The Armor Class, or AC, of a player or creature is the number that an opponent's attack roll must equal or exceed to successfully hit.
Armor Class is an abstract number, that represents how difficult it is to damage someone.A character's AC is equal to 10 + Dexterity modifier + armor bonus + shield bonus + size modifier + any other bonuses from items, spellls, or special abilities (see below).AC Types
- Armor bonus - provided by armor slot and bracers slot (bracers only; gloves provide deflection)
- Shield bonus - provided by shield slot
- Dodge bonus - provided by boots slot
- Natural armor bonus - provided by amulet slot
- Deflection bonus - provided by all other inventory slots
When receiving an AC bonus from a magical source, such as a spell or magical item, only Dodge bonuses stack, up to a maximum of +20. For all other AC bonus types, the single highest modifier is applied. Bonus AC gained through Feats or class features always stack with each other as well as bonus AC from a magical source.
Armor Class GuideAs above, there are several types of Armor Class in Neverwinter Nights; some will work together (i.e., stack) and some will not. Knowing what stacks and what doesn't can often mean the difference between useful equipment and useless equipment.Below are 6 AC categories; the 5 that NWN uses (Natural, Armor, Shield, Deflection, Dodge), and one extra "other" category to hold the bonuses that do not fit into the 5 base categories. All these categories will stack together, and ultimately sum together to form a character's total AC.Sources of Natural ACThese will not stack with each other; the highest one is used.
Sources of Armor ACThese will not stack with each other; the highest one is used.
- Item: Armor AC Bonus (+1-20)
- Item: Bracer AC Bonus (+1-20) (same item slot as Gloves)
- Feat: Epic Spell: Epic Mage Armor (+5)
- Spell: Mage Armor (+1)
- Spell: Magic Vestment (+1-5)
Sources of Shield ACThese will not stack with each other; the highest one is used.
- Item: Shield AC Bonus (+1-20)
- Spell: Magic Vestment (+1-5)
Sources of Deflection ACThese will not stack with each other; the highest one is used.
- Item: Glove AC Bonus (+1-20) (same item slot as Bracers)
- Item: Ring AC Bonus (+1-20)
- Item: Belt AC Bonus (+1-20)
- Item: Helm AC Bonus (+1-20)
- Item: Cloak AC Bonus (+1-20)
- Item: Weapon AC Bonus (+1-20)
- Item: Dusty Rose Ioun stone (+1)
- Feat: Epic Spell: Epic Mage Armor (+5)
- Spell: Shield (+4)
- Spell: Mage Armor (+1)
- Spell: Shield of Faith (+2-5)
- Spell: Protection from Alignment (+2 versus selected alignment)
- Spell: Aura Versus Alignment (+4 versus selected alignment)
- Spell: Magic Circle Against Alignment (+2 versus selected alignment)
Sources of Dodge ACThese will stack with each other but is limited to a +20 maximum Dodge bonus.
All Dodge AC is lost when caught Flat-footed (even if the character has the Uncanny Dodge feat).Other Sources of ACThese are all individual sources, and stack together with no restrictions.
The Dexterity bonus to AC, Dodge, and Tumble AC benefits are lost when caught Flat-footed but the Uncanny Dodge and Defensive Awareness feats allow the Dexterity bonus to be retained. |
