D&D3.5 / animated objects & AC

[4shenfell]

Hey all. new here so forgive any formatting mistakes.

Effectively I'm making up some stats for an animated suit of armour for a one-shot. looking at the medium animated object stats (MM pg.13) it has a +4 natural armour bonus. is that bonus given as a catch-all for ease of running, being superceded by the armour's bonus, or would you add both the armour & natural AC bonus as they come from different sources?

just curious how other DM's would rule this kind of thing.

[glass]

Hey all. new here so forgive any formatting mistakes.

Effectively I'm making up some stats for an animated suit of armour for a one-shot. looking at the medium animated object stats (MM pg.13) it has a +4 natural armour bonus. is that bonus given as a catch-all for ease of running, being superceded by the armour's bonus, or would you add both the armour & natural AC bonus as they come from different sources?

just curious how other DM's would rule this kind of thing.

Are you asking how the armour bonus a suit of armour would grant to its wearer impacts the suit's AC as an animated object?

If so, the answer is "not at all". The armour bonus represents how good it is at protecting whatever's inside it, which is irrelevant if there is nothing inside it.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

They're not trying to hit what's inside the armor, they're trying to hit the armor itself. If you've got an animated suite of full plate that's also wearing a suit of full plate, it will have the AC of a creature wearing full plate. Otherwise the AC to hit the armor itself is what's given in the stats for an animated object. Keep in mind that objects have hardness, an iron or steel animated object has hardness 10.

[ShurikVch]

FWIW, "The Dying of the Light" adventure (Dungeon #84) includes some Animated Suits of Armor (CR 2), and their AC is 18 (+8 full plate)

[4shenfell]

They're not trying to hit what's inside the armor, they're trying to hit the armor itself. If you've got an animated suite of full plate that's also wearing a suit of full plate, it will have the AC of a creature wearing full plate. Otherwise the AC to hit the armor itself is what's given in the stats for an animated object. Keep in mind that objects have hardness, an iron or steel animated object has hardness 10.

ah fair enough. yeah wasn't sure if i could use the stat block as a template or something. Thanks!

[4shenfell]

FWIW, "The Dying of the Light" adventure (Dungeon #84) includes some Animated Suits of Armor (CR 2), and their AC is 18 (+8 full plate)

I'll have a look at that. thx :)

[ShurikVch]

Pages 88-89

They also got Improved Speed SQ and hardness 10

[Menzath]

If it's permanently animated armour, maybe using creature stats from something similar would work instead of using animated object stats.
Some options would be
Blade Guardin from Cwar pg.120
Dread Guard from MM2 pg.87
Caryatid Column FF pg.30
The CR on these might be a bit higher than you are looking for so adjustment may be needed.