Adventurer's Armory 2 gives us several new armor modification options that change the base stats of armor.
One such option is "double-plated" which reduces the maximum dexterity of the armor by 2. Is is possible for this modification (or a similar ability) to reduce maximum dexterity to less than 0?
There's a good case for it being "capped" at +0. Which is fine - it might give folks a reason to use armors like half-plate.
But it's definitely something that hasn't yet been thoroughly questioned or explored. ^_^
what would that even mean?, that you always get a -1 to AC for dex (goes to touch AC) unless your Dex mod is -2 or lower?
Calth has the right of it, per RAW.
It's the same reason why, for example, an Armor Check Penalty can't ever be +1, even if you can effectively have it at +1, because it no longer becomes an Armor Check Penalty, but an Armor Check Bonus, which is both absurd and against RAI.
Also, here's the Maximum Dexterity Bonus entry, from Core:
This number is the maximum Dexterity bonus to AC 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 AC. Heavier armors limit mobility, reducing the wearer's ability to dodge blows. This restriction doesn't affect any other Dexterity-related abilities.
So, we know that in every case, it refers to itself as a Bonus, and not a Penalty, which means anything that subtracts from the value instead of adding to it, based on the definitions provided in the Getting Started section in relation to common game terms, ceases to become a Bonus, and therefore no longer follows the rules regarding Maximum Dexterity Bonuses, which means you're heading into houserule territory.
My suggestion? Keep is simple, stupid. This is something that we don't need to needlessly complicate, especially when the intent and RAW is quite clear that Maximum Dexterity Bonuses do not go below zero, and Armor Check Penalties do not go above zero.
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This is something that we don't need to needlessly complicate, especially when the intent and RAW is quite clear that Maximum Dexterity Bonuses do not go below zero, and Armor Check Penalties do not go above zero.
I'm potentially prepared to concede RAW, but I'm curious to see a source that can prove intent.
I already provided the intent source: We have multiple abilities and rules that state that reducing an Armor Check Penalty never brings it to a positive score; it is always a minimum (wouldn't it be maximum in this case?) of zero.
The reason being as to why that is, is both because A. People can pick the lightest armor and have ridiculous bonuses to Dexterity/Strength-based Skill Checks with little to no investment in them, and B. If you have a positive Armor Check Penalty, then it is no longer considered a Penalty, due that it doesn't subtract from the check/statistic, it adds to it.
A Maximum Dexterity Bonus is basically the inverse of an Armor Check Penalty in terms of mechanics and statistical adjustments, which means if you have a negative Maximum Dexterity Bonus, then it's no longer considered a Bonus, due that it doesn't add to the check/statistic, it subtracts from it.