AC improving items for a higher level party?

[NewJeffCT]

The party I'm DMing is at level 16 now, verging on level 17... while the group has two front line fighters that can get their AC up pretty high: the elf fighter/paladin/champion of Corellon can get up into the 50s and the dwarf fighter can get his up into the high 30s, the rest of the group is pretty easy for me to hit with my bad guys.

While there are spells and the like that can improve AC (Holy Aura being one, Haste being another, etc...) there are times when the group may get surprised and/or not have time to buff-up spellwise.

Much of the group has +3/+4 armor, but due to class restrictions (rogue, cleric of a nature goddess, barbarian) cannot wear heavier armor. Plus, the psion and sorcerer have no armor.

Most of the group also has Rings of Protection and/or Amulets of Natural Armor.

Are there any other sorts of magic items that can help to improve AC. I mean, even if I gave the cleric +5 studded leather and a ring of protection +5, she's still not going to have that great an AC. Some ogres with some levels of barbarian will hit her (and the psion and the sorcerer) pretty easily.

Any suggestions besides rings & amulets?

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

How to improve AC:

1) Own things that provide cover...like Tower Shields...or minions.

2) Feats that improve Natural Armor, like the Draconic Heritage feat, Draconic Skin.

3) Dip into classes that provide AC boosts. Usually, that means a PrCl.

4) Own items that boost stats that affect AC (usually Dex). Monk's Belts, Wands of Cat's Grace, etc. spring to mind.

5) Have someone in the party with Leadership try to attract a Marshal (or other aura-based class) follower who can boost Dex with their aura.

6) Judo the problem- prep spells, powers and the like that reduce the ability of your foes to hit you. Darkness, Blur, Blink, Mirror Image, etc., do not actually increase AC, but do so functionally. Stat drains vs Dex or Str- via Enervate, Knife to the Soul, etc.- do likewise.

 

[Runestar]

You could have your sorc learn greater mirror image (PHB2). It can be cast as an immediate action, so it will be useful for when your sorc is attacked on another person's turn.

The psion can wear heavy armour (unless he is focused on ray attacks, in which case he would receive a rather stiff penalty), since his powers do not suffer from ASF. Assuming he has enough str, slap on a fullplate and heavy shield.

The cleric can try to simulate +5 armour for the party. Get his caster lv to 20 somehow (there are quite a few ways), then cast magic vestments on whatever armour needs augmenting. They pretty much last all day too. If you have chain spell, now is the time to use it. Good targets include a mithral buckler (and twillight mithral chainshirt, if you can procure one) for the sorc and fullplate/shield for the psion.

In the case of the cleric, maybe you can switch to bracers of armour, and wear a monk's belt for wis mod to AC? But this will prohibit the use of shields, so I am not sure if the net result will be any better.

 

[irdeggman]

From Complete Psionic (pg 110):

Skin of Ectoplasmic Armor (+8 AC bonus, max dex bonus of +2, Armor check penalty of -6, ASF 25%).

Doesn't affect psionic powers - see Expanded Psionic book pg 175 for psychoactive skins.

Weighs 1# and can be shrunk with a thought (standard action to activate). Useful item for most classes that wear armor since it can be donned and removed so easily.

Real useful for a psion since psionics are not affected by wearing armor (specific in the rules pg 20 Expanded Psionic Handbook)

 

[NewJeffCT]

How to improve AC:

1) Own things that provide cover...like Tower Shields...or minions.

2) Feats that improve Natural Armor, like the Draconic Heritage feat, Draconic Skin.

3) Dip into classes that provide AC boosts. Usually, that means a PrCl.

4) Own items that boost stats that affect AC (usually Dex). Monk's Belts, Wands of Cat's Grace, etc. spring to mind.

5) Have someone in the party with Leadership try to attract a Marshal (or other aura-based class) follower who can boost Dex with their aura.

6) Judo the problem- prep spells, powers and the like that reduce the ability of your foes to hit you. Darkness, Blur, Blink, Mirror Image, etc., do not actually increase AC, but do so functionally. Stat drains vs Dex or Str- via Enervate, Knife to the Soul, etc.- do likewise.

Thanks - some good ideas. Unfortunately, we're at the stage of the campaign now that I see the group gaining maybe 1-2 more levels before the finale. So, PrCs are likely out.

Monk's Belt is a good idea, though, especially for the cleric with a 20 Wisdom.

 

[NewJeffCT]

You could have your sorc learn greater mirror image (PHB2). It can be cast as an immediate action, so it will be useful for when your sorc is attacked on another person's turn.

The psion can wear heavy armour (unless he is focused on ray attacks, in which case he would receive a rather stiff penalty), since his powers do not suffer from ASF. Assuming he has enough str, slap on a fullplate and heavy shield.

The cleric can try to simulate +5 armour for the party. Get his caster lv to 20 somehow (there are quite a few ways), then cast magic vestments on whatever armour needs augmenting. They pretty much last all day too. If you have chain spell, now is the time to use it. Good targets include a mithral buckler (and twillight mithral chainshirt, if you can procure one) for the sorc and fullplate/shield for the psion.

In the case of the cleric, maybe you can switch to bracers of armour, and wear a monk's belt for wis mod to AC? But this will prohibit the use of shields, so I am not sure if the net result will be any better.

Thanks - I think the sorcerer does have greater mirror image. The psion has not really worn any armor, so it would be a switch for him to use it now.

 

[Nifft]

Thanks - I think the sorcerer does have greater mirror image. The psion has not really worn any armor, so it would be a switch for him to use it now.

Even a 1st level commoner halfling can handle a mithral chain shirt!

Cheers, -- N

 

[gwcummings]

At high enough levels, AC almost becomes irrelevant, since most PCs will be hit on anything other than a 1 or 2. I would focus on items/spells/armor upgrades that give a miss chance, i.e. mirror image, greater mirror image, blur, displacement, invisibility, greater invisibility, blink, etc. The MIC has a number of armor upgrades that are well within the means of a high level party to purchase that provide a miss chance. Keep in mind that force weapons (a weapon enhancement from the MIC) are not subject to the miss chance that would normally apply to attacks made while blinking.

 

[Shin Okada]

At high enough levels, AC almost becomes irrelevant, since most PCs will be hit on anything other than a 1 or 2. I would focus on items/spells/armor upgrades that give a miss chance, i.e. mirror image, greater mirror image, blur, displacement, invisibility, greater invisibility, blink, etc. The MIC has a number of armor upgrades that are well within the means of a high level party to purchase that provide a miss chance. Keep in mind that force weapons (a weapon enhancement from the MIC) are not subject to the miss chance that would normally apply to attacks made while blinking.

And True Seeing negates most of the illusion/sight-based miss-chances. Higher level outsiders and spell-casters tend to have True Seeing always on.

Upgrading AC is not entirely in bane even at higher level, as high AC may discourage opponents from using Power Attack and such.

 

[NewJeffCT]

And True Seeing negates most of the illusion/sight-based miss-chances. Higher level outsiders and spell-casters tend to have True Seeing always on.

Upgrading AC is not entirely in bane even at higher level, as high AC may discourage opponents from using Power Attack and such.

Yes, and it prevents the PCs from being hit by a level 8-10 barbarian or fighter "mook" type bad guy... as I would think a level 18-20 bad guy is going to have several level 10 fighters or barbarians as protection, especially if a cleric or wizard. Heck, my ogre mooks with 4 levels of barbarian from a few sessions back gave the party some trouble.

A level 10 fighter is +10 BAB, +4 for Strength, +2 for a magic sword, +2 for Weapon Focus and Greater Weapon Focus... so, that is +18 to hit right there. Add in +2 for flanking or charging and you have PC with AC in the low 20s getting hit all the time.