When do Jedi robes become better than armor?

[allen]

Hello, all,

I'm still fairly new to/early in the game. Just became a Jedi and left Dantooine.

I vaguely recall reading somewhere that in the long run robes were the way to go. I did find a set of robes...but they only give AC +2 vs. AC +8 of my tricked out armor.

I know I can't use certain Jedi powers in armor, but that tradeoff seems rather extreme. Am I just using robes improperly? Am I just impatient...do better robes show up later? Something else?

Thanks,
Allen

[mayesie]

In my experiance you are seeing robes much as they are. Most non-robe armour options will have a significantly better AC rating then robes. Robe do get better in the later game but do not expect them to catch up to the other armours. The trade off is large at first but Jedi powers make up the difference in the end. I have run a jedi with non-robe while waiting for better robs but always regreated it in the end when I was too used to the extra protection.

[Simmy]

The thing is they don't get better. I just stuck with Fett armor I bought from the guy next to speeder on Dantooine. I think the defense bonus out weights the use of the force abililties.

[HypeFree]

It all depends on the build of your character. What class is he? If you build soldier/guardian and then focus attribute points into str, dex, and con then you have the best build in the game (as long as you get the right force powers and go dark side while wearing robes and have the right items). If you build str and con with no dex then you should get some armor and still have a really stout build. You'll be doing lightsaber damage with both of these builds. Carry a double bladed one.

Then there are more Force focused builds where you absolutely have to wear robes and buy Force lightning, insanity, plague, death field, etc. You'll not be taking people down with a lightsaber but with Force powers. You would want to focus on wis and cha with this character and also go darkside. I'd also take dueling over dual wielding to take the defense benefit. Go soldier/consular in this build.

On the last dungeon you'll get a chance to find some robes that offer 5 defense and +5 to str (for darkside characters) or +5 to wis (for lightside characters)

It all depends on the build my friend.

[#Henerd]

If I recall the Qel-Droma robes on Korriban are worthy robes. but they're light side only

[__-__-__]

There is a place where you can aquire multiple +5 AC robes very close to the end.

[MEMPHIS]

KOTOR 1 and 2 both run off a modified D&D 3.0 ruleset, otherwise known as D20. Armor doesn't work in this game like it does in other RPG's.

All Attributes (Str, Dex, Con, Int, Wis, and Cha) have a number and a modifier associated with that number. The modifier for Dexterity is added to your Armor Class. The higher number you have in Dex, the higher modifier you have, the higher base Armor Class you have. So if you have a Dex of 16, then you have a +3 to your AC, which with a base of 10, raises your AC to 13. When an oppontent attacks you, they roll a D20 and add usually their Str mod for melee or their Dex mod for ranged. If that number is higher than your 13, then you take damage. If it is lower, they miss.

Armor in the game adds to your AC. Some heavier armors give you +8 or so. Some of the ligher armors give you +2 or so. The difference is, usually, the lighter armors do no restrict your Dex modifier whereas the heavier armors will. The +8 armor might have a Max Dex Bonus of +1. Which means you are only recieving +1 of your +3 Dex modifier. This might not sound like a big deal, but trust me it is. Later on if you pump your Dex up (which isn't a bad idea since you can get Lightsaber Finesse which uses your Dex mod for Attack Roll instead of Str) you will have a comparable AC to wearing a Heavier armor. There are some other things going on as well, but trust me - it evens out either way.

A lot of people recommend playing a Soldier/Guardian with your first playthrough. But I don't. I recommend playing a Scout/Sentinel or a Scout/Consular. This will give you the best of both worlds. You get a crap ton of Feats (all the necessary ones for being good in combat), you get a crap ton of Powers (which the Guardian hardly gets any), and you get a crap ton of Skill Points (which are probably the most useful abilities in the game.) Whatever weaknesses you'll have you will be able to make up for with equipment. Don't worry about armor - just pump your Dex up, get Lightsaber Finesse, and use the Heal Kits if you have to. Once you get Force Heal and the Feat that lets you regen HP out of combat - you aren't going to have to worry about HP unless it's a really tough boss fight.

[avatar.zero]

Also keep in mind that the Dex bonus restrictions from heavier armors doesn't just affect your AC bonus, it affects ALL traits that draw on your Dex bonus. This includes things such as bonuses to attack and damage with ranged weapons and your Reflex saves. When you get to the point in the game where you're going against higher-powered Force users and non-sensitives with higher likelihoods of using grenades and the like (not to mention they'll be better skilled at them), that Dex bonus will start to come in about as handy - sometimes moreso - than the specific AC of armors.

[Craiberk]

Originally posted by MEMPHIS:

you can get Lightsaber Finesse which uses your Dex mod for Attack Roll instead of Str

Yes indeed you can. In Kotor II - TSL.
There is no Lightsaber Finesse feat in Kotor I, so going Agi-heavy as a melee-fighter there is ultimately useless.

Interesting thing though - Lightsaber Finesse is also rather useless mid to late-game for male Exiles in Kotor II - TSL, as you can roll high-Wis consular, beat Brianna thrice and unlock that imba feat which adds your Wis bonus to your armor value. Combine that with items with bonuses to Wis and you turn into one virtually invincible jedi who can beat darth Sion and darth Traya by autoattacking and keeping Light Side Mastery or Force Valor, Froce Aura and Master Force Speed buffs and get no damage whatsoever.
Your armor value turns into 65+ unbuffed with good gear and the only way you can get damaged in this build is when an enemy npc rolls 20 on attack roll, gaining automatic hit. Combine that with your inherent high force attack/damage rolls and force resistance from high Wis, and you become truly unstoppable.

[SPK]

In fact, in kotor 1 lightsaber uses str or dex modifer, whichever is higher, just like you already have the lightsabe finesse feat. But this doesn't apply to melee weapons.

And light saber finesse is not usless in kotor 2. you can pump your dex just like wisdom. With weapon finess feats, dex offers attack bonus, reflex save and ac(armor), while wisdom offers spell dc, will save, ac and some extra fp. So you can get same amount of armor from either dex or wis. If you prefer melee you can go dex, if you prefer spell casting you can go wis.

[Jig McGalliger]

Use dexterity to increase your armor class. Jedis don't wear armor.

[Ska-boo]

You can just abuse AC by casting all the force powers before a battle starts and then taking on any armor - the buffs will stay in place. Though you won't be able to refresh it as you can't change armor during a fight, unless you manage to disengage into stealth mode. It also won't work in boss fights, that start immediately after long cutscenes.

[Jig McGalliger]

Originally posted by Ska-boo:

You can just abuse AC by casting all the force powers before a battle starts and then taking on any armor - the buffs will stay in place. Though you won't be able to refresh it as you can't change armor during a fight, unless you manage to disengage into stealth mode. It also won't work in boss fights, that start immediately after long cutscenes.

Yeah, i do that. When you use the item the timer starts ticking, it ticks even during chat session. The faster you go through the chat the longer the buff will last. Your first used buff will run out first.

[Craiberk]

Originally posted by SPK:

In fact, in kotor 1 lightsaber uses str or dex modifer, whichever is higher, just like you already have the lightsabe finesse feat. But this doesn't apply to melee weapons.

Really? I didn't know that! I might just roll a high dex scoundrel-tank as my next character.

Originally posted by SPK:

With weapon finess feats, dex offers attack bonus, reflex save and ac(armor).
If you prefer melee you can go dex, if you prefer spell casting you can go wis.

You get attack bonus, but not damage. High Str build with a slight addition of dex would be much more profitable for a melee fighter imo, as you get both attack and damage bonuses while retaining adequate armor value.
High Wis build on the other hand would allow you go high damage with low resistance from enemies and no misses, CC, AC and will rolls, all at the same time. Delicious!