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I need to create a new fighter. In my mind the scene that always comes to mind is the PFS fighter wearing his shiny full plate armor lumbering into the corner pub to buy a beer.
A little bit off-putting wouldn't you say.
Is there a reasonable way to create a fighter that won't be a burden to the team while wearing something less than full plate and can still stand to the front during battle?
I used the Dervish Dance feat with my fighter to use a scimitar and have dex to damage. You can also use the Agile magic weapon property to add dex to damage on finesse-able weapons, although it is expensive so it won't be effective until the higher levels. My fighter combines the high dex with Crane Style to get frightening high AC...higher than those who wear full plate!
The high dex makes wearing light armor, or in particular Celestial Armor, ideal.
A lore warden is another good option if you want to be a maneuver kind of fighter.
RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Let's start with math!
So if we assume the "best" armor from each category with maxed-out DEX for the armor type, we get these bonuses in each category:
+8 light
+9 medium
+10 heavy
See how they're only one point apart from each other? That means that if you're in a breastplate with 16 DEX, then all you need is the Dodge feat to have the same baseline AC as the 12 DEX full-plate guy. Or if you have 18 DEX, a chain shirt, and the Dodge feat; then you're even with medium guy and only a single point behind heavy guy (which in turn means that if you're a tiefling and replace Dodge with Armor of the Pit, then your chain shirt with 18 DEX can fully match heavy guy).
So yeah, you can do it. Just remember that if you go with Weapon Finesse (since light armor needs higher DEX to keep your AC up) that you'll take ACP to attacks with any shield you use. That means that for your shield bonus, you need a buckler or light shield, or if you absolutely have to match the stereotypical heavy armor guy point for point, you'll need to invest in a mithral heavy shield.
So, for instance:
Around 3rd level Mr. Heavy has full plate, 12 DEX and a +1 heavy shield for a total of 23 AC. You could be a tiefling with a chain shirt, 18 DEX, Armor of the Pit and a mithral heavy shield for a total of 22 AC. After you each get another 2k gold, you're tied at 24 AC.
You can do the same thing with Dodge for any race if you're in a breastplate instead of a chain shirt.
But remember, even if you don't bother compensating at all, your armor+DEX is only a point or two behind. The key to AC is getting relevant items in as many different slots as possible.
Hope that helps!
Is there a reasonable way to create a fighter that won't be a burden to the team while wearing something less than full plate and can still stand to the front during battle?
This should be in the advice forum right? Anyways... Could always try an invulnerable barbarian, possibly urban barbarian archetype stacked on it. More to defenses than AC. Having large amounts of DR, saves, and health is also viable, and requires less buying equipment.
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RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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It is not that easy jiggy. Defender of the society make the medium-heavy armored guy to be have a little more AC. And with armor training a fighter will be using more and more his dex bonus to AC.
In your example the heavy armored fighter coudl have dex 14 and defender of the society for 25 AC, if he is a tiefling with armor of the pits he have AC 27. That is not a small diference specially when you take into account that the Str based fithter is just doing more damage.
Yes, the heavy armor guy has a higher AC ceiling.
But you don't have to hit that ceiling to be viable. Full plate, 12 DEX, plus "the usual extras" is the baseline for an AC-focused PC. A little application of additional options can bring a lighter-armored PC up to that baseline. They have a lower ceiling, but that ceiling is still higher than the baseline they need to achieve for AC to be worthwhile.
The bestiaries didn't all suddenly get eratta'd to give monsters all another +2 to hit when Armor of the Pit got printed. Whatever number was considered a good AC before that feat was available remained (and still remains) a good AC after it was printed. Yes, the guy who already had good AC can take that feat to get even higher, but that doesn't make his original number any less good than it already was, and now the lighter-armored guy can use that feat to reach that same threshold.
So yes, it is that simple, when you look at everything systemically.
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RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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I mean, trying to make a AC race against the heavy armore guy might be not the best Idea.
It's not a race against the heavy armor guy. It's a race against enemies' attack bonuses. And once you're doing sufficiently well in that race, it doesn't matter if someone else could be doing it better.
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Make note that there is also options that can vary around the AC build.
- Concealment - Potion of Blur, Mistmail, Darkness or Fog
- Miss Chance - Ring of Blinking
- Negation - Missile Shield, Deflect Arrows, Crane Wing
- Absorbtion - Abrogalian Corset, Adamantine Armor
If you take dips into Arcane or Divine Classes, they can provide more than enough tricks that can surpass a straight AC build. The more options you have, the more survivability your character will have.
Take the example of my character as a Full AC Heavy Build. A Level 11 character who dedicated his gold to increase his survivability. 37 Base, 26 Touch, 34 Flat. Going for my maximum, 43 Fighting Defensively, 46 Total Defense. Useless in combat. Does wonders to my teammates.
Unless you have a specific algorithm that makes it work, a light armor fighter should always have AC as second priority to their main feature.
If you are adamant on trying to go toe-to-toe with the Heavy AC player, use some of the options. Crane Wing completely NEGATES an attack, which with the new update on the FAQ, makes it extremely powerful. Deflect Arrows/Missile Shield can negate arrows, bullets, and even bombs.
Add in a Potion of Blur, and you have them to have to first hit you through concealment chance. And if you have the Corset, you can absorb the first 20 damage per day.
So they have to first hit 2 successful concealment chances, first attack negated by Crane/Deflect, second attack reduced by up to 20. That is some good tanking. And this is not your main objective, as your main is Damage/Maneuvers/etc.
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Thanks everybody. That gives me a lot to think about/look up for my next fighter.
P.S. Yes, Mr. Sin, this should be in the advice section, but I like the answers I get here much better. I put it out there this weekend because I figured that it wouldn't get moved for a few days. That would give me enough time to get some good answers before the more creative suggestions would be added in the advice areas.
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My Fighter (Polearm Master) is Dex-based, and had an AC 27 at 11th level. That is before Combat Expertise and Fighting Defensively (with 3+ ranks of Acrobatics) get brought in. Mithral Breastplate, and he had Dex mod higher than the armor supports.
However, add in Greater Trip and Greater Disarm, and Combat Reflexes with 8 AoOs with a polearm, and his AC, for much of PFS, seldom comes into play.
Don't forget that that high Dex also boosts your Initiative, especially if you go for the trait, feat and items that add to it. (Reactionary/Warrior of Old, Improved Initiative, and the cracked Ioun stone that gives a +1)
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If you have the funds and resources, armor isn't even necessary.
10 Dexterity of thirty
08 bracers of armor
06 +5 buckler
05 amulet of natural armor
05 ring of protection
01 dusty rose prism ioun stone
01 Dodge feat
01 jingasa of the fortunate soldier
47 TOTAL AC
CR 20 monsters only hit you on an 11 or better with their best attack. It gets worse for anything less powerful.