Can someone explain Bracers of Defense?

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I've checked in the manuals of BG, BG2 and IWD and all they say about bracers are they're thick bands of metal or leather strapped to the forearm. Real helpful... I even checked the AD&D FAQ at this site but couldn't find it there either.

Anyway, if say I've got Bracers of Defense AC 8, and place them on a fighter with AC 0 without them what does this do? Set the AC for defensive rolls to 8, or bring it down to -2, or what? Again I'm confused. Thanks.

 

Somebody will probably explain this better than me but here goes,

Bracers of defence act like armour - chain mail, leather, plate, etc. If you put on some plate mail your character's armour class becomes 3 (see page the index at the back of the manual). If your character puts bracers of defence 8, his AC becomes 8. The lower the AC the better. However there are two points to bear in mind.

The first is obvious - bracers go on the arms, armour is worn on the body. This makes bracers ideal for your mages who can't wear (most) armour.

The second is that the game only uses the best armour type it doesn't add them together. So if you are wearing plate (3) and bracers (8) the game sets your AC at 3 and ignores the 8.

You also need to allow for the AC bonus that your character gets when dexterity gets above 14 (again see the manual index). The easiest thing to do is try the bracers on all of the characters to see which one gets the most benefit from them (it'll probably be a mage). Later in the game you can get Bracers of class 3, which are very useful for the likes of Imoen, and Nalia.

Hope this makes some sense. have fun with the game.

 

Blackthorne, you're right. The difference is that you can use protection cloaks and rings w/ bracers, but not w/ magical armor. Also, the BG2 manual seems to indicate that magical armor gives a bonus to Saving Throws also, but in P&P D&D I thought that was only for protections cloaks and rings. Not to compund the issue though.

 

A Magical armor doesn't give you extra bonusses on your savind throws. Only special armors like Keldorn's and I believe Valigar's. But when this is so, it will be written in the decription.

 

Well Bracers of Defence AC 4 act like an armor witch armor class 4. (Chain) When you wear a chainmail, and then use the bracers of defence AC4 you don't get a lower AC because the barcers give prtoection, not a bonus.

 

Not to be contrary Punisher, but just so you know I wasn't blowing smoke.

BG2 Game Manual pg. 222 under heading magical armor. . . 'Furthermore, these armors grant some measure of protection against attacks that normal armors would not stop. Chain Mail +1, for instance, improves the chaacter's saving throw against the fiery breath of a dragon by 1. . . '