Returning player, need help spending my budget - Page 2

Samoht · #1 10-20-2016, 02:33 PM

Cobalt boots.

Sage Truthbearer · #2 10-21-2016, 01:06 PM

On live, there was an AC hardcap and it was in fact based on your level.

During Velious, it was changed to a softcap and no longer based on your level.

Here is a quote from an original EQ developer that worked on core mechanics (Kavhok):

Quote:

Your AC cap was lowered. That was absolutely and unequivocally a nerf. I didn't mean in any way to imply otherwise.

Let me give a more full explanation of what happened, though. Here's how the AC formula used to work before the patch immediately preceding PoP:

The AC from your items was added up, but the value used for it was hard capped based on your level. This was the same for all classes. Once you had 289 raw AC from items (or 385 as a cloth class, since they get less effect from item AC), that was it. More AC from items wouldn't do anything.

After this, it added your class bonuses (including the monk bonus, which is equivalent to your level + 5 in raw item AC), defense skill bonus, agility bonus, and the AC from spell buffs.

Total AC at this point was capped again, this time based on class. In the Kunark-era code, this was a hard cap, but sometime during Velious it was changed to a soft cap for melee classes only. The return was fairly small, though.

Jimjam · #3 10-20-2016, 02:42 PM

Don't worry too much about proc/aggro weapons. Get a group member to root the mob and stand on it's toes. Fast DPS weapons more consistent aggro and better dps.

Cobalt boots is a good call; magic, nice AC, Str clicky if you need it (self only).

Naethyn · #4 10-20-2016, 11:49 PM

AC soft cap is a myth. Real AC is a calculated value based on a percentage for each class, but it has nothing to do with levels.

Yuuvy The Destroyer · #5 10-20-2016, 11:53 PM

There certainly was an ac soft cap on live.
Assuming there is one here as well

Naethyn · #6 10-20-2016, 11:59 PM

On live the formula was this:

RealAC = SoftCap + Shield + IksarAC + [ WornAC - (SoftCap + Shield) ]*OvercapReturn

Overcap Returns:
Warrior: 0.45
SK/Pal/Monk: 0.33
Rang: 0.17

The thing is soft cap still had absolutely nothing to do with levels. AA's are the only modifier outside class type that changed it. But here, it doesn't seem to exist. Load up a level 10 alt with a ton of AC and you won't see any max hits and mostly misses until late 20's.

Jimjam · #7 10-21-2016, 11:45 PM

The interesting thing about that quote is it implies there are class bonuses other than the monk bonus...

The only other two class bonuses I know of are beast lord and rogue, which get 16 and 12 AC for having their agility at 100, but I only read about them way, way after classic so assumed rogue got added in later, but maybe it was in from the start? That's what the quote seems to imply...