heavy Plate [Riverine] (AC: 4 or 5 , Max Dex: 0 , ACP: -7 , ASF: 45% , Wgt: 100 , GP: 27000 )
Interlocking Plate (AC: 8 , Max Dex: 0 , ACP: -8 , ASF: 40% , Wgt: 50 , GP: 1750 )
Sectioned Armor (Full) (AC: 8 , Max Dex: 1 , ACP: -5 , ASF: 35% , Wgt: 60 , GP: 3000 )
Sectioned Armor (Full) [Aurorum] (AC: 8 , Max Dex: 1 , ACP: -5 , ASF: 35% , Wgt: 60 , GP: 7000 )
Splint Mail (AC: 6 , Max Dex: 0 , ACP: -7 , ASF: 40% , Wgt: 45 , GP: 200 )
Stone Plate (AC: 6 , Max Dex: 1 , ACP: -7 , ASF: 30% , Wgt: 35 , GP: 750 )
Stonemail (AC: 5 , Max Dex: 2 , ACP: -5 , ASF: 30% , Wgt: 35 , GP: 180 )

Heavy Armor [Speed (30ft): 15, Speed (20ft): 10]
Mechanus Gear (AC: 10 , Max Dex: 0 , ACP: -10 , ASF: 50% , Wgt: 75 , GP: 1750 )
Mechanus Gear [Adamantine] (AC: 10 , Max Dex: 0 , ACP: -9 , ASF: 50% , Wgt: 75 , GP: 16750 )
Mechanus Gear, Interlocking (AC: 10 , Max Dex: 0 , ACP: -12 , ASF: 55% , Wgt: 75 , GP: 2000 )
Mechanus Gear, Interlocking [Adamantine] (AC: 10 , Max Dex: 0 , ACP: -11 , ASF: 55% , Wgt: 75 , GP: 17000 )
Mountain Plate (AC: 10 , Max Dex: 0 , ACP: -9 , ASF: 60% , Wgt: 225 , GP: 3250 )

That's all the combos that make any sense. If anyone can Think of a 3.5 material I missed, please let me know.

[Endarire]

Captnq, thanks for the table!

Pweath use [ TT ] and [ /TT ] to make the text align.

[Captnq]

Captnq, thanks for the table!

Pweath use [ TT ] and [ /TT ] to make the text align.

I have no idea how to use that.

[sirpercival]

Thank you very much!!  When I add it to the handbook (which will be done), I'll fix the formatting.

[Captnq]

Thank you very much!!  When I add it to the handbook (which will be done), I'll fix the formatting.

if you want the original word file with formatting, let me know.

[gorfnab]

Here is a guide about Combat Expertise and Fighting Defensively.

[nijineko]

Thank you for making the guide.

[Thurbane]

Question: is it legal to have a set of Tesselated Armor (Arms & Equipment Guide, +2 Full Plate that counts as medium) made of mithril so that you'd have a set of light Full Plate?

[sirpercival]

I don't see why not.

[Endarire]

AC, Accuracy, and Diminishing Returns

Your HP and AC are in direct correlation to one another, assuming you're trying to avoid dying from things breaching your AC.

[Mithril Leaf]

I'd recommend including inertial armor since it's just about the best thing a psionic character can do to boost their AC. Plus it applies to touch attacks (or at the very least, incorporeal ones). Additionally, the ghost robes from Libris Mortis are worth mentioning, due to ghost touch on all your weapons and +4 deflection.

[sirpercival]

Man I should really get back to this... it's barely even started.

[Azoriel]

I don't see why not.

Another possibility (if you don't care about the max dex bonus) is to use the halfweight armor enchantment from Underdark, which makes your armor automatically count as being light.  It's a +3 enchantment, or +2 if illithidwrought is on the armor as well; nice if you're looking for something that can be enchanted past tessellated and/or a non-mithral alternative.

[Cyclone Joker]

Needs more Chahar Aina and Dastana. Both are from OA, though I think Dastana are also in A/EG.

Also, Force Domain grants a bunch of nice spells, including Mage Armor. Cast that on yourself, and laugh maniacally when Ghosts try to hit you, only to discover your AC against incorporeal creatures is 15 instead of 11!

[Mithril Leaf]

Remember to include bondleaf, it's like gnome twist cloth, but is a fair deal cooler. Honestly, they're about the same, but it's always good to have options, from Arms and Equipment Guide.

[Tr011]

~Calculate average attack bonus as a function of CR

I think that is the most important part. Best would be a simple function to get into the head and more detailed informations for detailed character planning.

If you go more into detail in your guide (which would be great), you could include things from Dictum Mortuum's Shopping List, it involves several AC-bonuses. Also, you should include Paragnostic Apostle from CC in the arcane section, and the Abjurant Champion from CM because they both are easily to get into and improve the armor bonuses from spells.
Another tactic might be btw that you use a Spell Storing item (such as Ring of Spell Storing or Quick Potion) to grant a party member your AC bonus buff.