It's been a while since I have played the "world's oldest fantasy roleplaying game" and I was wondering; If I have a character who is wearing Leather Armor (AC +2) with a Dex of 15 (+2) and a Wiz1 casts Mage Armor (AC +4) on that character, would the character's base AC be;
AC 18 <- all cumulative
AC 16 <- highest Armor modifier only
or something else? Please explain.
Mage Armor is a named "Armor Bonus", therefore it does not stack with any other "Armor Bonus" to AC (including that provided by Leather Armor).
So the total AC in the example would be 16? I thought that would be the case, but wanted to get some verification.
yep, 16 would be correct
That is correct.
I made that mistake too. The way that different kinds effects can be very confusing. :(
Thanks for all the input :-)
Mage Armor is a named "Armor Bonus", therefore it does not stack with any other "Armor Bonus" to AC (including that provided by Leather Armor).
Hmm, so if you somehow managed to tame a Dragonne (+7 Nat Armor), there wouldn't be any point to putting Banded Mail Barding on it?
Just because I like to be a little confusing when I can.
There is one side benefit to Mage Armor, and that is that it is effective against incorporeal attacks, while leather armor (and all other armor that you wear) is not.
So, when a ghost, wraith, etc., attacks you, if you're wearing leather armor, or full plate, or anything else, you might as well be naked, but you get the full benefit of your Mage Armor.
So, vs. ghosts (etc.), you're AC 14 in Leather + DEX, and AC 18 in Mage Armor + DEX.
Yeah, I know, that doesn't come up very often, but it helps to know about it when it does. And yes, I also know about Ghost Touch armor, but that isn't found in everybody's backpacks, so at least Mage Armor gives an alternative.
Mage Armor is a named "Armor Bonus", therefore it does not stack with any other "Armor Bonus" to AC (including that provided by Leather Armor).Hmm, so if you somehow managed to tame a Dragonne (+7 Nat Armor), there wouldn't be any point to putting Banded Mail Barding on it?
Not true.
A "Natural Armor" bonus and an "Armor" bonus are not the same, so do stack. :D
Mage Armor is a named "Armor Bonus", therefore it does not stack with any other "Armor Bonus" to AC (including that provided by Leather Armor).Hmm, so if you somehow managed to tame a Dragonne (+7 Nat Armor), there wouldn't be any point to putting Banded Mail Barding on it?
Natural armor stacks with "armor". So natural armor would stack with banded mail -or- mage armor.
It is definitely confusing at first.
Mage Armor is a named "Armor Bonus", therefore it does not stack with any other "Armor Bonus" to AC (including that provided by Leather Armor).Hmm, so if you somehow managed to tame a Dragonne (+7 Nat Armor), there wouldn't be any point to putting Banded Mail Barding on it?
Natural Armor and Armor are two separate catagories. You could definitely put barding on your Dragonne and they would stack. Make sure you Bedazzle the barding it will make the Dragonne happy :)
So, vs. ghosts (etc.), you're AC 14 in Leather + DEX, and AC 18 in Mage Armor + DEX.
Your numbers don't make sense to me. My original post stated a Dex of +2 which according to my understanding of the incorporeal attacks rules;
There is one side benefit to Mage Armor, and that is that it is effective against incorporeal attacks, while leather armor (and all other armor that you wear) is not.
would indicate that w/Leather should be
Base 10 + 0 (Leather Armor [2], ignored) + 2 DEX = AC 12and w/ Mage Armor
Base 10 + 0 (Leather Armor [2], ignored) + 2 DEX + 4 (Mage Armor) = AC 16
vs Incorporeal attacks. I don't understand where you came up with
AC 14 in Leather + DEX
Are you implying I would add the DEX mod to the 14? or were you trying to say +4 DEX at the end?
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Leather Armor (AC +2) with a Dex of 15 (+2) and a Wiz1 casts Mage Armor (AC +4) on that character, would the character's base AC be
AC = 10 + 2 {DEX} + MAX(2 {Leather Armour}, 4 {Mage Armour}) = 16
Hmm, so if you somehow managed to tame a Dragonne (+7 Nat Armor), there wouldn't be any point to putting Banded Mail Barding on it?
"Natural Armour Bonus" != "Armour Bonus"
You need to look at the strings, each individual string is a different effect.Also, you will often see Enhancement bonuses to various things. Like a +2 Leather Armour has a +2 Enhancement bonus applied to the Leather Armour bonus. So the Leather Armour's "Armour Bonus" would include the Enhancement Bonus from the armour's magic. Same for Enhancement Bonuses to Natural Armour Bonuses.