Armored Efficiency vs Evasion

[Quidix]

I have the impression that going 14 dex has become the standard after the changes that require light armor in order for evasion to work.

Now, I don't quite understand why this is, as going Mithral Full Plate would grant +1 armor and activate Armored Efficiency, which seems vastly superior to avoiding damage when succeeding at a reflex save (which is only good with a very high reflex save, and even then I'm unsure if it's really better). To the best of my knowledge Expose Weakness works even in medium / heavy armor, even if evasion doesn't.

Am I missing something?

[AC81]

You're not missing anything, however evasion is still better. No damage most of the time is better than most of the damage all of the time. 1 AC point is almost irrelevant.

[Sun Wukong]

With 14 dexterity and those +4 dexterity bracers you can get 10 points of AC from Mithral Chainmail, 6 (base) +4 (max dex). Now, if you got a high reflex save, from high reflex save progression classes, then evasion will help you avoid a lot of trap damage. Some mob spells too.

[chad878262]

All that said, it does make going for a high BAB build without evasion perfectly fine. I played a F12/TK4/BG4/WoD10 up to level 27 and didn't worry over not having evasion at all. Took the Heavy Armor Optimization feats and went with regular full plate and he did fine throughout the area's. Evasion is better, but it certainly is not necessary. It's much like the dispel fix where everyone went nuts over CL30 being 'required'. After a year or so people slowly started to accept CL28 was perfectly viable and even CL25 didn't make a build useless. Same will happen here I think. People will start to realize that the change actually has the benefit of making builds that don't dip for evasion more powerful thanks to the Armored Efficiency addition. It always takes some time before folks are willing to try such things, but when they do I think there will be a few less builds relying upon evasion/expose weakness dips.

[Maverick 40]

Also, I think it comes down to how you see your character's RP. Do you see them as being a nimble and dexterous dodger of danger, or a steady tank that stands before danger, breaking it like waves upon the shore....

Little dramatic, I know, but hopefully it makes the point.....RP first, Mechanics second.

[Quidix]

Makes sense, sounds like a balanced choice then, which is always a good answer!