AC question. Lets see if I missed anything. I'm playing a game in…

D&D 3E

24th-Nov-2006 01:06 pm

AC question. Lets see if I missed anything.

I'm playing a game in which I possess an 18th-level Sorcerer. We are currently attempting to Sunder a hellfire engine, capture the heart of Mephistopheles and giant-nap his High Priestess. Clearly, this is going to suck, especially for a party of five who haven't had a chance to liquidate loot in about five levels.

My Sorcerer is walking into battle with Mirror Image, Displacement, and Mind Blank, and Spell Resistance just for starters, and I was wondering if anyone could suggest something I missed to bump the ole AC. I've got a Dex of 20 Naturally, and I'm bumping that to 24 through a Cat's Grace. I have a +2 Defending Quarterstaff cum Staff of Power giving me a +4 to AC (+2 Defending, +2 Luck). I'm a Argent Savant, meaning that my Shield adds +6 to my AC, and I've got a Shield of Faith +5 up and running. My amulet of Natural Armour is +2, and I'm hastened for +1 to AC. That should add up to 41.

Oh, and I'm running with Improved Invisibility and a Fly spell.

Did I miss any tricks?

Comments

24th-Nov-2006 01:47 pm (UTC) - Why are you worrying about AC?

mike_brendan

You're a sorcerer. If anything's making an attack roll against you and it's not a spell something has gone horribly wrong. If I'm reading this right, your touch AC would be a 23, which isn't that bad. Given that you have Mirror Image and Displacement (which stacks quite nicely), you should be able to last unless an opposing mage says "to heck with it," and starts with the area of effect spells. At that point the Spell Resistance should help keep you safe.

Since you're not a wizard you have a limited pool of spells, but I'd go with Protection from Arrows and Stoneskin, or anything that provides resistance or DR. AC is all well and good, but d4 hit dice means just about anything hurts.

25th-Nov-2006 04:51 am (UTC) - Re: Why are you worrying about AC?

_ogmios

It's the nature of the creatures we tend to face. A lot of melee things and things that like to use natural weapons. My current specialty is battlefield control (with Wall of spells and area effects with no saves) and counterspelling. It's been a very long time since enemy casters got off more than one spell in combat.

Then again, it's been a very long time since we faced a true spellcaster, so this Hellfire Mountain thing might be a different experience altogether.

25th-Nov-2006 05:11 am (UTC) - Re: Why are you worrying about AC?

mike_brendan

I'd still recommend anything that provides DR over AC. Not taking Constitution into account, you've got at best 72 hit points (average 45), which a decent ground pounder can potentially eat in two rounds or less. An ancient black dragon (CR 19), for example, has an attack bonus of +40, so if it's got a full attack against you it's gonna hurt.

And if you're going up against a High Priestess at some point, expect some heavy spell casting. She'll likely have an entourage of followers that'll make you roll a few Fort saves just to stay alive (ie Slay Living). Of course, that's what I would do as a DM. Arcane casters aren't known for their heartiness. :)

Then again I did have a 10th level Drow Cleric try (out of desperation) to nail a 13th level fighter with a Slay Living -- and then the fighter rolled a 1.

25th-Nov-2006 05:15 am (UTC) - Re: Why are you worrying about AC?

_ogmios

Well, our current plan is to try to Magic Jar her when she's sleeping and waltz her out of the Temple (we get a bonus if she's taken alive), but barring that, I've just taken my first level or Archmage with Mastery of Counterspelling as my High Arcana. My main role is to make Slay Living bounce back on the caster, and my caster level is way better than hers.

25th-Nov-2006 11:41 pm (UTC) - Re: Why are you worrying about AC?

mike_brendan

Magic Jar's iffy. When the caster (I'm assuming you) looks for a victim to possess he doesn't know who's who (or what or where). Plus a Will save resists, which is any caster's strongpoint -- it may not be as strong as a regular Cleric, but it won't be lacking either. Still, it's not a bad idea, and I've seen groups use the spell to very good effect.

24th-Nov-2006 03:59 pm (UTC)

foxsable

Uhm, mage armor? :-D

25th-Nov-2006 04:52 am (UTC)

_ogmios

I forgot my bracers of armor +6 in th3e list.

24th-Nov-2006 04:22 pm (UTC)

sparkymark

I make that AC 35, just blindly adding up the numbers
base 10
DEX +7
+2 defending
+2 Luck
+6 Shield
+5 deflection
Natural Armor+2
Dodge+1

24th-Nov-2006 09:22 pm (UTC)

foxsable

Now that you mention it, yes, 35 is what the above adds up to.

25th-Nov-2006 04:49 am (UTC)

_ogmios

One of us missed my bracers of armor +6. Might have been me.

25th-Nov-2006 10:11 am (UTC)

pyromancyr

Now I have a suggestion...take it or leave it as you will, but it might just help negate some of the worries about touch attacks...although, I really don't think you can do anything about it till next level...not unless you can find someone who knows the spell and is willing to scribe it to a scroll...if it is at all possible at this point...

from the Spell Compendium pg. 35:
Body of War
what this spell does is it temporarily transforms you into a Warforged Titan (Eberron CS, pg. 302), giving you the physical attributes (Str 28, Dex 8, Con -), but keeping all mental, as well as class levels, BAB, saves, skills, feats, etc. It negates your ability to cast spells or use spell completion/spell trigger items, but you gain natural armor +18, DR 10/adamantine, as well as construct traits and the Titan's attacks (axe and maul; 2d8+9/x3 each)... big tradeoff, but in return you can get in the face of almost anything and...well.....ugliness ensues....

25th-Nov-2006 03:03 pm (UTC)

_ogmios

I don't get to cast, then, and Spell Compendium is more or less banned in our game for the extreme twink factor.

26th-Nov-2006 07:08 am (UTC)

pyromancyr

twink? IMO, sounds like a cop-out on the part of your DM...but it is his game, and as a DM myself, i can at least respect the Word of God even if i don't agree with it....(and yes, obviously I have the SC, and have flipped through it....and there are some things in it that might have abuse potential, but no real twink potential that I have seen.... maybe I overlooked something, however...)

and the point is that it turns you into a TANK, lets you get up front with no fear of becoming the fighter's new improvised shield and hammer on whatever is dumb enough not to move...and it forces them to have to fight back and not rely on touch attacks so much, or run away (and lets everyone get the resulting attack of opportunity)

besides, you'd need to get someplace to score the spell first before you can use it, so the point, at this moment, is moot...just an idea that maybe you could have looked at in the future...

4th-Dec-2006 02:44 pm (UTC)

_ogmios

Oh, I've got a Tome of Knowledge relic. I have pretty m,uch every spell ever at my disposal.

4th-Dec-2006 06:40 pm (UTC)

Anonymous

oh...well, you didn't mention that before....

btw, what sources ARE you allowed to yoink spells from?

4th-Dec-2006 06:42 pm (UTC)

pyromancyr

oops....I forgot to log in my name before i replied up above.....

4th-Dec-2006 07:23 pm (UTC)

_ogmios

hah. No prob. The DM asked us to use the PHB, mostly, and the completes are ok with approval. Basically, there's too much potential out there, and it's overwhelming him, because were using all this funky mojo, and he's trying to make balanced encounters for it, and it's getting frustrating for him. I've got special dispensation to use Force Missiles and the like, but that's because I'm a Force Mage. In general, we're asked to use PHB spells.

5th-Dec-2006 08:37 am (UTC)

Anonymous

welll...if that's the problem.....

the SC is just a compilation of spells from various sources, including the Completes, Wizards.com articles, Dragon Magazine articles, and several other suppliments that I won't go into, for space and convenience reasons....

if anything it should make it easier to look up and judge what is appropriate magic for the campaign...

but, God has spoken, and all that....ah well

5th-Dec-2006 06:43 pm (UTC)

_ogmios

You forgot to log in again.

I think it was my continual use of Vortex of Teeth (Or Wheel of Fish, as I liked to call it) that made him angry. That, and some retarded Clerical Mojo.

3rd-Dec-2006 02:50 am (UTC) - Dude...

gimp101

If your that high a level in my games, you would walk right into an anti-magic battleground... Or, if my bad guys were spell casters or great big nasty devils with Greater Dispelling as a spell like ability at will... You get the idea... But you have a dandy caster level and some sweet counterspelling tricks... Then again, if there's a hidden nasty Greater Dispel Magicking your ass every round... Anyhoo, sounds like a lot of fun... I like the thought you have put into your character...

3rd-Dec-2006 06:12 am (UTC)

bunnehboi

well, just as my personal experience as a sorcerer (currently L29) the most effective spells for defending yourself are the ottoluke's series, wall of force and combinations of invisibility/greater invisibility. Fly keeps you out of melee harm for most situations unless the monster/npcs can also fly. I've found that trying to buff up defence stats is kind of counter productive in the first place, as you are better off bumping up you charisma, and focusing your efforts on either inflicting maximum damage or mind controlling your opponents. Contain and then eliminate/neutralize, that is the best option.

4th-Dec-2006 02:42 pm (UTC)

_ogmios

It is literally impossible for me to juice my Cha more than it already is. Due to circumstances, my Charisma is naturally in the high 20s, and I have a Cloak of Charisma +6. Add to that my focuses is Evocation and Enchantment and my spell penetration feats, and the fact that I'm a force mage, and all my effects of that nature are strengthened and doubled in duration, and the fact that not even a wall of force can stop me, as I can Ablate it, means that I'm pretty confident on the field. I can lock down large pockets of nasty while my friends smash and grab take care of business. I jsut don't like getting shot. :P

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