Armor: Mundane and Force

[OldManAlexi]

When a character wears a suit of armor and has a force armor effect (such as Mage Armor or Bracers of Armor), they do not stack. The character only benefits from the higher armor bonus. The lower effect ceases to function according to the entry for the Bracers of Armor.

What would happen if the character was hit by an incorporeal touch attack? The suit of armor has a higher armor bonus so the force armor should not function. However, the touch attack ignores the suit of armor but would be affected by the force armor if it had been active. Logically, the force effect should apply but RAW seems to suggest that it does not.

Let's ignore the fact that making the armor ghost touch would be far simpler and more cost effective.

[Dumb Paladin]

Honestly, the way it is worded leaves GMs who wish to argue one way or the other with some leeway, but I would think the caveat at the end may save you.

Specifically, the text says, "Bracers of armor and ordinary armor do not stack. If a creature receives a larger armor bonus from another source, the bracers of armor cease functioning and do not grant their armor bonus or their armor special abilities. If the bracers of armor grant a larger armor bonus, the other source of armor ceases functioning."

I would argue that when a creature would attack your regular AC, you are "receiving a larger armor bonus" from the suit of armor and not from the bracers, so the bracers would have no effect for that attack.

But if an incorporeal creature attacks, the bracers would technically "grant a larger armor bonus" against that attack than regular armor would (...which grants +0!), so I would say the bracers kick in at that point.

Naturally, it would be very easy for a GM to argue that the situation does not apply, and he/she only cares which of the two sources has a larger numerical value, forever stopping the other effect from functioning.

I wouldn't do that.