Adino's page

Ok,I HAD to comment, even 6 years later. This is from a D&D player's perspective. (If Paizo broke the game mechanics for this item, shame on them.) Every single response in this entire thread is wrong in some important way/s. I sincerely hope this helps someone who finds this thread.

1. Bracers of Armor are Wondrous Items. They are NOT armor or weapons in the sense that applying the armor enhancement rules would effect them. The bracers themselves could be used as a 0 Armor Class item, but the fact they have a wondrous item effect on them makes them a wondrous item.
2. You can literally add ANY effect on ANY item, but some effects would be rendered useless, per game rules. (See below.) You also must meet the requirements - like, have a +1 enhancement bonus on any armor that you wish to add special armor properties to.
3. Per point #2, if you gave +8 Bracers of Armor a +5 Armor enhancement bonus, the +5 bonus would be cancelled out by the +8 already on the armor. You can do it, but it would be a complete waste. It is a type of effect that does NOT stack - just like Bracers of AC and Full Plate +1 won't stack. Bracers provide 0 Armor Class, so 8 is greater than 0+5=5.
4. You can add any other wondrous item effects on the Bracers that you would like, even +8 bracers, but you must pay the cost of adding the effect, plus half-again the cost of A. the new effect or B. the existing effect on the item. (Whichever is less.) So, +8 Bracers cost 64,000 gold and +5 Deflection bonus to AC is 25,000. So, adding The +5 Deflection bonus would cost 37,500 gold.
5. Basically, if you want to add +5 Deflection bonus to AC on those +8 Bracers, it would stack and provide a total of +13 to Armor Class. They are two different types of bonus to AC and will, therefore; stack. It would would be a non-standard item for the enhancement, but an appropriate body slot. (Meaning, you wouldn't typically apply a Deflection AC effect on Bracers, but adding AC to a bracer is generally appropriate.) This can add additional cost, in some cases. You could even add a +5 Dodge bonus to AC later on. All three bonuses would stack because they are different types of bonuses to the same stat. (And, aren't specifically barred from stacking, per game rule.) This would yield a total of +18 bonus to AC.
6. If you want more info, Read the Magic Item Compendium (3.5 D&D), starting on page 232. (Especially, note the section on "Adding Common Item Effects to Existing Items."

The OP specifically brought up the term rape. Apparently the OP is a reasonably good person and hasn't been to jail recently. (Neither have I for the record.) I'd like to point out that rape isn't anti-female. Rape is terrible in ways I can only imagine for anyone who endures it.

The reason women don't like games like D&D isn't due to a lack of inclusion or the use of terms like "rape" around the table. It's due in large part to a peer-reinforced prejudiced perception that the game is a worthless time-sink and only losers with poor hygiene whom live in their parent's basement(obviously because they don't have jobs) have the time or inclination to play it. It's perfectly fine for a man to work and support them while they shop and hire a nanny, but if it's the guy that doesn't have a job... then he's a loser. Right at the top of the list of phrases a cheerleader will never tell her friends at a slumber party: "We had the best D&D session last night!"

Basically, people need to have more open minds and actually judge things based on merit and not get offended about everything possible, even when it's not technically offensive. "Offensive" is a term that is both poorly and over used. That said, casually using a term like "rape" around someone who has actually been raped would probably be a very bad thing. Know your audience before you open your mouth. FYI: On an internet board, there's bound to be a rape victim who'll read what you type.

It's not really so much offensive to use the term as much as it might be traumatizing to someone that has had to endure it. It's a matter of being considerate. (A quality people just don't have anymore.)