Studded vs. normal

[CrazySpawn]

What is better sudded leather armor(non magical) or leather armor +1?
When i equip leather +1, it has -1 missle, and -1 something else, does that mean that such attacks can easier hit me?
I don't get what does that mean, + and - about certain weapon tipe.

When weapon has +1, +3 vs. giants, does that mean it is +4 against giants or just +3?

[Pellinore]

Well, speaking from and old 2nd edition D&D player and someone who has finished IWD once, I must say that for a thief... leather +1 is best. It is lighter and doesn't hamper thieving scores. Plain studded leather will allow you to wear other magical protections like ring +1 or bracers AC8 and so forth. There is a limit to how many magical protections you can wear.

A Hammer+1/ +3 vs. Giants gives you a +3 vs. Giants and is merely +1 vs everything else.

[Aerich]

The -1 makes it harder for the enemy to hit you when the enemy uses that particular weapon type.

There are four different weapon "types": slashing, piercing, bludgeoning, and missile. Certain armors are naturally better against certain weapon types. For example, chain mail can't deflect a club, but it will prevent a knife from penetrating.

As a practical matter, I haven't found that leather armor +1 is innately superior to normal studded leather, or vice versa. As Pellinore pointed out, the real difference is what else you can wear with it - which is a big reason to take the normal studded leather until you find something better. A ring of protection will improve your AC and your saving throws, but you won't be able to wear it with magical armors.

As for wearing bracers with armor, don't bother. It doesn't improve your AC; AC is calculated by taking the AC of either armor or bracers (whichever is better), adding on your magical protections, and then your Dexterity modifier.

The lower the AC, the better. I would recommend that every character have 18 Dex, because that will give them -4 to their AC (in essence, starting them at AC 6, rather than AC 10).

In general, warriors should wear the best armor they can afford or find, with the possible exception of rangers if you want them to scout with their armor on (I'd just wear the best armor possible and take it off to scout and put it back on to fight). You probably shouldn't be wearing leather or studded leather with any character except a thief. Splint mail is quite cheap if you buy with a high-Charisma character, and there are several suits of it available in Easthaven.