In the original game different classes got different amounts of effect from worn AC. P1999 does not (and can not) use the original host so its combat works a little different. Different classes also have different AC caps and different levels of diminished returns overcap.
Beyond that, defense skill isn't the only thing affecting damage taken. Clerics might have the same defense, but they have a low dodge cap and don't get parry or riposte at all. Bards get those skills but capped very low. Tank classes also have large health pools and can soak damage spikes effectively, making them easier to keep healed and easier to achieve good mana efficiency from Complete Healing*. The hybrid tanks also reduce overall healing needed by keeping enemies' attention on them so the clothies and such don't take as many hits.
As a rule of thumb, only monks generally rival or exceed the overall damage reduction of the conventional tanks except for discipline-using Warriors, and Monks do it mostly via avoidance leaving them rather streaky, spike-prone, and with a low health pool making them sometimes a bit of a hassle from the healer's perspective. With high-end equipment monks can also compete in raw mitigation while maintaining their avoidance advantage, kind of breaking class balance. This was also true in the original game, because of which monks were later (notoriously) nerfed during the Luclin era.
*Healing a Paladin for 2500 is preferable to healing a Monk for 1800 even if the Monk takes 10% less damage, and is especially preferable when the healer doesn't have to heal the Mage at all because the Paladin has burst aggro and the Monk does not.
Danth
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