Armor Max Dex and Ranged Attacks

[SinBlade06]

So this question has been plaguing me since I first started playing, and I'd like some clarification.

I was told that if your Dex modifier is greater than your armor allows, not only does your AC not go up due to the max dex limit, but your ranged attacks with your Dex modifier also are limited by that same number, the max dex mod.

I'm asking this because a respecable GM and player told me this within my first week of playing, but he has also been known to joke around.

So to narrow it down, does the Max Dex bonus on your armor also limit your To Hit roll with a ranged attack?

[Lakesidefantasy]

No, I don't think it does.

[daimaru]

"This number is the maximum Dexterity bonus to Armor Class that this type of armor allows. Dexterity bonuses in excess of this number are reduced to this number for the purposes of determining the wearer's Armor Class. Heavier armors limit mobility, reducing the wearer's ability to dodge blows. This restriction doesn't affect any other Dexterity-related abilities."

Nope.

[SinBlade06]

daimaru wrote:

"This number is the maximum Dexterity bonus to Armor Class that this type of armor allows. Dexterity bonuses in excess of this number are reduced to this number for the purposes of determining the wearer's Armor Class. Heavier armors limit mobility, reducing the wearer's ability to dodge blows. This restriction doesn't affect any other Dexterity-related abilities."

Nope.

According to that wording, there's no such thing as an ACP with dex based skills. Rogues in full-plate picking open chests and backflipping over traps.

I read that myself, and I think there may have been a caviot or something that someone of writing power said that changed the ruling.

[Jeff Merola]

That wording has nothing to do with ACP and only refers to Max Dex.

[coyote6]

Armor check penalty and max Dex are different things. What the max Dex entry says has nothing to do with what ACP does.

[SinBlade06]

Now I feel like an absolute idiot.

Whoops. I guess I was misreading that. My bad.

So just to clerify, when I'm using my musket with a +5 dex modifier and my armor's max dex is only a +3, I still get the full +5 modifier to my attack roll.

Thanks guys!

[daimaru]

coyote6 wrote:

Armor check penalty and max Dex are different things. What the max Dex entry says has nothing to do with what ACP does.

And neither one has anything to do with ranged attacks. ACP says,

"Any armor heavier than leather, as well as any shield, hurts a character's ability to use Dex- and Str-based skills. An armor check penalty applies to all Dex- and Strength-based skill checks."

[Lakesidefantasy]

However, if you are not proficient with the armor then the Armor Class Penalty applies to all of your attack rolls, both ranged and melee.