Barskin and dex ?

[Uthar le preux]

Is it normal that your dex doesn't add up to barskin ?

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by Uthar le preux:

Barskin and dex ?
Is it normal that your dex doesn't add up to barskin ?

Yes, as it set your minimum AC to 16 but does not change or add anything.

[Zeel Ara]

Barkskin overrides your AC, it doesn't adjust it. It an extremely bad spell, bordering on useless.

[Mike Garrison]

Yeah, you have to recognize there are different kinds of stat boosts.

Examples: Barkskin simply sets your AC at 16, period. Mage Armor sets your AC to 13 but allows Dex bonus to add on. Scale Mail sets your AC to 14 and allows Dex bonus to add on, but only to a max of +2.

You have to read the details for each one.

[Mike Garrison]

Originally posted by Ratley:

Barkskin overrides your AC, it doesn't adjust it. It an extremely bad spell, bordering on useless.

Barkskin's biggest problem is that it is a concentration spell. So not only can you not cast any other concentration spells, but you can lose it any time you get hit -- not great if it is your armor!

In contrast, Mage Armor is one spell level lower, does not take your concentration, and if you have a dex bonus of +3 or better it is at least as good as Barkskin can ever be.

[Panda]

The main idea to use it - while shapeshifting, that’s all, if your mage has a bad DEX stat - barkskin > mage armor, unless it’s a human/half elf, so you CAN wear a shield too.

That’s all, mediocre early/till lvl 6 spell which works fine with a shapeshifter ability, good with a mage who can’t wear a shield and who prefers CON instead of DEX stat, also you shouldn’t really care that it’s a concentration spell, you are supposed to deal damage as a magic user (unless you are a bard), so it’s ok to spend all spell slots for fireball instead

[Callirgos]

For the sake of the video game, though it's different from the PnP, Barkskin should be AC 18.