Armor that supports a +7 dex bonus?


Rules Questions


I have a (halfling) rogue with a +7 dexterity bonus and so even his mithril chain shirt is too confining (allowing only a +6 dex bonus). Are there other armor options that would support his full dexterity bonus?

I considered Mage Armor but the flat 4 AC ends up no better than a mithril chain shirt +1 for me. Our group is currently in the +1 to +2 bonus range for armor.

Dark Archive

You could always take some fighter levels, Full BAB and loads of feats. Nice compliment to a rogue.


Celestial Armor, which you likely can't afford yet, allows for up to a +8 Dex mod. Your GM might allow you to get "mundane" celestial armor, which is just the silver/gold chain, without the +3 to AC and the ability to fly 1/day. Such armor would only cost 7400 gold, have a +8 Dex allowance, -3 ACP and 15% ASF. This, likely, will not fly at most tables. In that likely event, you'll have to wait for the regular version which costs 22,400 gold.


Is the price for the mundane celestial armor from reverse engineering out the +3 bonus and the fly?

Celestial Armor says it is chainmail that counts as light armor, but does that mean in the same sense that mithril armor is one category lighter? In other words, do you still need medium armor profficiency to wear Celestial chainmail?


Official ruling from the Devs is that Celestial Armor is light armor, not treated as light armor. Light armor proficiency is all that is needed. I'll see if I can find the thread.

Here it is.
This post is particularly relevant.

James Jacobs wrote:
Zark wrote:

Thanks James!

Does this mean you don't have do be proficient in medium armor to avoid taking nonproficiency penalties when using Celestial Armor?

Thanks again for the quick answer and the clarification. Have a nice weekend. :-)

Nah; celestial armor only requires light armor proficiency to avoid the penalties. It's a pretty solid armor choice for bards or rogues as a result.


Bracers of armor aren't a bad investment for someone who is planning on cranking their Dex as high as it will go. It's about as expensive as getting magical armor, you just don't get the benefit of the base armor bonus, but there's 0% ASF and no ACP.


Then of course, there is always good old, classic leather armor with a few enchantments thrown on for good measure.


dathom wrote:
Then of course, there is always good old, classic leather armor with a few enchantments thrown on for good measure.

Good old, classic leather armor has an AC of 2 and max dex of +6.

A mithril chain shirt is AC 4 and max dex of +6.
They cost the same to enchant.


dathom wrote:
Then of course, there is always good old, classic Padded armor with a few enchantments thrown on for good measure.

Fixed.

Dex does get to a point...


"Nimbleness" from the Magic Item Compendium is a +1 bonus ability for armor, and adds +1 to the max dex of any armor and reduces the check penalty by 2.

Add that to a Mithral Shirt to push the Max Dex Bonus to +7, but the adjustment to armor check penalties is moot since the armor is already at 0.


Princess Of Canada wrote:

"Nimbleness" from the Magic Item Compendium is a +1 bonus ability for armor, and adds +1 to the max dex of any armor and reduces the check penalty by 2.

Add that to a Mithral Shirt to push the Max Dex Bonus to +7, but the adjustment to armor check penalties is moot since the armor is already at 0.

Er... Pathfinder rules question. I suppose they could be using 3.5 splatbooks, but that's not a given.


Honestly, with your current options, Mithril shirt is still the best choice. Losing 1 AC from dex (and thus also touch AC) isn't that bad. Any option to replace it has to do as well or better than your current armor.

Eventually Celestial or Bracers - but with 20 AC just from armor and dex (before magic), I think you'll be doing fine. Much cheaper options now to increase AC (Ring of Protection, Amulet of Natural Armor, Dusty Rose Ioun Stone, etc.)


Thistledown padded :D

+1 AC, +10 max dexterity bonus


Armored Kilt from the pathfinder campaign settings.


Ki_Ryn wrote:

I have a (halfling) rogue with a +7 dexterity bonus and so even his mithril chain shirt is too confining (allowing only a +6 dex bonus). Are there other armor options that would support his full dexterity bonus?

I considered Mage Armor but the flat 4 AC ends up no better than a mithril chain shirt +1 for me. Our group is currently in the +1 to +2 bonus range for armor.

I also think the Mithral shirt is your best option. I'm assuming that you're not high level with lots of gold rolling around. As a cost measure, here is how it pans out:

+0 Mithal shirt, AC +4, max dex +6 = AC 20 at 1,100 gp
+1 Mithal shirt, AC +5, max dex +6 = AC 20 at 2,100 gp
+2 Mithal shirt, AC +6, max dex +6 = AC 21 at 5,100 gp
+3 Mithal shirt, AC +7, max dex +6 = AC 22 at 10,100 gp
+4 Mithal shirt, AC +8, max dex +6 = AC 23 at 17,100 gp
+5 Mithal shirt, AC +9, max dex +6 = AC 24 at 26,100 gp

Celestial armor, AC +9, max dex +8 (using your +7) = AC 26 for 22,400 gp

So, unless you can purchase the Celestial armor right now or soon, you best choice is the Mithral shirt. You can use it now and upgrade it as you can afford it.

If you can use medium armor and not lose any benifits, a Mithral breastplate is +6 AC, max dex +4 for only 100 gp more. Improves your flat-foot AC as well.

-Swiftbrook
Just My Thoughts


Forgot One:

+5 Mithal shirt of Nimbleness, AC +9, max dex +7 = AC 27 at 37,100 gp

Nimleness is a +1 bonus that increases your max dex by +1 and armor check penalty by -2. (Magic Item Compendium)

-Swiftbrook
Just My Thoughts


If your GM is willing to grab from stuff as far back as the 3.0-3.5 conversion you could always grab some bond leaf armor from the arms and equipment guide. I know it was made before 3.5, but it was cleared as being meant for 3.5.

That has no max dex.

Shadow Lodge

"Leaf Armor

Druidic elves use secret alchemical compounds to treat special leaves used in crafting armor for their warriors. Stitching the overlapping leaves into a leather jerkin, bracers, and leggings provides great flexibility while deflecting blows as well as metal armor. Leaf armor is always masterwork. It cannot be constructed from other special materials.

TYPE:
Leaf
COST:
500 gp
AC:
+3
MAX DEX:
+8
CHECK
0
SPELL FAILURE
10%
SPEED
Same as LightAr."
(PF Campaign Setting, page 211)

There you go, an armor with a huge max dex score, just that it's otherwise pretty weak. Of course this is still 3.5 ed, but I don't think anyone would rules lawyer this since the thing is anything but cheesy. Now, hide shirt on the other hand...

Dark Archive

Ki_Ryn wrote:

I have a (halfling) rogue with a +7 dexterity bonus and so even his mithril chain shirt is too confining (allowing only a +6 dex bonus). Are there other armor options that would support his full dexterity bonus?

I considered Mage Armor but the flat 4 AC ends up no better than a mithril chain shirt +1 for me. Our group is currently in the +1 to +2 bonus range for armor.

Just curious, Can I see the stats? Just want to know how you get the +7 mod? (might want to use it in a future game :D )


Happler wrote:
Ki_Ryn wrote:

I have a (halfling) rogue with a +7 dexterity bonus and so even his mithril chain shirt is too confining (allowing only a +6 dex bonus). Are there other armor options that would support his full dexterity bonus?

I considered Mage Armor but the flat 4 AC ends up no better than a mithril chain shirt +1 for me. Our group is currently in the +1 to +2 bonus range for armor.

Just curious, Can I see the stats? Just want to know how you get the +7 mod? (might want to use it in a future game :D )

If he started with a 20, got a belt, and put 4th and 8th lvl stat points into it...

And I'm really undure why Mage Armor isn't working here. +7 dex +4 armor is +11. +6 dex +4 chain +2 magic is only 12.

If you have a Mithral Chain Shirt+2, you loose 1 point of AC. A similar +1 armor would be equal, as you say. I think I would trade the armor for cash and work towards that Celestial Armor.


Swiftbrook wrote:

I also think the Mithral shirt is your best option. I'm assuming that you're not high level with lots of gold rolling around. As a cost measure, here is how it pans out:

+0 Mithral shirt, AC +4, max dex +6 = AC 20 at 1,100 gp
+1 Mithral shirt, AC +5, max dex +6 = AC 21 at 2,100 gp
+2 Mithral shirt, AC +6, max dex +6 = AC 22 at 5,100 gp
+3 Mithral shirt, AC +7, max dex +6 = AC 23 at 10,100 gp
+4 Mithral shirt, AC +8, max dex +6 = AC 24 at 17,100 gp
+5 Mithral shirt, AC +9, max dex +6 = AC 25 at 26,100 gp
+5 Mithral shirt of Nimbleness, AC +9, max dex +7 = AC 26 at 37,100 gp

Celestial armor, AC +9, max dex +8 (using your +7) = AC 26 for 22,400 gp

Nice list, but the +1 to +5 Mithral shirt numbers were off, so fixed.

It's interesting to see that Celestial Armor (once you can afford it) is straight out better than Mithral Shirt.


It is , if you can find it or find someone who can make it. Getting just what you want because it is in the book is not a given really.


Majuba wrote:

Nice list, but the +1 to +5 Mithral shirt numbers were off, so fixed.

It's interesting to see that Celestial Armor (once you can afford it) is straight out better than Mithral Shirt.

Thanks for the fix. It was late and my first writing disappeared into cyberspace.

seekerofshadowlight wrote:
It is , if you can find it or find someone who can make it. Getting just what you want because it is in the book is not a given really.

Actually, in PFS organized play it is. You need the gold and the Prestige Award and you can buy anything legal. You need at least 36 PA points which is at least 18 adventures. So maybe at 7th or 8th level (21 to 24 adventures)

I played a ranger in Living Greyhawk and I had a mithral shirt. I bought it as soon as I could, best thing available and just kept on improving it. I never got to a +7 dex bonus though. Looked at Celestial Armor but other things just looked better -- like improving my bow -- I didn't get attached very often. Also, you can't add additional cool features to Celestial Armor in most campaigns. Like Death Ward, Twilight, etc.

-Swiftbrook


PFS, yep it is if it is on the general list if I recall other things are not and must be found...not sure where that armor falls however

At a non PFS table..eh who knows I know I do not allow you to have just anything, ya got to see if ya can find it or run it down, same with crafting ya can't make just any old thing after all. The GP value of craft is assuming ya can find all those odd little items that make up the GP part of crafting after all

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