+3 Defender - Usage

[Scratched_back]

Hi all,

A relatively simple question I'm hoping, given some of the discussion had on here of late.

I've just got my mits on a +3 Defender in my campaign, it's a greatsword if that's relevant. My problem is that the DMG rules on the matter or fairly vague. I understand the concept of moving around the pluses of the weapon either to attack/damage or AC, however it makes no mention of it's uses out of round based acion.

1) Walking around plains traveling from one place to the next, can I have it 'switched' to +3 AC to be wary of ambushes or is it similar to the expertise feat in the fact that I have make an attack?

2) If I cast a spell in a combat round, which I frequently do, can I also reap it's +3 AC?

I remember (vaguely) that in 2nd ed Defenders were sought after, this is the first time I've come accross one in 3.x!

Cheers all,

Take care.

 

[Sarajaine"The Solar"]

happy birhday!

 

[Pinotage]

I've seen it argued both ways, to be honest. The description does, however, say, once per round on your turn before the weapon is used which seems to imply only during combat. Otherwise you'd get people walking around with defender weapons by the dozen all granting the AC bonus that stacks with everything else but never actually using the weapon.

Pinotage

 

[Khaalis]

From SRD:

A defending weapon allows the wielder to transfer some or all of the sword’s enhancement bonus to his AC as a bonus that stacks with all others. As a free action, the wielder chooses how to allocate the weapon’s enhancement bonus at the start of his turn before using the weapon, and the effect to AC lasts until his next turn.

Technically, by the given wording, it would only be usable on a per round basis. However, since it is a free action, you could technically kick the ability on at any point that you needed it, except a surprise round. However, you could always check with the DM and house rule it basically, to say that when you arent wielding it, its dedicated to AC?

However, as Pinotage pointed out while I was typing this, its a bad idea. Being used in combat only is to prevent the infinite stack problem he mentions.

JMHO.YMMV.

 

[Shellman]

IMO,

It would be easier to tell your DM that you will as a rule always apply the +3 bonus to AC when wielding the weapon, unless you specifically notify the DM when you change the bonus to attack and damage.

As a DM I would rule that the bonus only applies when you are wielding the weapon. So if you want the bonus to apply all the time, you would have to wield the weapon in your hand at all times. Not a good idea when your walking around in town or city, since the pc could be violating some local laws or something.

 

[Sarajaine"The Solar"]

Technically, by the given wording, it would only be usable on a per round basis. However, since it is a free action, you could technically kick the ability on at any point that you needed it, except a surprise round.

However, as Pinotage pointed out while I was typing this, its a bad idea. Being used in combat only is to prevent the infinite stack problem he mentions.

JMHO.YMMV.

I appreciate entirely the balance issue with people just having +5 daggers of defending tucked in their boots to suck up the bonus, that'd be something our DM would eradicate anyway.

However though if my party were searching say, a cove, knowing there were enemies about but not sure where, would it be feasible to say "The sword is in my hands, held ready for combat" and therefore expect the extra 3 AC (or part thereof)?

EDIT: This was posted by the original poster (Scratched_back) but my Girlfriend was still logged on... grrr...

 

[pbd]

I appreciate entirely the balance issue with people just having +5 daggers of defending tucked in their boots to suck up the bonus, that'd be something our DM would eradicate anyway.

However though if my party were searching say, a cove, knowing there were enemies about but not sure where, would it be feasible to say "The sword is in my hands, held ready for combat" and therefore expect the extra 3 AC (or part thereof)?

EDIT: This was posted by the original poster (Scratched_back) but my Girlfriend was still logged on... grrr...

Personally, I think that would be perfectly feasible. Anytime the character is weilding the weapon they should be able to get the AC bonus.

Of course, there is the whole issue of the masterwork enhancement bonus. There was a recent thread on defending weapons and getting the masterwork bonus to hit if you are putting the magic enhancement bonus to your AC. Basically, all magic weapons are masterwork, which grants a +1 enhancement bonus to hit, this does not stack with the magic enhancement bonus (s) on a weapon. However, when using a defending weapon, say your +3, if you add the +3 bonus to your AC. Do you get the masterwork bonus to hit?

Big arguement previously; but the way I see it, the weapon is masterwork before it is magic, the masterwork enhancement doesn't come into play because it does not stack with the magic enhancement. If that magic enhancement is gone (or rather used for something else) you still have a masterwork weapon and, hence, a +1 bonus to hit.

Make sure to run that by your DM to clear it up.

 

[Infiniti2000]

However though if my party were searching say, a cove, knowing there were enemies about but not sure where, would it be feasible to say "The sword is in my hands, held ready for combat" and therefore expect the extra 3 AC (or part thereof)?

Sure, I don't see why not. You're wielding it.

Technically, by the given wording, it would only be usable on a per round basis. However, since it is a free action, you could technically kick the ability on at any point that you needed it, except a surprise round.

I'm not sure if you're saying what I think you're saying, but you cannot take actions outside your turn, including free actions. So, you could not, in fact, kick the ability on at any point you needed it outside your turn. For example, a barbarian cannot rage outside his turn with the special feat allowing it.

Re: masterwork bonus
I suggest you read that thread for further information. I'd rather not rehash all that again here, but suffice it to say I disagree with pbd.

 

[ForceUser]

I'm not sure of the intent of the weapon, but IMC I would rule that you have to be wielding the weapon in hand to be able to muck with the bonuses, and that when the weapon is tucked away, it defaults to its base state of +3 to attack/damage.

 

[ARandomGod]

You definitely have to he weilding the weapon (holding it unsheathed in your hand), but other than that I'd say that it could always give the AC bonus.

It's a pretty pricey bonus all told, if you look at it objectively. Still, I once had a mage who had a magical mithril buckler (no ASF) and a defending +2 weapon. It'd cost too much in his opinion to make that a +3 defender (that's a +4 weapon, after all... it's cheaper to purchase luck and insight bonuses to AC at that point!)

It's a good addition, but overall people aren't going to be using it often.