AC/HP question (Ranger)
 

Does anyone know if there's a thread already or if there is a good resource about how AC mitigates dmg and subsequent hp loss?

For instance I am wondering if I was to switch out items with HPs for AC, such as an item with 55 hp for an item that doesn't have any hp on it, how much more AC would that item need for it to be worth it? One example below

https://wiki.project1999.com/Chokidai_Hide_Pauldrons

vs.

https://wiki.project1999.com/Imbued_Granite_Spauldors

For context this would be gearing up a ranger to solo/face tank with. TIA

AC only works if you have HP left.

Clearly not a purple club member.

The difference being 15 AC..

That's like a level 34 Cleric buff.

I'm too lazy to do the math on how much HP you'd get out of the spaulders.

But they're more expensive....so they must be better?

Come to me for more horrible advice.

AC does not work on rangers.

At all. Past about 120-130 worn AC the stat does zero, not a thing.

Source: I have two 60 rangers and have parsed extensively between 900 and 1350ish AC displayed.

This is unique to rangers.

Hard cap on worn with 0 return post cap?

Sounds like hp is more practical. That's what I was originally going for but then started to look into armorclass.

So a 900 ac / 2500 hp ranger would theoretically be better than a 1100 ac / 2000 hp ranger?

Is that classic or a "feature" of p99?

Ranger isn't going to tank anything 50+ well, especially Velious era. A BIS 60 Ranger *might* be able to tank open world Kunark dragons with the right healers. Otherwise, your best bet is speed bumping and praying your next tank can rip threat off you by the time Weapon Shield is done.

That being said, HP > AC. Don't know much about whether it's ineffective past a certain threshold, but I wouldn't count on any kind of AC changing a flurry proc from quadding 900s to 700s.

This. I used to build my rangers with oodles of AC but it never made a bit of difference (except equipping a shield), I'd just get max hit after max hit 50+ because of the low defense/dodge/parry/riposte caps.

Balance-wise, rangers should be as sturdy as monks, who should be significantly less sturdy than warriors, who should be slightly less sturdy than knights (who don't do any damage and can literally only fucking tank).