Author Topic: Armor Optimization for a caster  (Read 5791 times)

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Tr011

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Re: Armor Optimization for a caster
« Reply #20 on: June 23, 2011, 08:01:06 PM »
No need for twilight.
Amen.

Those vampires are too damned sparkly.
LOOOOOOL
that's a good one.

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Re: Armor Optimization for a caster
« Reply #21 on: June 24, 2011, 07:15:29 AM »
Feycraft Mithral Chainshirt with a Thistledown Suit has 0% ASF. No need for twilight.
Better armor: Thistledown Padded + Githcraft Buckler.

Cheap, 0% ASF.  You get what you pay for in terms of AC, but by the time you're buying mithral chain shirts you aren't going to get a meaningful AC boost out of it.  The reason Wizards cast Mage Armor at all is because it's a 1st-level spell, and when you're throwing around 5th-level spells there's really nothing better to do with the slot.  What's more, Mage Armor lasts all day at that point, too.

You can argue that given the investment you get quite a return, and compared to stuff like bracers of armor you'd be right.  That said, it's still just mundane AC.  It doesn't even help your touch AC.

Halinn

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Re: Armor Optimization for a caster
« Reply #22 on: June 24, 2011, 08:47:18 AM »
But the chain shirt can also be combined with the buckler, as well as the usual dastana and chahar-aina, and at that point, while relatively expensive, it's a decent boost to AC.

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Re: Armor Optimization for a caster
« Reply #23 on: June 24, 2011, 09:53:43 AM »
But the chain shirt can also be combined with the buckler, as well as the usual dastana and chahar-aina, and at that point, while relatively expensive, it's a decent boost to AC.
No, it's not a decent boost to AC.  First off, lets be clear that we're talking about a Sor/Wiz that's around level 6 or 7 buying this stuff, because before that point he's just not going to be able to afford to blow 4k gold on this junk.  Why not?  First, it does squat for his touch AC, which a much more important number to a Wizard.  Second, even if we're talking about a Fighter getting a +7 bonus to AC, that sort of boost is starting to lose it's usefulness at this point.

Thistledown Suit + Githcraft Buckler = -0 ACP, 0% ACF, and everything needed to start picking up armor mods which might actually be useful like Mindarmor and a Lesser Deflection Crystal.  With the money you save, you can grab a lesser extend rod, too.

JaronK

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Re: Armor Optimization for a caster
« Reply #24 on: June 24, 2011, 04:46:58 PM »
Crafting your own can make a big difference.  Time is an issue... you either need to have done it before the game starts, or be able to cast Fabricate.    But the 1/3 cost cut is very significant, and makes a big difference.  That way you can make your own Feycraft Mithral Chain Shirt with Thistledown Padding... and you may as well give it the Muffling and Underground Camoflague mods, for a few easy skill boosts.  If you're fabricating, simply Summon up a Fey to help with the process. 

Also worth considering is making Shadowsilk Armor with those mods if you want even bigger stealth bonuses.

JaronK

Ivory Knight

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Re: Armor Optimization for a caster
« Reply #25 on: June 25, 2011, 07:24:06 AM »
If you're gonna craft this stuff, why not call a nice Outsider with Lesser Planar Binding and ask for help, or a discount, on Githcrafted Armor?

Tr011

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Re: Armor Optimization for a caster
« Reply #26 on: June 25, 2011, 05:39:46 PM »
Also worth considering is making Shadowsilk Armor with those mods if you want even bigger stealth bonuses.
Where is it?

rot42

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Re: Armor Optimization for a caster
« Reply #27 on: June 26, 2011, 04:57:13 AM »
Also worth considering is making Shadowsilk Armor with those mods if you want even bigger stealth bonuses.
Where is it?

Tome of Magic 155. Untyped mundane bonus to Hide and Move Silently.

JaronK

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Re: Armor Optimization for a caster
« Reply #28 on: June 27, 2011, 05:09:42 AM »
If you're getting that armor, definitely throw in the Muffling and Camoflague enhancements.  It's 600gp more and you get an additional +2 to Move Silently along with a +2 to hide that applies in one sort of terrain (I find underground comes up most, but that depends on campaign).

JaronK