Animated Shields

[Cedric]

Shield bonuses don't stack.

True, but if he wanted something specialized for a BBEG, then a second shield could provide an unnamed bonus to the first shield, or just have it's own rules.

 

[Dracorat]

In my PRC, I have specified that the shield bonus for the lower shield is halved and the halved value is changed to a circumstance bonus. (I already knew the bonuses didn't stack but rather overlapped)

 

[Victim]

The point isn't what one gains with a two-handed weapon. The point is that they can gain that anyway, and still get all the benefits of a shield in other, less costly ways.

A cat's grace spell is going to give them a +2 bonus to AC (via the Dex increase) that would equal what you'd get from a +1 animated light steel shield (and stronger magic, such as a barkskin spell from a 6th-level or higher caster, can equal or eclipse larger shields), save that the spell can't be sundered, won't cost you several thousand gold pieces, and won't have an arcane spell failure chance if you're also an arcane spellcaster.

That's just one of about a hundred different ways characters can increase their AC while keeping both hands free. I just see animated shields as costing the most and having the most drawbacks of those methods, which is why I have no problem with it.

Yeah, and a Cat's Grace doesn't stack with other enhancement bonuses to Dex, and is limited by Max Dex on armor. And it lasts for a few minutes.

I see Animated Shields as costing the least. A Heavy floating shield +1 costs 9k and can be on pretty much all the time. So that's +3 AC for ~9k. A normal AC bonus like deflection or natural armor costs 18k for +3. About the only things cheaper are armor and buffs (which are basically free, but unreliable). And the Animated Shield works well with buffs since you can get a second cast of Magic Vestment going on it (MV is one of the better AC buffs since it lasts hours).

AC is basically Armor + Shield + Dex + Deflection + Natural. Being able to get a Shield bonus when you wouldn't otherwise be able to is huge. Since the cost of an AC boost increases by N*X^2, every time you can get a new type of bonus you dodge the nasty increases from squared term. And the animated shield doesn't even take up a slot.

It's not a matter of Animated Shield vs Cat's Grace or Barkskin. It's the Animated Shield AND Barkskin.

 

[Choranzanus]

My opinion would actually be

Option 3: Cheesy cheese cheese with extra cheese.

My words exactly. But the most cheesy is invariably also the most mechanically broken.

 

[mvincent]

Not with how much one gains with a 2 handed weapon.

Very very true. I ban the suckers as soon as someone suggests wanting one.

You ban 2 handed weapons?

 

[Feldspar]

animated shields float - just like witches! Burn them!!!

I'm not a fan of animated shields for all the usual reasons. I also agree that if you make a ruling against animated shields you also need to address Improved Buckler Defense. Why would anyone spend the three feats to go down the Two-Weapon Defense chain when you can spend one feat and get (through magic) a better shield bonus?

I've posted another poll here as to whether Improved Buckler Defense is salvagable if we go with a rule where Bucklers only provide there bonus against one designated attacker (like with the Dodge feat).

Sword-and-Board style really gets short shrift. That's why I've been working on a homebrew Knight class that cobbles together portions of the Samurai and Marshall - instead of free TWF feats with Katana and Wakizashi you get free TWF when using a shield (free Imp Shield Bash; heavy shields TWF penalty as light weapon).

 

[FreeTheSlaves]

In one campaign where I was a player, I had a s&b fighter and a friend had a 2h fighter. We each shone on occassion. Then the animated shield came along and he was going to get my schtick at only 2 pt AC cost...

No no no, that was simply not going to be acceptable. The dancing property otoh was a much better mechanic.

 

[EyeontheMountain]

You ban 2 handed weapons?

Sigh. Are you deliberately obtuse?

 

[Darth K'Trava]

We use them all the time when the characters can raise enough cash for one. Same goes for putting Called onto heavier armor. Saves the time/effort of someone having to dress the fighter or cleric wearing full plate.

 

[mvincent]

Sigh. Are you deliberately obtuse?

Yup. My apologizes for not including a smiley emoticon to denote the intent of humor

However, the notion is not entirely impossible. I've had an (extremely reasonable) DM ban my use of reach weapons before.