So it recently has been brought to my attention that Mage armor does not provide a good buff for Tanks, because apperantly the Mage Armor bonus should not stack with the AC of the Fighter.
Is that correct?
It comes of weird to me because basically every class in Pathfinder uses armor..
Yes and then some. Armor bonus does not stack regardless of class. Mage armor provides +4 armor bonus which would not be added if fighter is wearing say studded leather for instance. However if a fighter is using a shield only then marge armor would stack as that provides a shield bonus and not an armor bonus. Remember look at the type.
It's not for Tanks, it's for sorcerers, Wizards, etc that want protection without wearing real armor.
Since mage armor provides an Armor Bonus, it does not stack with a Chain Shirt that also provides an Armor Bonus.
This is correct. The mage armor spell provides an armor bonus to AC. So does all the equipment listed as armor, such as a breastplate, chain mail, full plate, etc. As such, these bonuses do not stack. The one benefit of note for the mage armor spell is that it is effective against the attacks of incorporeal opponents, e.g. shadows. At lower levels, mage armor can provide passable AC if for some reason your armor is stolen or missing or something, but such scenarios tend to be rare. Best to remember that mage armor is the name of a spell, and is not a piece of equipment like the previously mentioned items. 'Tis a common idea I see, admittedly.
The original goal of Mage armor is as it's name implies: An armor for mages
However, it CAN be put on a Monk, since they cannot wear armor, but are expected to keep a high AC
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Mage Armor provides an AC bonus the same as armor. Since bonuses of the same type don't stack, Mage Armor doesn't help most fighters who are already wearing armor.
However, if the fighter is wearing armor with an AC bonus total (armor + enhancement) of less than 4, Mage Armor can improve his bonus up to 4. So a Fighter wearing leather armor (AC +2) gains 2 AC (Mage Armor AC +4) when mage armor is cast on him.
Its great for monks.
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Eventually even wizards don't use it as they can get enchanted hamarki. But for low-mid levels it's great for wizards/monks. (In PFS I wouldn't bother with armor for either. And monks should get either a wand of mage armor or a pearl of power to get a wizard to cast it on them; far cheaper than bracers of armor.)
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I've always thought that Mage Armor should scale with level. Maybe start off at +2 instead of +4, then grow at +1 per 2 spellcaster levels. This means that at low levels, it gets nerfed, but it also stays relevant at higher levels. Same goes for Shield, for that matter (though at a lower scaling; say, 1/3 caster level).
I've always thought that Mage Armor should scale with level. Maybe start off at +2 instead of +4, then grow at +1 per 2 spellcaster levels. This means that at low levels, it gets nerfed, but it also stays relevant at higher levels. Same goes for Shield, for that matter (though at a lower scaling; say, 1/3 caster level).
I like the idea of it scaling, but 1/2lvls seems like too much. Maybe keep it as it, but add +1 per 5 caster levels.
Are there any feats that'll increase the numeric value of mage armor?
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I've always thought that Mage Armor should scale with level. Maybe start off at +2 instead of +4, then grow at +1 per 2 spellcaster levels. This means that at low levels, it gets nerfed, but it also stays relevant at higher levels. Same goes for Shield, for that matter (though at a lower scaling; say, 1/3 caster level).
They had a Greater Mage Armor in 3.5. It was OP.
It's a WBL advantage to wizards/sorcerors as it means they never have to spend gold on armor. One they don't need.
For one thing - at low levels the level 1 spell for mage armor/shield is a significant resource to spend. By 6 it's insignificant. Frankly - the fact that any spells scale is (besides save vs death and a few other crazy spells) the main reason for the Martial/Caster gap.
Without it, spellcasters would need to use among their higher level spells to be effective in combat (giving a real limit to their power per day), their lower spells mostly falling by the wayside to utility/long term buff slots.
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Also useful for those who don't want to be seen to be wearing armour.
Wearing armour implies that you expect to be in combat, which may raise suspicions.
Armour is expensive for non-adventurers, so wearing it may mark you out.
Armour has an ACP (usually), and may be difficult to sleep in.
Plenty of reasons for mage armour.
wow so many responses ^^
It was just weird for me because shield essentially does the same, but works. Thanks!
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wow so many responses ^^
It was just weird for me because shield essentially does the same, but works. Thanks!
A wizard can cast mage armor on any other character, while shield ahs a range of personal and a target of you.
To use a shield spell a fighter need to have a good use magic device skill (there are other ways, but they cost money or feats or other scarce resources).
I've always thought that Mage Armor should scale with level. Maybe start off at +2 instead of +4, then grow at +1 per 2 spellcaster levels. This means that at low levels, it gets nerfed, but it also stays relevant at higher levels. Same goes for Shield, for that matter (though at a lower scaling; say, 1/3 caster level).I like the idea of it scaling, but 1/2lvls seems like too much. Maybe keep it as it, but add +1 per 5 caster levels.
Or use a higher level version of it.
wow so many responses ^^
It was just weird for me because shield essentially does the same, but works. Thanks!
Actually, Shield works just the same. Only it's a shield bonus instead of an armor bonus.
Mage Armor doesn't stack with armor worn, and Shield doesn't stack with a worn shield.
I've always thought that Mage Armor should scale with level. Maybe start off at +2 instead of +4, then grow at +1 per 2 spellcaster levels. This means that at low levels, it gets nerfed, but it also stays relevant at higher levels. Same goes for Shield, for that matter (though at a lower scaling; say, 1/3 caster level).
Given that mage armor is a 1st level spell, and most of those that do increase in effect run out of steam around 5th level or so, I'd let mage armor start at +2, gain +1 per 2 caster levels, end at 6th with a +5 armor bonus. Slightly better than it is now. As for shield, the problem is that it's already quite good in terms of its bonus: for AC, it's already equal to a +3 light shield right out of the gate.
A higher level of Mage Armor is to wear Bracers of Armor.
This is by design. Given the long duration of Mage Armor, a higher level spell would simply become one more thing that a mage doesn't need to buy at high levels, they can just cast it.
There were two classes in 3e that could buff mage armor AC (Argent Savant and the Abjurant Champion). The results were AC's that routinely trivialized the benefits of wearing actual magic armor.
Bracers of Armor are already the most expensive way a mage can buff their AC (costing 25k to go from Mage Armor to +5 Bracers). A mage should basically max out every other method of buffing their AC before finally undertaking their first purchase of Bracers AC +5. Mage Armor is thus a standard buff spell well into the later game (14-15+).
==Aelryinth