Dexterity on Archer

[Stilgar]

I currently play a ranger that I use as an archer,
and I have a dex of 19 and I wear studded leather armor.
No problem at all, but now I have this ring that gives me +1dex, and with a dex of 20 i have a +5 modifier but my armor only gives me +4,
what's the best thing to do? just wear the ring and the armor or lose the armor for something lighter? (i'm not very familiar with the modifier system)
Also when I get another point to put on a stat, is it wise to place it on dex again?

(i have 60 HP at lvl 6)

Thanks for the advice

[Demis]

With 20 dex you still add the +5 normal modifier to your attack rolls with ranged weapons but due to your studded leather armor you can only apply +4 to your AC. Your AC will probably do not chance if you switch to leather armor since the base armor bonus for leather armor is 2, one less than studded, but you will get the whole +5 from your dex modifier.

If you are planning to use ranged weapons raising you Dex should be your primary concern.

[Stilgar]

Ok thanks (its 21 now at level 6)
Those nasty fire beatles drop like flies (but the did that with 18dex also)

2bad i can't find a good armor, i found a leather +1, but I chaged it tot he withbone armor, didn't know that one was heavy, and I forgot to save before.
Thanks for the advice.

[Demis]

Don't worry about armors, you will come upon some very nice light armors in the game later on and make use of your dex bonus.

[Stilgar]

Wait a minute, then why is my archer running around in studded leather when he could shoot just as well when wearing fullplate???

Could someone clear this up for me?

[Demis]

Because if you are an archer you will probably need some stealth too and shoot from a distance. With heavy armor, stealth skills(hide, move silently) and some other sustained a notable penalty. Also rangers lose some nice abilities when wearing medium or heavy armor.

And rangers are not proficent with heavy armor so you will need to acquire the feat.

[Stilgar]

That's true, I'll stick with the leather then
(although i hardly ever use stealth, it comes in handy now and then)

[Thanatos]

Probably not a concern since you're an archer, but I believe you lose your dual-wield feats if you use medium or heavy armour if you got them for free by being ranger.

[Demis]

Yes your regain your Dual-Weild ability (which is actually amfideterity + two weapon fighting feats) as long as you wear light armor. And since later on when your dex is boosted to really high scores, even studded leather might reduce your total AC than boost it, so you will be looking for light armors with high max dex bonus.

[Stilgar]

Originally posted by Demis
Yes your regain your Dual-Weild ability (which is actually amfideterity + two weapon fighting feats) as long as you wear light armor. And since later on when your dex is boosted to really high scores, even studded leather might reduce your total AC than boost it, so you will be looking for light armors with high max dex bonus.

I'm at that point now, when i wear studded leather +2 I have 1AC less then when I wear leather+2