armour value vs. dodge chance?

[bustersbiz]

Does anyone know how these work? I just found a fullerite plate metal piece but I only get +1 to armour vs. -4 to dodge. Which is better. More higher AV or DV? Thanks.

[Mehukannu]

You only got +1 armor because your previous armour had one less AV and way more penalty to DV.

As for which one is better, well the general concensus in the forums seems to fall torwards DV hands down, because it can be futher boosted by increasing your agility. Unlike AV which is heavily limited on what equipment you get.
Plus agility and high DV works extremely well with short blades, since you get extra penetration (extra damage essentially) from the agility after getting Jab and become harder to kill both at the same time. Sadly there is no such interaction between AV, strength or the different weapon trees.

[bustersbiz]

Thanks. That's kind of what I thought. Iv'e been building dex based short blade/dual wield mutants w/fire hands but I got 2 shotted by some turret and suddenly more AV seemed a good idea. Was just wondering if at a certain point high AV becomes a must.

[Mehukannu]

You are welcome.
High AV is in no way required nor it is all that beneficial since it is way easier to raise your DV to over 20 or so at which point you'll be able to dodge most things without problems. Though when you get hit you will still get really, really hurt due to not having that much AV to prevent multiple penetrations from enemy attacks. But that usually isn't a huge problem once you get some HP.