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sunder · 06-17-2001, 04:15 PM

10 AC is the highest armor class, which is a normal human with no abilities. A farmer maybe. You can be basically be hit by almost everything.
The more armor you wear, or with better dexterity, your Armor class goes down to 0, which is about average for a regular warrior. (thats 10 armor class points difference)
A regular warrior wearing platemail, shield, and ok dexterity will be down to about AC 0. This armor class is what THACO (to hit rolls) are based on. Chance to hit armor class 0 (THACO).
Better armored warriors start getting into negative armor classes, such as -3, -4. The lower the number the more armor you have. -10 AC is incredible low you won't get hit by much. -10 AC is a whole 20 points of armor class better than the farmer at 10 AC.
10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1, 0 -1,-2,-3,-4,-5,-6,-7,-8,-9,-10

So bracers AC 8 are only a little better than a farmer, while bracers AC 3 are about as good as a warrior in platemail.
Some classes can use bracers of AC better than others. A mage for instance can't wear normal armor (like platemail) so if they wear bracers AC3 it helps them out alot. A warrior could wear the bracers, but if they can wear full platemail AC 1, its better than the bracers, so they would wear the full platemail.
Plus you can adjust your items depending on what you want. Lets say your mage has Bracers AC 3.. He finds a magic robe he can wear which gives AC 5 (not as good) BUT the robe gives him other magical abilities, like +1 on saving throws, or 10 percent magic resistance. The mage might say, well my Armor class won't be as low, but ill get better abilities, so ill wear the robe. PLUS, then the mage can wear some other type of bracers or gloves, maybe gloves of dexterity (which raise his dexterity to 18).
Thats the fun part of Baldur's gate, figuring out which items go best with your character. You will find yourself changing clothes and armor alot in the game testing out different things.

06-17-2001, 04:15 PM	#7
sunder Zhentarim Guard Join Date: May 29, 2001 Location: harwood, md. Posts: 381	10 AC is the highest armor class, which is a normal human with no abilities. A farmer maybe. You can be basically be hit by almost everything. The more armor you wear, or with better dexterity, your Armor class goes down to 0, which is about average for a regular warrior. (thats 10 armor class points difference) A regular warrior wearing platemail, shield, and ok dexterity will be down to about AC 0. This armor class is what THACO (to hit rolls) are based on. Chance to hit armor class 0 (THACO). Better armored warriors start getting into negative armor classes, such as -3, -4. The lower the number the more armor you have. -10 AC is incredible low you won't get hit by much. -10 AC is a whole 20 points of armor class better than the farmer at 10 AC. 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1, 0 -1,-2,-3,-4,-5,-6,-7,-8,-9,-10 So bracers AC 8 are only a little better than a farmer, while bracers AC 3 are about as good as a warrior in platemail. Some classes can use bracers of AC better than others. A mage for instance can't wear normal armor (like platemail) so if they wear bracers AC3 it helps them out alot. A warrior could wear the bracers, but if they can wear full platemail AC 1, its better than the bracers, so they would wear the full platemail. Plus you can adjust your items depending on what you want. Lets say your mage has Bracers AC 3.. He finds a magic robe he can wear which gives AC 5 (not as good) BUT the robe gives him other magical abilities, like +1 on saving throws, or 10 percent magic resistance. The mage might say, well my Armor class won't be as low, but ill get better abilities, so ill wear the robe. PLUS, then the mage can wear some other type of bracers or gloves, maybe gloves of dexterity (which raise his dexterity to 18). Thats the fun part of Baldur's gate, figuring out which items go best with your character. You will find yourself changing clothes and armor alot in the game testing out different things.