Who's afraid of the big bad [insert generic monster here]

My human druid (DEX 16) has an AC of 36 without using any spells or combat (just some crafted items). I got it up to 52 at one point using some spells and fighting defensively.

So while I'm almost never getting hit, any creature that makes an initial roll that falls within their critical threat range (even without confirming a critical) manages to hit me. So does this mean that those spiffy Great Cleavers combined with improved critical will make me hit more often as well as scoring more criticals? (or dual-wielding falchions)

 

Great Cleaver is intrinsically Keen. Having Improved Critical adds one to critical threat range. In the past, creatures have always made rolls to confirm crits. Rolling a natural 20 however is definitely a automatic hit no matter whether it crits or how high your AC is. Such are the rules.

It is certainly possible to get AC into the 30s and even higher with the right build and items and is a valid and sound way to tackle the tougher fights later in the game.

Code:

Base AC				10
Purple Elven Chain		Armor +8/Max Dex Bonus 4
Gloves of Dex +2 and Dex 16	Dex modifier +4
Ring of Protection +3		Deflection +3
Large Shield +3			Shield +5
Dodge				Generic +1
Expertise			Generic +5
Amulet of Natural Armor +3	Generic +3
Fighting Defensively		+2
				41

This can be further boosted with Haste and other spells

 

Not so great cleaver

Hmmm, I checked out the great cleaver's stats before investing in it and saw the keen bit. I rather opted for dual-wielding scimitars (If I had the Enlarge Person spell I'd go for Falschions). The critical range with keen is one better. It's odd to see that the Great Cleavers which are so rare are worse than a simple longsword.

Interesting to see you mention a Ring of Protection +3. I'll have to go look. My rogue uses
Natural Armor 10
Padded Armor +3 (Max DEX 8) 3 (Only the enhancement stacks)
Gloves of Dex +6 8 (Dex bonus for an Elf with natural 18)
Bracers of Armor +5, 5
RoP +2 2
Shield +3 5
Necklace of Natural Armor 3

Of course, you can't do this with your Wiz/Sor or dual-wielders.

 

I managed to create a level 10 monk with 35 AC.

10 natural armor
7 dex modifier (18 + gloves of dex 6)
7 wis modifier (18 + amulet of wis 6)
2 class bonus (from monk levels)
3 (ring of protection + 3 from Tolub in Nulb)
5 bracers of armor 5
1 Dodge

With a decent Use Magic Items (unfortunately her charisma is 10 so no bonus but she can be outfitted with the circlet of persuasion), she can invoke a wand of shield (+4 AC) and wand of stoneskin for quite a bit of staying power before entering combat. Or one could opt to use a fully enchanted Troll helmet from the troll chief NPC for another +3 AC bonus ( I would stick with the circlet of persuasion). A casting of Dispel Evil and Displacement also helps.

With a halfling siangham +3 or a staff +3 with 23 strength (17 + 6 strenth belt), she can dish out mean damage at 4 attacks a round. The only thing I regret is that she doesn't have the spell resistance monks are supposed to have.