A not-so-clean question of "Does it stack?"
Armored Defense (Ex)
At 5th level, an armor master gains DR 1/— when wearing light armor, DR 2/— when wearing medium armor, and DR 3/— when wearing heavy armor. At 19th level, this damage reduction increases to DR 4/— when wearing light armor, DR 8/— when wearing medium armor, and DR 12/— when wearing heavy armor. This damage reduction stacks with that provided by adamantine armor, but not with other forms of damage reduction. This damage reduction does not apply if the armor master is stunned, unconscious, or helpless.
This ability replaces weapon training 1 and 3, and armor mastery.
Stalwart
Benefit: While using the total defense action, fighting defensively action, or Combat Expertise, you can forgo the dodge bonus to AC you would normally gain to instead gain an equivalent amount of DR, to a maximum of DR 5/—, until the start of your next turn. This damage reduction stacks with DR you gain from class features, such as the barbarian’s, but not with DR from any other source. If you are denied your Dexterity bonus to AC, you are also denied this DR.
So Armored Defense says it stacks with adamantine armor, but would not with Stalwart, while Stalwart says it would stack with Armored Defense, but not with adamantine armor.
So how would the three stack together, if at all?
Head explodes.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Specific beats general, imo. The "does not stack with other..." is a general statement, which can be beaten by a specific ability like Stalwart's "stacks with all class features".
The three do not stack, but two of them do, one does not:
1) Armored Defense stacks with Adamantine Armor.
2) Armored Defense stacks with Stalwart.
N: Stalwart does NOT stack with Adamantine Armor.
So you calculate which of these two is the highest in any situation:
1) AD + AA
2) AD + SW
and you use the highest/most beneficial one; e.g. even though option 2 is usually higher, you could use option 1 when flat-footed.