The attack is commonly called a miss, but why is it a "miss"? Did it get deflected by Deflection? Did it clang off a shield? Harmlessly ping off armor?

You'd be hardpressed to say a blow against a dragon with 50 natural AC wasn't a miss, but simply your blade doing nothing against diamond hard scale.

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Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

How does natural AC make your enemy miss? I thought that was what defection AC was for ... natural armour is hardened hide and that sort of thing (i.e. why animals have it). The way it works is stupid anyway - armour should give DR not AC.

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I'd wager it's more of a balance thing.

If Armor gave DR instead of AC, then you'd really need to be an STR build in melee to do anything; since Dexers are naturally, next to no damage, and their only forms of damage such as Sneak attack never multiply. Armors and 'blocking' type armor classes thus simply make it harder to hit; defined as such protections rending a hit null (whether by blocking it, or weakening it so much it does nothing), without gimping other types of fighters.

In regards to the difference between Deflection and Natural; There's quite a bit.

Deflection AC is, as its name implies, deflection. This only comes from spells and magical items. It's likely akin to force effects and the like which simply deflect/block incoming attacks in an attempt to protect the wielder. Same way a shield would, but without having it strapped to your arm.

Natural AC is defensive protections that come from your body itself. Dragons have their tough hides, Owlbears have layers of feathers providing a buffering effect, and some creatures simply have thick skin. Their defense comes from the body's natural resistance to taking damage frmo a physical impact.

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Well.. AC#1+AC#2+AC#3+AC#4... = the number that, if not reached, will make the attack miss. That's what I meant.

It would be a touch attack wouldn't it? Do you still get nat AC in a touch attack? If so, then I imagine you would still have it there.

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^ ^ ^ ^

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Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds
Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham

This is how I've always imagined it.

\o/

I tend to base it off the animation. If the character recieving the blow jumps back or ducks, or whatnot, it was dodged. If it was a swing and a miss, but the character didn't dodge/duck, etc then it likely glanced off the armor.

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