Talk:Toughness

Toughness is it one of the best feats or is Armor Skin weak

+1 AB, +1 AC and +2 damage are on average 5% values (noting that the scale is also not linear, diminishing returns at higher end and larger gains at lower end). Attributes may surpass just AC due to extra gains associated with that attribute but requires 2 Dexterity to gain 1 AC (2 feats) where as Armor skin costs only 1 feat. And choosing Dexterity over heavier armor has gains with skills but also potentially greater loses when caught flat footed.

2 Strenght also gains +1 AB and +1 damage (plus weight capacity and bonus with feats like knockdown); and 2 Dexterity can gain +1 AB and +1 AC plus likely skill values and avoiding knockdown. If both are similar value, likely then +1 damage has similar value to +1 AC

Toughness grants on average a 10% increase in endurance (however this is a static gain, with reduced value with Epic gear likely 7%) yet maybe not as popular as Luck of Heroes; it's more favorable to avoid being hit rather than enduring more, especially at low levels. Back to the scale, if you already have high AC its a better investment in Toughness.

Armor Class also doesn't prevent all types of damage and you're not always being attacked however you are likely attacking as often as possible. AC is also so easy to improve and scales faster with gear than AB, even outclassing players if they are lax with AB.

If Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization and potentially Toughness are equal in value then Armor Skin's value is maybe 2.5%. What would you choose +1 damage or +1 AC, I'd probably choose +2 damage over +1 AC.

An effective build has a balance with the ability to hit, inflict damage, avoid damage and endurance; However the priority is also in that order, even though endurance may have greater value than AC.

Also of note an EDR build will generally lose a fight to its non EDR twin (once gear is included) and with the EDR build, him and his team will likely require more healing. However this is still an effective strategy; remembering that AC doesn't stop all types of damage even though defeating your opponents quicker does. Ragimund (talk) 04:25, April 22, 2019 (UTC)

some references

http://www.advanceddungeonsandparenting.com/2012/03/dndnext-whats-wrong-with-having-armor.html and Zarks comments on https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2kac7?The-DPR-Olympics-or-Im-not-the-mechanic-here