3/4 Cover + Shield spell

[MarauderX]

Do the 3/4 cover bonus (+7) and the shield spell (+7) stack?

Right now I am playing one very scared wizard looking to save the rest of the party from a TPK, and need every advantage I can get.

I didn't readily see this question answered, so I thought I would throw it out there.

 

[IceBear]

Named bonuses (normally) don't stack. So, if you get cover bonuses to AC from two different sources, only the highest of the two would apply.

IceBear

 

[Darklone]

Huhm,...

It can be discussed. In some printings of the PHB, they said the shield spell gives a cover bonus and not an AC bonus due to cover... which would have avoided provoking AoOs.

So you could argue (if your group has that printing of the PHB in which the shield spell does not block AoOs) that the cover from the spell and from the other source are NOT the same and should stack.

In any case you should note that you wouldn't provoke AoOs with 3/4 cover (not from the shield spell).

Feel free to ask for hints how to avoid that TPK in a not ruleslawying way

 

[Christian]

As an aside, even if your DM allowed the cover to 'stack', it oughtn't be the bonus amounts ... The highest cover amount (other than 100%, which doesn't allow attacks in either direction) gives a +10 AC bonus, so I'd say a combination which gives a +14 AC bonus really doesn't make sense.

 

[bertman4]

In response to Darklone's observation of shield spell description in different printings of the PHB...

From the D&D FAQ at WotC website.

The description for the shield spell says its provides three-quarters cover. Page 132 of the Player's Handbook says an attacker can't execute an attack of opportunity against a character with one-half or better cover. So, a spellcaster with a shield spell up is immune to attacks of opportunity, even when casting spells in melee?

No. The spell description is erroneous. The spell grants a +7 cover bonus to Armor Class, not three-quarters cover. It does not negate attacks of opportunity, nor does it provide any saving throw bonuses. The spell's cover bonus to Armor Class applies to any attacks of opporunity made from the half of the battlefield covered by the shield.

Bertman

 

[MarauderX]

Thanks for all of the help. I think I will be forced to choose between them, and I will take the 3/4 cover (+3 Reflex too).

The situation is during a nasty battle my character charmed one of the bad guys right before his missed his save vs. sleep. He happens to be on a cliff, so apparently the two other bad guys that lived to beat the rest of the party thought he had taken me out. So my character wakes up to find a new friend next to him, and the two remaining enemies (wizard & rogue) 80' below the cliff. My character is nearly out of spells (only short range spells left), so now I ask, what should I do? Use the 3/4 cover and take a shot at them? It's starting to look like TPK...

 

[MarauderX]

Maybe I should move this to General Discussion.

 

[Darklone]

In response to Darklone's observation of shield spell description in different printings of the PHB...

Yeah, Bertman, but I know several DMs who don't care for errata nor FAQ... and if one of them has a book that says it blocks AoOs, then it will. That's what I was speaking about.

MarauderX:

• Can the enemies shoot back?
• Are you good with missiles?
• What will the charmed guy do if you attack his friends?
• Where are the other (dead) party members?
• Could you sneak away and save the rest that way?
• Avalanche to drop something heavy on the two baddies possible?

 

[MarauderX]

Ok, where I left off was: my character is on the top of a cliff that has crane extending over the battlefield below, which is where my fallen comrads are located. Unfortunately the two remaining bad guys (rogue & wizard) are picking through the carnage amongst my buddies, so the avalanche is out. My AC=10, Dex=10, HP=7, BAB=1 (3rd level wizard) and I am 80' up which gives the range -2 to hit. I have summon monster I (badger) and II (eagle) left for spells, which both have a range of 30', plus a shield scroll. I also have a new charmed friend that doesn't understand a word I say, so he is rather unpredictable right now.

Here is my plan so far: Hand the charmed guy an extra bow and point down at the two on the ground and then fire at the mage an hope he follows suit. I want to make the bad guys come after me, and if the rogue starts to climb I can whip up the celestial eagle once he gets in range to hopefully make him fall. I hope to tag the mage out before he takes cover or fires off any remaining spells. I think both of them are also ~3rd level, so the rogue will have uncanny dodge (no surprise on her) and I think the mage is out or almost out of spells.

Any stratigic insights?