Paladin class

[Computergamer]

Tried the paladin class to level-4 , seems like a weak fighter with a few heals. Maybe my paladin build style with sword and shield was the problem. To me a fighter was way more powerful and i had a dexterity fighter using a rapier and shield. Two attacks for a fighter beats the paladin for damage. Maybe a paladin with a great-sword would be better.

[Computergamer]

Are all those armors shown in the link in bg3 patch-9? I have not seen any +2 armor at all, and i have not seen any mithril armor either. If they are where are they sold? The mithril must be forged, all the weapon molds i found were useless. Once i saw what weapons were forged i threw all my molds away. I did not find a mold for a rapier or any armor mold.

[Wolff]

Originally posted by Computergamer:

Are all those armors shown in the link in bg3 patch-9? I have not seen any +2 armor at all, and i have not seen any mithril armor either. If they are where are they sold? The mithril must be forged, all the weapon molds i found were useless. Once i saw what weapons were forged i threw all my molds away. I did not find a mold for a rapier or any armor mold.

I haven't seen any yet either, most likely with full release. I was looking at the best hvy armour and the Plate +2 gives a base of 20, what will be the cap on AC I wonder?

[Yojo0o]

There shouldn't be any actual AC cap, just a point where it can't go any higher. +3 gear is the highest 5e goes, and high-enchantment armor is generally avoided because it can break the game, so I wouldn't expect unbuffed AC higher than about 22-24.

[KOHb]

Originally posted by Yojo0o:

There shouldn't be any actual AC cap, just a point where it can't go any higher. +3 gear is the highest 5e goes, and high-enchantment armor is generally avoided because it can break the game, so I wouldn't expect unbuffed AC higher than about 22-24.

Depending on game balance.
If your enemies in future will hit +17, then 22-24 would not be enough and game must give you options to make it higher.
It's just a matter of balance.

[Yojo0o]

Originally posted by Criminal Horse:

Originally posted by Yojo0o:

There shouldn't be any actual AC cap, just a point where it can't go any higher. +3 gear is the highest 5e goes, and high-enchantment armor is generally avoided because it can break the game, so I wouldn't expect unbuffed AC higher than about 22-24.

Depending on game balance.
If your enemies in future will hit +17, then 22-24 would not be enough and game must give you options to make it higher.
It's just a matter of balance.

Of course, but 5e DnD uses the Bounded Accuracy design philosophy and doesn't have number bloat like that in most cases. That's more of a 3.5e thing.

Highest to-hit in 5e is the CR 30 Tarrasque, at +19. A CR 20 Pit Fiend has +14 to hit. In BG3 with a level cap of somewhere in the 10-14 range, I wouldn't expect hit bonuses to get much higher than +10.

[Vikings]

Originally posted by Computergamer:

Tried the paladin class to level-4 , seems like a weak fighter with a few heals. Maybe my paladin build style with sword and shield was the problem. To me a fighter was way more powerful and i had a dexterity fighter using a rapier and shield. Two attacks for a fighter beats the paladin for damage. Maybe a paladin with a great-sword would be better.

You will have MUCH more fun if you play a class that fits thematically into the narrative for your tastes. Focusing on stats and combat sucks the life out of these games very fast.

[KOHb]

Originally posted by Yojo0o:

Of course, but 5e DnD uses the Bounded Accuracy design philosophy and doesn't have number bloat like that in most cases. That's more of a 3.5e thing.

Yep, know it. Because other way its'a comeback to bloated 3+ :D
But still it's a video game, which might have more opportunities than TT and also raised difficulties. And tons of different loot, for players to be happy.

For example like we saw in Solasta. Where 30++ AC is not a problem if you combine all the loot you can get on the tank character. And enemies with +alot hitting through this.

[Yojo0o]

Originally posted by Criminal Horse:

Originally posted by Yojo0o:

Of course, but 5e DnD uses the Bounded Accuracy design philosophy and doesn't have number bloat like that in most cases. That's more of a 3.5e thing.

Yep, know it. Because other way its'a comeback to bloated 3+ :D
But still it's a video game, which might have more opportunities.

For example like we saw in Solasta. Where 30++ AC is not a problem if you combine all the loot you can get on the tank character. And enemies with +alot hitting through this.

I haven't played Solasta, fair enough.

It'll be interesting to see how higher levels work in BG3. Since it's being made with more oversight from WotC, I expect it'll stick more to the design of tabletop 5e than 30+ AC in Solasta, but video games do allow for all sorts of weird crap.

[brendan_in_china]

Lots of armours not available in EA; no breastplate yet.

Magical armours are an order of rarity removed from weapons because of the utility of defence. A +3 sword is as valuable as a +2 armour. Shields are the exception, a +3 shield is as valuable as a +3 sword.

I think it basically comes down to the 5E design where characters have high AC and low HPs relative to the monsters (which have a worse overall action economy). Each point of AC going up becomes increasingly valuable.

Yes, dragons by design break this. They are the ultimate no-weakness monster in the game. (And the big reason why my characters always have long range attack options.)

[Wolff]

My dex Paladin is sitting at 18 AC with the armour he started with. I just picked up two shields; both give +2 AC, but the glowing shield is better, but I like the metal shield for looks on the paladin. I am shooting for 20+ AC with better armour later.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2908886829

[Computergamer]

When you get to 20 armor-class you will still be hit 50% of the time, it will not make you invulnerable. I thought i would not get hit too often, for me armor-class is not that important.

[KOHb]

Originally posted by Computergamer:

When you get to 20 armor-class you will still be hit 50% of the time, it will not make you invulnerable. I thought i would not get hit too often, for me armor-class is not that important.

You will be hit in 50% with 20 AC only if your enemy has +9 to attack. Meaning hitting you only with 11-20 result.
Not much enemies have that much attack bonus in EA.

[Computergamer]

I think i like the 2-handed weapon version of the paladin so i dropped the shield and lost 2 armor. Seem to be doing more damage now and i do not see much difference in the hits that i am taking.

[KOHb]

Originally posted by Computergamer:

I think i like the 2-handed weapon version of the paladin so i dropped the shield and lost 2 armor. Seem to be doing more damage now and i do not see much difference in the hits that i am taking.

There is at least one +3 shield in EA.
And in perspective there must be +4 (and maybe even +5).

So, 2h paladin could be lacking AC in future if you're planning to make it tank.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Originally posted by Criminal Horse:

Originally posted by Computergamer:

I think i like the 2-handed weapon version of the paladin so i dropped the shield and lost 2 armor. Seem to be doing more damage now and i do not see much difference in the hits that i am taking.

There is at least one +3 shield in EA.
And in perspective there must be +4 (and maybe even +5).

So, 2h paladin could be lacking AC in future if you're planning to make it tank.

Technically, it's a shield +1. All shields provide a bonus 2 to AC, so the enchantment bonus from that shield is only +1.

I know it's only a technical detail based on notation jargon, but since there are +3 shields (that increase AC by 5) it might confuse players which is why I mention it.

Formal D&D notation only notes the magical bonus since all shields provide +2 AC.