Good morning everyone. Today I bring you a topic that can be somewhat controversial. I must clarify first that I am an experienced roll player.

Recently reading UA I reviewed the Paladin (Oath of Redemption) and it occurred to me to combine it with a barbarian in multiclasses.

I asked the DM if I could combine Unarmored Defense and Armor of Peace but he wasn't sure if he could or not. Since there is no rule that doesn't allow me to do it, and some players didn't like my idea. Some players simply told me that it can't be done because not. but they don't really have a valid argument for you to avoid combining the skills.

The Paladin (Oath of Redemption) UA changes my base AC to 16 + DEX

(taking into account that DEX is an attribute that provides AC to all characters globally, regardless of whether they have skills or not, by the simple fact of being able to move, everyone gains their DEX MOD to their base AC. So the skill that is really wins armor of peace is the base of 16).

It is assumed that each character adds their DEX MOD to their base AC, in every manual where the AC of the PCs is discussed, Base+DEX is placed to avoid confusion about the calculation of AC in the players, especially for all new players.

barbarian class
Now in the case of the Barbarian he has an unarmed defense ability, that is AC = (base) + DEX + CON. Now considering that each character's base is the same (unless modified in some way) and the DEX is a property that all characters possess, the unarmed defense barbarian's ability really only gains +CON MOD for the AC.

It is assumed that the barbarian's unarmed defense gains +CON MOD due to the toughness of his skin and body that have managed to resist blows and damage.

In another case, the Paladin (Oath of Redemption) UA obtains base AC 16 from Armor of Peace due to the divine power that covers it like an aura, taking into account that each skill has its restrictions.

There is a D&D rule that says that if a PC has two bonuses that modify a number at the same time, he takes the higher one if he wants. as in the case of the mage armor spell which changes his base AC to 13 and Armor of Peace which his base AC is 16 the player decides which base to use, regardless of his DEX. since it is a general attribute that will modify your AC

In this way I came to the conclusion that this combination of skills the final AC would be: (base choosing the highest of course) + DEX (global attribute) + CON (property of unarmed defense).

AC (BASE 16) + DEX + CON

This PC has a lot of restrictions because it cannot use armor or a shield, this limits the item slots it can use, additionally it will not have available in the future the magical abilities that these item slots could offer, so the Oath of Redemption Nor can he act freely since he is limited to using violence as a last resort and must always bring peace above all things inside and outside the party.

I would like you to give your opinion about this. I only ask that your answers be rational and logical, to avoid people who only answer: (not because not) this led me to bring you this post.

luck.

-An adventurer...

You are incorrect. There's not really such a thing as a "base" AC. The one feature says "your AC equals yada yada." The other feature says "your AC equals yada yada." They both change the exact same thing--your AC. They can't overlap because neither of them add to the AC calculation, but instead they both replace the AC calculation entirely. You can't replace one thing with two things and assume that their respective differences with the thing you're replacing combine.

yup, if the rule said you can add wisdom to you AC, you could do it, or if it said you can add 2 to your AC. But they both are setting the AC to two different numbers. you csn only choose one.

Quote from Quar1on >>

You are incorrect. There's not really such a thing as a "base" AC. The one feature says "your AC equals yada yada." The other feature says "your AC equals yada yada." They both change the exact same thing--your AC. They can't overlap because neither of them add to the AC calculation, but instead they both replace the AC calculation entirely. You can't replace one thing with two things and assume that their respective differences with the thing you're replacing combine.

 This is the answer.  You may only use one method of armor calculation at a time, and may not mix and match features of multiple armor calculation methods.  

Quote from _Vampy_>>

 

The Paladin (Oath of Redemption) UA changes my base AC to 16 + DEX

Are you talking about the OLD UA documents (more than a year old, that predate the formal publication of the Oath of Redemption in Xanthar's Guide to Everything)?  Because the Xanthar version dosen't have an AC bonus, and for any playtest material, the formal printed version completely obsoletes the playtest UA versions.

Or are you talking about current UA documents (One D&D preview/play-test)?  Because as far as I'm aware, those don't contain an updated version of the Oath of Redemption.

barbarian class
Now in the case of the Barbarian he has an unarmed defense ability, that is AC = (base) + DEX + CON.

That is not the AC calculation given for the Barbarian's Unarmored Defense.
That AC calculation is:  AC = 10 + DexMod + ConMod

There is no AC calculation in the game, that I am aware of, that references "base".  AC is either a calculation that starts with a fixed number (10, 13, etc.), and might add modifiers ... or it is a bonus that makes no reference to a base.  Unarmored Defense (both for the Monk and the Barbarian) is not a bonus, it's a calculation.

 -----

So, the resolution to this is kind of two fold:
1- the current Oath of Redemption rules don't create a conflict here, because they don't have an AC calculation nor bonus, at all.
2- Even if they did have the calculation you put forward, you would pick ONE calculation OR the other.  So you would either have:

AC = 16 + DexMod
OR
AC = 10 + DexMod + ConMod

Not both, not some combination of the two.  One calculation or the other.

But like I said, it doesn't matter because the "AC = 16 + DexMod" calculation is completely obsoleted by the final publication of that subclass.  Basically, that calculation doesn't exist.

Yep, sorry. All of the above are correct. It's a question that comes up quite often. I even had this very same question when I first started. But only one AC calculation at a time.

And to add  to this, according to the Multiclassing rules, if you MC Barbarian and Monk you don't even get to choose. It automatically uses the class that you start as at level 1. If you start Monk it will forever be 10+DEXmod+WISmod. Vice versa for if you start Barbarian.

From the MC rules:

Unarmored Defense

If you already have the Unarmored Defense feature, you can’t gain it again from another class.

Quar1on has already neatly answered this one, but when it comes to AC, there are only two things which are AC calculations and AC bonuses, you can have multiple AC bonuses but only one AC calculation.

For example a Paladin wearing Chain mail can don a shield and cast the shield of faith spell, the AC calculation for chain mail is 16, the shield gives an AC bonus of +2 and the shield of faith spell gives an AC bonus of +2, so the Paladin would have 16+2+2 AC.

Now if this same paladin then multi-classed into sorcerer and took Dragonic Bloodline, they can not benefit from Dragonic Ancestry at the same time as they benefit from Chain mail (this is actually explicitly stated in Dragonic Ancestry anyway), where Dragonic Ancestry gives 13+Dexterity Modifier AC and also works with shield and shield of faith.

Some AC calculations also prohibit certain things, for example a Monk can not benefit from their unarmored defence while using a shield.

So there is no base AC persay, there is a default, which is for a character not using armour or shield

Without armor or a shield, your character’s AC equals 10 + his or her Dexterity modifier. If your character wears armor, carries a shield, or both, calculate your AC using the rules in chapter 5. Record your AC on your character sheet.

Oddly, this directs characters using a shield to get their AC from chapter 5, but this is odd because a shield only supplies +2 AC, it does not supply a calculation.... that oddity aside, the same section states

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.

Your best bet is to create the character in DnD Beyond and see what it does. It the im guessing it will choose one or the other but its worth a shot. 

Quote from JAS0NBR00KS >>

Your best bet is to create the character in DnD Beyond and see what it does. It the im guessing it will choose one or the other but its worth a shot. 

 There are still a few things out there that DDB character builder does not comply with the actual rules. So using this as a basis may not help much. I think responses have already answered the question