Animated Shields

[Hypersmurf]

Yes, but the distinction is that you are not "unarmed" while armed with a reach weapon.

That doesn't prevent you using the weapon 'unarmed strike'.

-Hyp.

 

[Ace]

I have no problem with the animated shield and allow them for PC's and NPC's alike

Sauce for the Goose is Sauce for the Gander.

 

[Dracorat]

Or specifically that you have to at least unhand the reach weapon, thus not using a reach weapon if you want to be ready to make unarmed strikes.

 

[Hypersmurf]

That's because a monk has a class feature that specifically allows this:

Please note that it is called out specifically that a monk has an exception to the norm.

Again:

Unarmed Attacks: Striking for damage with punches, kicks, and head butts is much like attacking with a melee weapon...

This is not in the Monk description; it's in the Combat chapter. Where do you find a limitation on unarmed strikes to being fists only?

If I strike for damage with a kick or a head butt, what rules do I use?

Or specifically that you have to at least unhand the reach weapon, thus not using a reach weapon if you want to be ready to make unarmed strikes.

Based on what?

-Hyp.

 

[Dracorat]

That doesn't prevent you using the weapon 'unarmed strike'.

-Hyp.

The rules disagree.

Unlike when someone uses a reach weapon, a creature with greater than normal natural reach (more than 5 feet) still threatens squares adjacent to it. A creature with greater than normal natural reach usually gets an attack of opportunity against you if you approach it, because you must enter and move within the range of its reach before you can attack it. (This attack of opportunity is not provoked if you take a 5-foot step.)

Large or larger creatures using reach weapons can strike up to double their natural reach but can’t strike at their natural reach or less.

 

[mvincent]

The rules disagree.

There is an implicit "with the reach weapon" after "Large or larger creatures using reach weapons can strike up to double their natural reach but can’t strike at their natural reach or less."

 

[Victim]

I allow the "floaty shields" in my games actually. A two handed fighter with a greatsword can pay an extra 8000 gold to get the same defense as a sword/board fighter. A sword/board fighter can pay 2000 for a flaming, icy or shocking weapon and be doing the same damage as the two handed fighter with the greatsword.

Not so much, since he'll be short the extra x .5 STR to damage and 2 for 1 Power Attack. Plus the way item prices increase acts in the two handed weilder's favor in this case.

 

[Hypersmurf]

The rules disagree.

He's not using the reach weapon. He's using his unarmed strike.

-Hyp.

 

[Dracorat]

I don't beleive there is. There are other examples of people moving freely inside large creatures' reach space without provoking any AOs.

Additionally, even the clarification on reach weapons does not state that the restrictions apply only the weapon itself:

Reach Weapons

Glaives, guisarmes, lances, longspears, ranseurs, spiked chains, and whips are reach weapons. A reach weapon is a melee weapon that allows its wielder to strike at targets that aren’t adjacent to him or her. Most reach weapons double the wielder’s natural reach, meaning that a typical Small or Medium wielder of such a weapon can attack a creature 10 feet away, but not a creature in an adjacent square. A typical Large character wielding a reach weapon of the appropriate size can attack a creature 15 or 20 feet away, but not adjacent creatures or creatures up to 10 feet away.

 

[Dracorat]

I'll water down the discussion some.

I don't beleive that a person weilding a reach weapon is capable of making attacks in to an adjacent square even when they have the improved unarmed strike feat.

They have not set themselves up to make unarmed strikes. By weilding a weapon with reach, they have accepted the penalty of being unable to make attacks in to adjacent squares. Since they are forbidden from such attacks, they also do not threaten those squares. The rules quoted herein support my position.