Animated Shields

[sirwmholder]

I have read the entire conversation on reach weapons, Enlarge and Unarmed strike... a very compelling strategy... I can see where both parties are coming from and I'm unsure how I would run it. Most likely I would start putting low ceilings in the dungeon... or better yet spiked ceilings... anyway what were we talking about?

I agree floating shields are a great investment and probably too good given their cost... our group has been talking about toning down power attack which would bring 2 handers more in line with S&B fighters. The real issue is two handing power attack is just too good as is.

Thank you for your time,
Wm. Holder

 

[sirwmholder]

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.

So the question becomes can a large creature threaten squares 10+ ft away with a reach weapon in their hands at the same time threaten all the adjacent squares with their legs for unarmed attacks provided they have the Improved Unarmed Attack feat? Is this correct?

Furthermore, isn't their something about facing with large creatures... or as that an optional rule I'm confusing here?

Thank you for your time,
Wm. Holder

 

[Dracorat]

Facing is an optional rule and doesnt change reach weapons.

And a creature with a reach weapon as I read it, cannot use their body for unarmed strikes because they have been specifically precluded from making attacks in to adjacent squares.

 

[mvincent]

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:

From the 3.5 FAQ:
"A character wearing spiked armor threatens all squares
within his normal reach (5 feet away). If he also wields a
longspear, he would also threaten all squares 10 feet away."

You do realize you're getting pwned in this debate, right?

 

[Hypersmurf]

And a creature with a reach weapon as I read it, cannot use their body for unarmed strikes because they have been specifically precluded from making attacks in to adjacent squares.

So if we have a minotaur with a Large Glaive, who can combine his manufactured weapon attacks with a secondary natural weapon (Gore), you feel that he cannot use that natural weapon against anyone in an adjacent square or a square 10 feet away?

-Hyp.

 

[mvincent]

Using the "rules of the game" articles which have gotten the rules wrong on previous occasions or even admitted that they adjudicate rules against the regular rules.

That is not a valid argument. Are so saying that the RotG has no authority to clarify ambiguous sections of the rules that are subject to interpretation? That is kinda its whole purpose. People that want to play by the rules (like my group) try to follow it unless it can be specifically be shown to contradict the rules (not the case here).

 

[Dracorat]

So if we have a minotaur with a Large Glaive, who can combine his manufactured weapon attacks with a secondary natural weapon (Gore), you feel that he cannot use that natural weapon against anyone in an adjacent square or a square 10 feet away?

-Hyp.

Correct, unless a monster stood in an area where the reach of the gore attack and the manufactured weapon overlapped.

 

[Dracorat]

That is not a valid argument. Are so saying that the RotG has no authority to clarify ambiguous sections of the rules that are subject to interpretation? That is kinda its whole purpose. People that want to play by the rules (like my group) try to follow it unless it can be specifically be shown to contradict the rules (not the case here).

What I am saying is you can use them if you like, but they are house rules. Your FAQ inquiry I will be getting to in a moment. I am at work and have to download it again.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Correct, unless a monster stood in an area where the reach of the gore attack and the manufactured weapon overlapped.

There is no such area. The Gore reaches 5' and 10'; the Glaive reaches 15' and 20'.

Although, hang on...

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.

So doesn't that mean that since he's a Large character wielding a reach weapon of the appropriate size, he can Gore opponents 15 or 20 feet away? The statement doesn't limit his attacks to those made with the reach weapon, right?

-Hyp.

 

[Dracorat]

Correct and yes.