Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Build Discussion Heavy Armour user - DEX 8 or 10?

How relevant is the difference between 8 and 10 for a melee combatant in Heavy Armour? I don't like 8 for aestetical reasons and abhorrrence of negative modifier
But I could put those points elesewhere.
Tav will very rarely - if ever - use Range weapons.
Will there be many situations for DEX tests in combat? Outside of combat such tests will be dealt with by other Party members, of course.

Wouldn't the negative DEX knock 1 off your AC?
Isn't dodging a fireball down to a DEX save?

Not sure with 5e/Larian but it used to be the case that fighters need a 13(?) DEX for a certain feat (or skill). Or am I remembering that wrong?

1 - I'm fairly certain that AC is not affected;
2 - Fireballs, Burning Hands, etc. - that's what I'm potentially worried about But my CON 16/18 should handle that :P;
3 - in PnP Fighters need STR 13 to don heavy amour (Larian no use). A DEX 13 requeriment might had applied to Rangers?

I see here that you will have a higher risk of slipping over grease or getting stuck in a web.

Also a reduced initiative. Don’t dip below 10.

OK - so that -1 to DEX rolls will hurt.
10 it is then!

You can get away with low Dex if you have heavy armour proficiency, neither bonus nor penalty apply to AC.

Likewise, having enough HPs, resistance and many magic bonuses help offset an average-to-low Dex.

Yes, falling prone is a worry. In BG3 that immediately ends your turn - but there are items for that.

No, the biggest concern I think is the low initiative. I suppose you can build tactics around this to lessen impact on round 1 when it matters most. There is also the Alert feat which instant solves the problem.

There's also those gloves of Dex in Act2? I had my paladin wear them and it was great. Decent missile attacks, lock picking and initiative.

When it comes to initiative rolls even 10 dex is super gimpy for heavy armour characters, they will still always end up going last after all the enemies.

I feel like there are plenty of items that give initiative bonuses.

And they all waste slots, or are typically just +1. You aren't going to get enough initiative with those alone.

The way I am looking at my Tav right now, designed to use Great Weapon Fighting and in Heavy Armour
DEX 8 means STR 16 and taking Heavy Weapon Master as first feat.
DEX 10 means STR 15 and taking Heavy Armour Master as first feat, Heavy Weapon Master as 2nd.

If DEX 8 and 10 both suck, only DEX 14 and above (12 enough?) giving any real benefits, then maybe take DEX 8 and look out for DEX/Initiative boosting items?

How? Where exactly are you spending the rest of the stats?

You can easily start with 17 str, 15 dex, 16 con if you dump the caster stats.

STR 15/16 DEX 8/10 CON 16 INT 8 WIS 12 CHA 14
For roleplaying reasons (I'm well aware that it isn't an "optimal" build, far from it) my Tav needs the "soft" stats - she is the combined secondary tank/healer/face of the party.
1 Cleric - Eilistraee - War Domain -> 1 Bard -> 6 Fighter - Champion
I have no idea what to do after 8th charlevel.

If you plan around using the stat boosting items, you have 18 dex gauntlets or 23 str gloves for the same slot, and 23 con amulet, but the last two you don't get until Act 3.

If you're playing for role play reasons then does it matter if you go 8 or 10 Dex?

You'll lose a point of AC and -1 initiative, and might be weak to shove, but that just adds to the challenge.

It does not matter that much - DEX 8 or 10 - just tinkering around with the build
I will NOT lose AC.
Against Shove I use Athletics and STR, no?
Yes - I will usualy go last in combat - but that goes with the territory of playing a klutz with delusions of being a ballerina
Maybe I will use the items, maybe not ... my mental horizon ATM is Act 1.

Oh maybe, I thought shove resistance was acrobatics.

I went to check - as you got me worried that I'll be thrown about like a doll - but it is either Athletics or Acrobatics, whichever is better.