Ablative Barrier - what are your thoughts on it for an Eldritch Knight?

[FiddlersGreen]

It's a 3rd level spell, hour/level duration.

Invisible layers of solid force surround and protect the
target, granting that target a +2 armor bonus to AC.
Additionally, the first 5 points of lethal damage the target
takes from each attack are converted into nonlethal damage.
Against attacks that already deal nonlethal damage, the
target gains DR 5/—. Once this spell has converted 5 points
of damage to nonlethal damage per caster level (maximum
50 points), the spell is discharged.

How this spell compare in terms of viability with the humble 1st level mage armour for an eldritch knight?

[Cheapy]

Cast both or wear light armor and use abalative. It's a nice spell for when you are going to be hit.

[Xum]

The hour per level is key here, the magus doesn't have a lot of Armor bonus AC there, if you are not a Kensai, it's not much. If you are, this is a pretty good spell.

EDIT: It's a SECOND level spell.

[FiddlersGreen]

Xum wrote:

The hour per level is key here, the magus doesn't have a lot of Armor bonus AC there, if you are not a Kensai, it's not much. If you are, this is a pretty good spell.

EDIT: It's a SECOND level spell.

I'm considering it for my eldritch knight, actually. I was considering whether the damage conversion alone is worth a 3rd level spell, since mage armour renders the AC redundant. Wanted to see what others thought.

[Atarlost]

Converting damage to nonlethal damage isn't going to keep you fighting longer unless someone's doing in combat healing, but it does mean going down without bleeding out which reduces your chance of death if the party is eventually victorious.

[Davor]

If you make your Eldritch Knight part Sorcerer with the Undead Bloodline, just 3 levels of that will give you DR 5/- against nonlethal damage. It's no Stoneskin, but at that point it's pretty rocking. Remember, the spell converts damage do nonlethal damage first, so I'm pretty sure that should work against it.