The description says "recipient", so I think the narrowest interpretation is that you get the better AC until X number of HP are sustained by the person. Then it goes away.

A person in robes needs every edge they can muster for survival.

Interesting trade off between this spell and Shield. Indefinite slightly better AC or temporarily decent AC.

Ghul wrote:

Gizmo has it spot-on.

 
\o/

The spell doesn't grant any extra hit points. It just gives a better AC. So in your example I assume Joe is first level. He casts the spell and has an base AC of 7 instead of 9. If he suffers 11 hit points of damage, the spell is ended and he is at -7 (bleeding to death).

ETA: Rereading your example, if he got hit for 5 points of damage, the sorcerous armour would stll be active, but he would also be at -1 hit points (unconscious).

Last edited by Blackadder23 (5/13/2022 10:03 pm)

BA23 has it correct, yes. Thanks!

no, it actually didn't even come up in a game. for whatever reason none of my casters ever picked it up. I just happen to read it and thought about it wrong and was like that seems over powered.