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Sorry I haven't read the Beta recently, but is there actually something in the rules that allows anything with an enhancement bonus to Armor AC to have other armor type enchantments? If there is no change from 3.5 in this regard, then I don't interpret bracers of armor as being able to hold armor enchantments. (they are wondrous items, not armor)
That being said, yeah, if they can hold enchantments then they do stack (except for the AC). (and of course, your second example of the padded armor +1 and heavy fort and the bracers +8 works just fine as is)
My current wizard loves running around with a pair of +1 Mithral Bucklers loaded with a heap of fun shield enchantments. And of course an augment crystal for each, please.
There was something in Arms and equipment for bracers carrying special enhancements, and becuase it was never updated that stays the norm for 3.5, it's just not done that often that I've seen.
If you are still using the rules from the above source, yes you get all abilities of both (but not the armor bonus of both becuase armor bonuses do not stack) unless you have the same bonus on both items (and sometimes even then).
Completely missed that, thank you for pointing it out.
Well, as long as the items you wear occupy different slots (like Bracers of Armor and a Full Plate, for example), nobody forbids you to get the bonuses from both of them
Of course, Enhancement bonuses to Armor do not stack (you apply only the best), but all other stackable bonuses are active.
After all, a Ranger can shoot a +3 Arrow with a +1 Holy Longbow; the result is a +3 Holy Arrow against his target.
For example, a character with a +1 Full Plate of Fire Resistance 10 and Bracers of Armor +4 of Light Fortification would have:
Fire Resistance 10
Light Fortification
Armor bonus +8
Enhancement bonus to Armor +4 (the best among those granted by the +1 Full Plate and the Bracers of Armor +4).
Of course, the Full Plate costs 20650 gp (1650 from MW Full Plate, 1000 from +1 bonus, 18000 from Energy Resistance bonus) and the Bracers cost 25000 gp (total magical bonuses +5), for a total of 45650 gp. A +4 Full Plate of Light Fortification and Fire Res 10 costs only 44650 gp (1650 MW Full Plate, 25000 for +5 bonus, 18000 for Energy Resistance), plus you have still the Bracers slot free...
Bracers of Armor specify that they give an Armor bonus so they wouldn't stack with the bonus from the armor itself, though I can see an arguement for the magic bonus from the armor stacking with the bracers.
So in Wraith's otherwise brilliant example, the enhancement bonus should only be + 1.
Personally I think the wording on both items is rather funky.
The magic bonus to armor should be an enhancement of the armor bonus, not another type of bonus (an armor enhancment bonus) to AC (which isn't specified that it is left out of touch AC, so probably isn't). This also means we have a second type of bonus (a shield enhancement bonus).
IMO the enhancement on armor should simply state that it raises the armor's or shield's regular bonus to AC by the amount of the enhancement.
The Bracers state that they give an armor bonus specifically, but then they have that garbage at the end about needing a + 1 enhancement bonus minimum, giving rise to the question of what type of bonus the bracers are actually giving.
(not superstar material clearly, ;p).
Bracers of Armor specify that they give an Armor bonus so they wouldn't stack with the bonus from the armor itself, though I can see an arguement for the magic bonus from the armor stacking with the bracers.
You are right; in this case, the combo I posted above is even worse with the 2 items than with a single item.
+1 Enhancement Bonus
+8 Armor Bonus
Fire Res 10
Light Fortification.
...better use a Padded Armor +1 Fire Res 10:
+1 Enhancement Bonus
+4 Armor Bonus (from Bracers)
Fire Res 10
Light Fortification
I stand corrected.
EDIT:
The Bracers state that they give an armor bonus specifically, but then they have that garbage at the end about needing a + 1 enhancement bonus minimum, giving rise to the question of what type of bonus the bracers are actually giving.
of course, this is a bit funny...
And that right there is what you would probably see people doing Tholas. Which doesn't bug me, after all it's smart spending, and if you have nothing else you want to have a bracer of more power to you.
I've always found it fun how people are against "min/maxing" in game, but do it all their lives without notice or care.
Life is min/maxing.
RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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I'd prefer there be a line that indicates that bracers of armor don't function when wearin a suit of magic armor. You can already stack armor special abilities with an armor and shield, and having an additional way to stack them seems like overkill. And that's not counting armor special abilities on piecemeal armor items such as the armored kilt or destana (sp?).
I understand you concerns Joel, but what about stacking bracers of armor with a Robe of the Archmage, or anything else that provides an armor bonus?
Personally I don't think the armor bonus stuff is (in core at least) that huge of a deal really.
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RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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I understand you concerns Joel, but what about stacking bracers of armor with a Robe of the Archmage, or anything else that provides an armor bonus?
Personally I don't think the armor bonus stuff is (in core at least) that huge of a deal really.
I would have no problem with bracers of armor stacking with a robe of the archmagi - it fits my suggested change of just saying that the bracers of armor don't function with magic armor. I'm even fine with non-magic armor stacking with bracers of armor (the armor bonuses wouldn't stack, but any enhancements on the bracers would still work.)
The Bracers state that they give an armor bonus specifically, but then they have that garbage at the end about needing a + 1 enhancement bonus minimum, giving rise to the question of what type of bonus the bracers are actually giving.
I've just pointed this out in the Errata thread, giving you credit for finding it.
This is almost certainly a case of poor wording, however (IMHO).