Druid: Robes or Armor?

[Bakchuda]

I've been pondering this back and forth a couple times. Just wondering what some other high-level Druids (with a splash of Monk, that is) do for eq. Since robes are in such constant high demand, do you bother with trying for the extra 20+ ac from your wisdom modifier? Or go with the immunities from plate and a shield?

[thedomicron]

wearing armor and shield gives you (if you're a large character) 24 to ac so i think most go that route

IF, however there were some great offhand weapon you wanted to use then armor might be a better option

[Ironfang]

bakchuda said:

I've been pondering this back and forth a couple times. Just wondering what some other high-level Druids (with a splash of Monk, that is) do for eq. Since robes are in such constant high demand, do you bother with trying for the extra 20+ ac from your wisdom modifier? Or go with the immunities from plate and a shield?

I have one level 60 Druid and am now working on the Half-Celestial remake of it now. I wear the Heavy Armor and Shield until level 50 when I can wear Hawklights, it isn't until about that time when your Wisdom gets high enough to give you a greater armor class anyways.

Even with the higher AC on Desert Runs I would use the Implosion Immune Armor anyways. Most other runs I wear robes for higher AC and improved Premonition.

However there are some really nice Shields and Armors that provide Immunities in the right situation. It is nice to have the option.

As for equipping it, as you know there are items which give you this feat. One is a Druid Staff which also grants some ability bonuses and spell slots. Good to use up to Dachy.

[Yomi]

thedomicron said:

wearing armor and shield gives you (if you're a large character) 24 to ac so i think most go that route

Wearing Penumbrium plate or any of the beholder or UR plates will be 8 + 18 + 1 (dex). Pentavite Shield is +19, most others would be +15-16. That's 42 to 46 AC. If you could get thid tagged quickly you could have the full 46 very soon after immo.

Going robes, assuming UR robes, would be 0 + 14 + DEX + WIS. I'll assume you took 8 dex and have it maxed for 5. Wisdom usually isn't as high on a druid as a cleric, but let's assume you end at 64 at level 60. That's 46.

So, they seem to be pretty close at level 60. I think the full plate route gets you the top AC much quicker. It also can give you things like implosion immunity, 100% electric, an extra 15-20% physical damage immunity, stats, exotics, other elemental coverage, and so on. My cleric who uses robes takes far more damage in desert than the one using full plate and shield.

In the Hells you have the problem of getting your armor slagged as well as some nice torch options to help with immunities. It looked to me like more of them were choosing the robes route.

[Bakchuda]

ironfang brings up another point, Premonition. That was something I forgot to mention in my first post. How much benefit does it make? Anyone have good results with it in LL areas? This question would not be specific to Druid, of course.