I would like some advice, as I am relatively new to the game. I am building a ranger character and I have the dilemma: choose scale mail armor and have 16AC but a disadvantage in stealth rolls (got a +5 prof there) or choose a leather armor which comes without disadvantage but leaves me with 14AC ?
The 2 pts AC difference equals a 10% higher damage avoidance rate, which is pretty significant particularly at low level. Disadvantage on stealth is somewhere between -3 to -5 to your stealth score on average.
I would ask if you are planning on being a melee oriented ranger or a bow oriented ranger. If you are planning on being in melee, the higher AC from medium armor will be beneficial since you'll be taking more hits. If you're planning on being at range, the lower AC won't be as big of a factor if you are maintaining your distance.
The second question would be about your idea about this ranger: is he stealthy or not? If so, go leather armor, if not go scale armor. Keep in mind that you can get medium armor that doesn't give disadvantage to stealth checks, so this only applies to low level stuff.
Keep in mind that medium armor caps the dex bonus at +2, so there is less incentive to go higher than 14 dex if that's your plan.
My general suggestions would be to give your melee ability (strength or dexterity)/ranged ability (dexterity if going archer) either your highest or second highest score. Give wisdom the other score, likely the second highest. Give constitution your third highest score. If you're using strength for your attacking ability, consider giving dexterity your 4th highest score (up to 14) and go medium armor. Otherwise, think about how strong/athletic you are compared to how intelligent you are versus how likeable you are. Whatever order those are in (or the same comparison just between smarts and natural charisma), apply your remaining scores.
It sounds like you are going high dex and likely ranged, so go leather armor if you want to be the scout of the party.
Whether you go Light or Medium, in the long run your non-magical AC would max out at 17(Studded Leather and a +5 from Dex, or Half-Plate and a +2 from Dex). The Light Armor is obviously cheaper, but it'll take longer to reach your maximum AC. My first inkling would be to take the Scale Mail and sell it quickly for Studded Leather. However, there is an alternative. You could take the Medium Armor Master feat, and you'd not only lose the penalty to Stealth, but you'd get +3 from Dex instead of the +2 limit. Is it worth burning a feat for? Probably not, I doubt I'd even consider it unless I took MAM at Lvl1 as a Variant Human. But it's an option, and it would make more magic armor choices viable for you down the road. *shrug* something to consider, especially if you're looking to be a bit nontraditional.
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Hello all,
I would like some advice, as I am relatively new to the game. I am building a ranger character and I have the dilemma: choose scale mail armor and have 16AC but a disadvantage in stealth rolls (got a +5 prof there) or choose a leather armor which comes without disadvantage but leaves me with 14AC ?
Thank you in advance!
The 2 pts AC difference equals a 10% higher damage avoidance rate, which is pretty significant particularly at low level. Disadvantage on stealth is somewhere between -3 to -5 to your stealth score on average.
I would ask if you are planning on being a melee oriented ranger or a bow oriented ranger. If you are planning on being in melee, the higher AC from medium armor will be beneficial since you'll be taking more hits. If you're planning on being at range, the lower AC won't be as big of a factor if you are maintaining your distance.
The second question would be about your idea about this ranger: is he stealthy or not? If so, go leather armor, if not go scale armor. Keep in mind that you can get medium armor that doesn't give disadvantage to stealth checks, so this only applies to low level stuff.
Keep in mind that medium armor caps the dex bonus at +2, so there is less incentive to go higher than 14 dex if that's your plan.
My general suggestions would be to give your melee ability (strength or dexterity)/ranged ability (dexterity if going archer) either your highest or second highest score. Give wisdom the other score, likely the second highest. Give constitution your third highest score. If you're using strength for your attacking ability, consider giving dexterity your 4th highest score (up to 14) and go medium armor. Otherwise, think about how strong/athletic you are compared to how intelligent you are versus how likeable you are. Whatever order those are in (or the same comparison just between smarts and natural charisma), apply your remaining scores.
It sounds like you are going high dex and likely ranged, so go leather armor if you want to be the scout of the party.
Sounds like you have three choices:
Whether you go Light or Medium, in the long run your non-magical AC would max out at 17(Studded Leather and a +5 from Dex, or Half-Plate and a +2 from Dex). The Light Armor is obviously cheaper, but it'll take longer to reach your maximum AC. My first inkling would be to take the Scale Mail and sell it quickly for Studded Leather. However, there is an alternative. You could take the Medium Armor Master feat, and you'd not only lose the penalty to Stealth, but you'd get +3 from Dex instead of the +2 limit. Is it worth burning a feat for? Probably not, I doubt I'd even consider it unless I took MAM at Lvl1 as a Variant Human. But it's an option, and it would make more magic armor choices viable for you down the road. *shrug* something to consider, especially if you're looking to be a bit nontraditional.