Bucklers and spellcasting

[Mekabar]

Because a Buckler is strapped to the forearm, not held in the hand.

Another evidence that D&D authors do not have a clue. In reality it's exactly the other way around...

 

[Thanee]

Yeah, the "buckler" simply is not a buckler. It's not a fencing shield, but an archery shield (dunno the proper name for those, but that's what the D&D buckler is ).

Bye
Thanee

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Yeah, the "buckler" simply is not a buckler. It's not a fencing shield, but an archery shield (dunno the proper name for those, but that's what the D&D buckler is ).

Actually, it *is* a fencing shield.

http://www.thearma.org/essays/SwordandBuckler.htm

 

[Mekabar]

Actually, it *is* a fencing shield.

Yes, the real one is. The D&D one obviously isn't. That's what Thanee meant.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Yes, the real one is. The D&D one obviously isn't. That's what Thanee meant.

Oh! Right. Reading comprehension is a little lacking today, I guess.

 

[Hypersmurf]

The New FAQ, IIRC, makes switching weapons like this a move equiv action.

Of course, the Rules of the Game article written after that FAQ answer says free action again

-Hyp.

 

[Keith]

Isn’t it the case, though, that while someone can use an arm that has a (D&D, not realistic) buckler on it to cast, they can not also use the buckler in that same round? That is, you can do either, but not both? This may have been covered, or be obvious, I don’t know. Certainly, I think it is pretty obvious that you can’t use a hand to make proscribed motions while at the same time keeping the forearm attached to it available to move anywhere from your head to your toes quickly...

In fact, who can resist a stab (so to speak) at the idea of the D&D buckler: using your forearm to stop a deadly weapon after first extending your bare hand into the path of same!

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Isn’t it the case, though, that while someone can use an arm that has a (D&D, not realistic) buckler on it to cast, they can not also use the buckler in that same round? That is, you can do either, but not both?

Nope.

You lose the buckler's bonus to AC if you attack with a two-handed weapon, or attack with a weapon in your off-had, but not via spellcasting.

In any case, if you use a weapon in your off hand, you don’t get the buckler’s AC bonus for the rest of the round.

Now, you might successfully argue that, if you cast a touch attack spell using your off-hand, you'd lose the AC bonus.

 

[Drugged Dwarf]

ok.. then whats to stop clerics, two handers, duel weilders, or any kind of fighter for that matter from strapping TWO bucklers to both hands?

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

ok.. then whats to stop clerics, two handers, duel weilders, or any kind of fighter for that matter from strapping TWO bucklers to both hands?

Bucklers provide a Shield bonus to AC.

Shield bonuses to AC don't stack.

Penalties to attack rolls do.