AC softcap and low level hardcap discussion

[DeathsSilkyMist]

Originally Posted by Goregasmic [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

From the haynar post you linked:

"At low levels the softcap is more level based than defense based. I basically doubled transition so at low levels ac means more.

I added a low level raw ac cap of level * 6 + 25."

I understand it as a worn AC softcap but it is ambiguous.




Unless I'm misunderstanding something a softcap would mean that you get less return every AC point but still get something past the softcap, until you bottom out max hits or run out of AC. You get literally no improvement from additional AC past 45. That looks like a hardcap to me. Only way to go beyond is a shield but the 55ac shielded parse doesn't prove there's a hardcap, it shows you bottomed out max hits at 0. It is probable that 55ac is where max hits bottom out though.

Haynar was adamant there is no hardcap so you should always get some return from AC after you reached softcap but that's not what we're seeing.

1. Haynar says "raw ac cap" for the level * 6 + 25 formula, not "softcap" or "hardcap". Since he said both "softcap" and "hardcap" in the same post, I would be suprised if he decided to use "raw ac cap" to mean "softcap" or "hardcap". The specific wording indicates a clamp on worn AC.

2. Haynar also confirms there is a softcap in that post, even at low levels, so we know a softcap exists. He also told us shields increase the softcap, so that should be testable.

3. When Haynar is talking about not having a hardcap, he is referring to an Eashen raid from my understanding. The worn AC clamp is specified for "low levels". This means Haynar is correct that a bunch of level 60s in a raid are not clamped on AC or hardcapped.

4. I'll show some examples of how a softcap works, and how a worn AC clamp will affect it:

A. There is a 45 AC softcap, 20% diminishing returns after the softcap, and no worn AC clamp. The player has 400 worn AC, and no shield. 45 Uncapped AC + 355 softcapped AC * 0.2 diminishing returns = 116 worn AC that is used in combat.

B. There is a 45 AC softcap, 20% diminishing returns after the softcap, and a 55 worn AC clamp. The player has 400 worn AC, and no shield. First the 400 worn AC gets clamped to 55. 45 Uncapped AC + 10 softcapped AC * 0.2 = 47 worn AC that is used in combat.

C. There is a 45 AC softcap, 20% diminishing returns after the softcap, and a 55 worn AC clamp. The player has 400 worn AC, and 12 of that AC is from the shield. First the 400 worn AC gets clamped to 55. Then the softcap gets increased. We don't know how much a shield increases softcap but lets say the softcap goes up by 5. 50 Uncapped AC + 5 softcapped AC * 0.2 = 51 worn AC that is used in combat.

My data reflects these examples, and it is consistent with what Haynar said.

I will start using the wording "worn AC clamp" instead of hardcap. I think this might be the disconnect. A hardcap would imply that the AC is capped after the softcap is applied. A "worn AC clamp" would clamp the worn AC first. There is a bit of nuance there, but I think that is the confusion. This is why he said "raw ac cap" instead of softcap or hardcap. If there was a 55 AC hardcap, you could still get to 55 AC with enough softcapped AC. At 20% returns a person with 95+ AC would hit 55 AC.