Animated Shield and Bows.

[Folly]

Don't forget that there is an additional cost of Improved Buckler defense of the -1 to hit.

 

[mvincent]

BTW, I think you're better off taking the Improved Buckler Defense feat and using a buckler. Better cost/benefit ratio. +1 Animated Tower Shield: +5 AC, -2 attack rolls, -9 ACP, Dex limit; compare to +4 buckler: +5 AC, no penalty, no ACP, no dex limit.

Note that the animated tower shield would benefit from magic vestments spell more than the buckler (my own parties make heavy use of long duration buffs like magic vestments and GMW, casting them daily)

 

[Jhulae]

I don't have the feats available for the buckler feat.

And besides, even with just a +1 animated darkwood heavy shield, I still have an AC of 36..

I'm not worried *too* much about an extra point or so.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Some DMs might not count attacking with a two handed weapon as attacking with a weapon in your off hand.

Well, if they do, you don't even need the feat:
Buckler: This small metal shield is worn strapped to your forearm. You can use a bow or crossbow without penalty while carrying it. You can also use your shield arm to wield a weapon (whether you are using an off-hand weapon or using your off hand to help wield a two-handed weapon), but you take a –1 penalty on attack rolls while doing so. This penalty stacks with those that may apply for fighting with your off hand and for fighting with two weapons. 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.

If wielding a two-handed weapon doesn't count as using a weapon in your off hand, then you're correct that Improved Buckler Defence won't permit you to retain the shield bonus while wielding a two-handed weapon... but it doesn't need to, because wielding the two-handed weapon doesn't cause you to lose the shield bonus in the first place.

If wielding a two-handed weapon does count as using a weapon in your off hand, then doing so will cause you to lose the shield bonus... but Improved Buckler Defense will let you retain it.

What you can't really do is claim that wielding a two-handed weapon counts as using a weapon in your off hand in the Buckler text, but doesn't count as using a weapon in your off hand in the Improved Buckler Defense text.

-Hyp.

 

[moritheil]

Yup. Though it's completely illogical. I mean, what's the logic in suffering the Armor Check Penalty of a shield that's FREAKIN' FLYING A YARD AWAY FROM ME???

For things like Hide and Move Silently, it isn't completely illogical.