AC vs HP on P99

[Mardur]

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

gonna post before someone posts that no longer plays and wants his 2cents in

Got me!

Thing is, I'm very familiar with the stock eqemu formulae, but it's very modified here.

I'm still assuming (also based on experience playing a warrior) that AC is super important. Hybrids also (should) have lower AC softcaps than warriors, although if it's anything like live it's hard to notice until Velious when item AC values become absolutely insane (like 80 AC on weapons and shit).

A simplified version of the stock code is that if your AC > mob's ATK then you are nearly invincible, but if your AC < mob's ATK you get raped. I'm assuming the p99 code is a bit more refined so that every mob you fight doesn't have some magic AC value you need to not get boned. But still, I'm assuming it's similar.

Unfortunately this doesn't help the question at all, but I'm just sharing some knowledge. On some servers that set mob ATK way higher than you could feasibly get your AC to, HP would be more useful.

In short, my methodology is to stack my AC as high as possible. But you just have to have good sense in choosing gear. For example, I'd much rather use a 5 AC 55 HP ring vs. a 10 AC ring. 110 HP is gonna absorb a hit or two, whereas I'm not sure if 10 raw AC would provide a similar benefit. Thankfully, Kunark class armor is very high in AC.

From experience, AC deficits are very noticeable. A tank who is a couple/few hundred AC behind an equal level tank is going to visibly take much more abuse, more so than any amount of HP gear currently available could make up for.

Just strike a good balance and be intelligent about gear choice. With only 2 expansions, there usually aren't a whole lot of options fortunately, which makes picking the better piece of gear easier.