Best Way to Lower AC on Mages?

[Albromor]

Within my party I have a Gnome cleric/illustionist and an Elven fighter/mage. I don't plan on equiping either in metal armor because one, my elf is my main mage. I need to get to his spells A.S.A.P. when needed. I use his fighter ability as well as natural ability with a bow for missle melee. The gnome is backup with both my mage and my human cleric. Right now I am about to enter the Vale of Shawdows and their AC's are terrible. What is out there that will help in this area of play? Any suggestions at this point? WWhat should I be looking for by way of mage items? Thanks.

[marco]

your best bet is to find any bracers of defense ( won't be that much help though. the best is to lower is to AC 6), any rings of protect, cloaks, etc.... also make sure you have your armour/shield spells running. At this level there is not that much you can do, as you get higher and higher it will get better. once you get to the HOW expansion and the free expansion, you can get your mage to -1 or better.

------------------
there are 10 thunders, the 7th thunder is of man!

[This message has been edited by marco (edited 07-18-2001).]

[Axterix]

Well, suggestion number 1 is this: use the space bar. Pauses the game, take off the metal armor, set up the spell to cast, press space again to resume the game.

However, if you consider this cheesy (personally, I prefer the going to inventory unpauses game from BG), then you'll need items. And so what to do? Well, step number one is to make sure both have shields. Good shields will make a nice difference in their AC. The best ones in the game are AC 3 or 4. Second is rings/cloaks of protection. This will serve you nicely until you get better armor, which won't allow you to wear the rings/cloaks anymore. As Marco says, bracers of defense are good early on as well. Next, weapon choice. Weapons of Defense, preferably 1 handed ones. The most common are morningstars, but others exist as well. These can give a nice 1 or 2 AC bonus to AC. And if you have HoW and either of these guys are good aligned, the shimmering sash can be bought in Kuldahar.

In time, the solution will come from robes and getting lucky with the 2 pieces of elven chain in the game. At AC 3... elven chain is what you really want. And, of course, mirror images and stoneskin (only 1 copy of SS in the game though) will help later on... you may have higher AC, but the defensive spells will help to balance that. Don't forget blur... a 3 AC bonus.

Another thing to consider is careful scouting... if you know what is coming, you'll know when you need your mage spells. When you don't think you need them, suit up in metal armor... or at least one of the two in metal armor. Also, build up the elf's skill with axes (and maybe daggers if you have HoW). Both these categories have returning throwing weapons. No ammo problems

[Leafy]

this early in the game; you won;t find bracers until you enter the tomb to the north east. It's still early, so save up for a robe of enfusing for someone. eventually you'll find robes. make sure each of your multi-classed mages has a helmet and a large shield (better for missle deflection). the cleric mage can wear some platemail and still cast clerical spells; then you could take off the armor when you need mage spells?
BTW, if you're jonesing for another Magic Missle spell, you can kill Weenog for one