I as a spellcaster, cast Mage Armor on the party barbarian and assume they can still use the unarmored defense attribute but now it is based on a 13 unarmored base # vice 10 unarmored base #.
An Armor Class (AC) is the target number for an attack roll. AC represents how difficult it is to hit a target.
Your base AC calculation is 10 plus your Dexterity modifier. If a rule gives you another base AC calculation, you choose which calculation to use; you can’t use more than one.See also “Attack Roll.”
Some spells and class features give you a different way to calculate your AC. If you have multiple features that give you different ways to calculate your AC, you choose which one to use.
An Armor Class (AC) is the target number for an attack roll. AC represents how difficult it is to hit a target.
Your base AC calculation is 10 plus your Dexterity modifier. If a rule gives you another base AC calculation, you choose which calculation to use; you can’t use more than one.See also “Attack Roll.”
Some spells and class features give you a different way to calculate your AC. If you have multiple features that give you different ways to calculate your AC, you choose which one to use.
Sorry but that does not appear to answer the question. I am using the 2024 rules.
I don't have the ability to cut and paste from a book. The 2024 PHB says if you have no armor you base is now 13 and you can add your dex bonus. The Barbarian attribute states you have your unarmoured base so that would be 13 per the spell, + dex (like teh spell but do not double count it + con.
I don't have the ability to cut and paste from a book. The 2024 PHB says if you have no armor you base is now 13 and you can add your dex bonus. The Barbarian attribute states you have your unarmoured base so that would be 13 per the spell, + dex (like teh spell but do not double count it + con.
That's not how it works
Unarmored Defense
While you aren’t wearing any armor, your base Armor Class equals 10 plus your Dexterity and Constitution modifiers. You can use a Shield and still gain this benefit.
Mage Armor
Until the spell ends, the target’s base AC becomes 13 plus its Dexterity modifier. The spell ends early if the target dons armor.
You can use one calculation or the other to determine your base AC. Mage Armor doesn't change the 10 in Unarmored Defense's calculation to a 13
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Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
I provided both the relevant rules from the 2024 version, and the 2014 version. In the 2024 rules, Barbarian's Unarmored Defense Class Feature reads like this:
Level 1: Unarmored Defense
While you aren’t wearing any armor, your base Armor Class equals 10 plus your Dexterity and Constitution modifiers. You can use a Shield and still gain this benefit.
And the Mage Armor Spell description reads like this:
You touch a willing creature who isn’t wearing armor. Until the spell ends, the target’s base ACbecomes 13 plus its Dexterity modifier. The spell ends early if the target dons armor.
As such, both Unarmored Defense and Mage Armor fall under the "Armor Class" rules from the 2024 PHB's Glossary; they are two different ways to calculate your Base AC, as listed in my first response. You cannot use both on the same character, rules as written. The Barbarian with Mage Armor cast on him gets to pick one of them to be in effect.
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🎵I'm on top of the world, looking down on creation, wreaking death and devastation with my mind.
As the power that I've found erupts freely from the ground, I will cackle from the top of the world.🎵
if you are using mage armor on a willing ally, I would assume normal rules for mage amor. 8hrs of bring a bit harder to hit. that being said, it would be WAY better min/max wise to have a +2 in dex and wear medium armor. nets you a 16AC without a shield and doesn't cost you as many points (assuming point buy for ease of calc) allowing you to diversify your stats.
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I as a spellcaster, cast Mage Armor on the party barbarian and assume they can still use the unarmored defense attribute but now it is based on a 13 unarmored base # vice 10 unarmored base #.
Is that true?
Mage Armor and Unarmored Defense provide two different methods of calculating Base Armor Class; you pick one or the other, they don't stack.
From the 2024 Free Rules Glossary, "Armor Class"
From the 2014 Basic Rules, Armor Class:
🎵I'm on top of the world, looking down on creation, wreaking death and devastation with my mind.
As the power that I've found erupts freely from the ground, I will cackle from the top of the world.🎵
Charisma Saving Throw: DC 18, Failure: 20d6 Psychic Damage, Success: Half damage
Sorry but that does not appear to answer the question. I am using the 2024 rules.
I don't have the ability to cut and paste from a book. The 2024 PHB says if you have no armor you base is now 13 and you can add your dex bonus. The Barbarian attribute states you have your unarmoured base so that would be 13 per the spell, + dex (like teh spell but do not double count it + con.
That's not how it works
Unarmored Defense
Mage Armor
You can use one calculation or the other to determine your base AC. Mage Armor doesn't change the 10 in Unarmored Defense's calculation to a 13
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
I provided both the relevant rules from the 2024 version, and the 2014 version. In the 2024 rules, Barbarian's Unarmored Defense Class Feature reads like this:
And the Mage Armor Spell description reads like this:
As such, both Unarmored Defense and Mage Armor fall under the "Armor Class" rules from the 2024 PHB's Glossary; they are two different ways to calculate your Base AC, as listed in my first response. You cannot use both on the same character, rules as written. The Barbarian with Mage Armor cast on him gets to pick one of them to be in effect.
🎵I'm on top of the world, looking down on creation, wreaking death and devastation with my mind.
As the power that I've found erupts freely from the ground, I will cackle from the top of the world.🎵
Charisma Saving Throw: DC 18, Failure: 20d6 Psychic Damage, Success: Half damage
if you are using mage armor on a willing ally, I would assume normal rules for mage amor. 8hrs of bring a bit harder to hit. that being said, it would be WAY better min/max wise to have a +2 in dex and wear medium armor. nets you a 16AC without a shield and doesn't cost you as many points (assuming point buy for ease of calc) allowing you to diversify your stats.