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I’ve been having a debate about armor bonuses. I have been under the assumption that while armor bonuses do not stack, armor enhancement and special abilities still function even if another armor source is applied. Some examples, lets say you have padded armor (armor bonus of 1) with an enhancement bonus of +3, and a few special abilities worth +3. One camp believes all armor bonus sources and abilities are forfeit if another armor source provides a higher armor bonus ala the description of bracers of armor. Note, this complete elimination of any other enhancements or abilities with a higher armor bonus source is only described in bracers of armor, not anywhere else. This would mean, the character with the padded armor above, if he had mage armor cast on him (armor bonus +4) would lose the enhancement bonus and special abilities of the padded armor until the spell ends simply because the spell armor source is higher. The other camp believes that, yes, armor bonuses don’t stack so the armor bonus +1 of padded armor is forfeit since only the highest armor bonus applies (mage armor +4) but enhancement bonus from the padded armor and its special abilities would still apply since these are separately named bonus to AC and abilities.

Another example, a bard finds a robe of the archmagi which, among many other benefits, provides a +5 armor bonus. Let say this bard is already wearing the padded armor noted above. Would the Bard lose all of the armor enhancement bonuses and special abilities of the padded armor because the robe provides a higher armor bonus?

I understand the same type of bonuses not stacking, but other than the specific description of bracers of armor, I haven’t found anything stating that lower armor bonus source abilities are completely negated if another higher armor source is applied. Thoughts?

The new Adv Guide has a feat called Web of Steel. It allows an armor bonus equal to 1/2 character level +2 while wielding the weapon with weapon focus feat. Yes, it requires three feats to get (dodge, Combat Expertise, and Weapon Focus), does not operate if flat footed or any reason you would lose a dodge bonus and does not stack with other armor bonuses. Yet, by 20th level, this is an armor bonus of 12. I assume this would work with Unarmed Attacks as the melee weapon since these are considered light weapons as well. Any thoughts would be appreciated. I like the feat, but I made a post before regarding other publications; feat tree of Unarmored Defense Proficiency and most seem to think it was overpowered. Also, in light of posts I read on the new Hamatulatsu feat being reworked by the developers (removing critical threat range of 16-20), there is no other feat in the game that would give such a scaling to armor or scaling of this kind at all that I can think of. THoughts would be appreciated.

First - this book is great and I already have a person playing a Magus in my campaign and is loving it. We had a question regarding Spell requirements. It says the magus must have a Wisdom score equal to 10 plus spell level in order to learn or cast a spell. Yet bonus spells and DC's are charisma dependent. Do people think this split of abilities is intentional or a typo? I'm trying to reconcile.

On the feat side, I'm wondering if people believe the Web of Steel feat is overpowered or not. It gives an armor bonus equal to 1/2 character level +2 while wielding the weapon with weapon focus feat. Yes, it requires three feats to get, does not operate if flat footed or any reason you would lose a dodge bonus and does not stack with other armor bonuses. Yet, by 20th level, this is an armor bonus of 12. I assume this would work with Unarmed Attacks as the melee weapon since these are considered light weapons as well. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Can't wait to try the other classes!

I saw the thread on a Weapon FInesse feat for damage, which was great, so I guess I am looking for advice from people on teh 2-4 above. THanks all.

player or DM looking for a pathfinder game. LOcated in Central SF. Thanks.

In monmouth County New Jersey looking for others in the area to play 3.5/Pathfinder. Played for a long time but friends moved away. Interested in both DMing and playing, though a slight rusty.