[Celacena]

has nobody mentioned AC improved by naughtily high DEX scores?

things are not so good for the thief PC until UAI brings them up to fighter-standard armour. even when available, you'd want your tank to have the armour and the thief would probably get division 2 armour.

I have a 19 DEX before coming across the mad machine with the chance to raise it to 20. if I imported the character to ToB before the test that lowers DEX I would keep the enhancement. it is also possible that accepting the Evil path might be open to my chaotic PC. I'm not sure from an RPG aspect that my PC would be CE - it would be more appropriate to become CN from CG - the difference between CG and CE on one test when you KNOW you can resurrect the NPC is just too harsh and I would be tempted to nullify the result of that 'test' in SK.

I can only get AC 3 through armour (thief character)
when UAI is available, -2 armour would be available and red dragon scale plate (-1) would allow hide in shadows I think - or white dragon plate might. some dragon scale plate (certainly black) allows rangers to hide, so I assume that will be true of a thief with UAI. helm of balduran also becomes available. shield can get 7? points

until UAI the bucker +1 is best available, I assume BUT using AC granting weapon in off hand (I think there is a suitable sword - Yamoto?) would also give AC benefit with extra attacks.

ioun stone - 1 point

2 x Ring of Gaxx (haven't done so) or 1 x +2 and Earth control +1 = 3 or 4 points

cloak of the sewers gives 1 point but cloak of protection +2 becomes available and does not conflict with bracers of AC3.

not as good as having UAI, but not too shabby for a thief.