Armor for monks

[Artoomis]

Shields are listed as a type of armor everywhere in the core rules. (Possibly excepting the "shield bonus" glossary entry which has been disavowed as erroneous.)

That's plain wrong, but I'm not going to argue it here. Succice it to say that the core PHB, as written, justifies an argument that shields do not equal armor for the monk. I already stated this was a minority view. Let it go.

P.S. - Also, the monk class has been re-written for 3.5e, so it is pointless to argue this now, let's wait and see what's written for 3.5e.

 

[Skullfyre]

Besides, Cap wears chainmail

Give him Mithril now.. much better for him

 

[RigaMortus]

Maybe in 3.5 Shields will give a Shield Bonus to AC, but Shields themselves will have an "Armor" subtype/descriptor? Hehe...

 

[dcollins]

That's plain wrong, but I'm not going to argue it here. Suffice it to say that the core PHB, as written, justifies an argument that shields do not equal armor for the monk.

No, it's not plain wrong.
- Shields lend an Armor bonus.
- Shields appear in the Armor section of the PHB (ch. 7).
- Shields appear in the Armor table on PHB p. 104.
- Shields are crafted by the Craft Arms & Armor feat.
- Shields are dealt with in the "armor proficiency" section of each class.
- Shields appear in the magic Armor section of the DMG, p. 179.

Shields are armor. Now I'm willing to let it go.

 

[Nail]

Shields are armor. Now I'm willing to let it go.

Ain't having the last word great? Now, let's see what Artoomis does......

 

[DrSpunj]

Ain't having the last word great? Now, let's see what Artoomis does......

I'm going to have to remember during our sessions that you like to *bait* people, Nail!

Troublemaker!

DrSpunj

PS. Any table with a drawer is...a DESK!

 

[Destil]

Other than that, by the core rules there is no way to do it - nor should there be, it's a balancing factor of being a monk.

I'd say it's more flavor than balance. By the item pricing guidelines you could make it an unslotted item by increasing the cost 100% which would be fair, IMHO (though I have no problem with most special abilities for armor being switched to rings at no price increase, myself. Mabye not fortification, though I don't allow shields of fort. either).

 

[LokiDR]

I'd say it's more flavor than balance. By the item pricing guidelines you could make it an unslotted item by increasing the cost 100% which would be fair, IMHO (though I have no problem with most special abilities for armor being switched to rings at no price increase, myself. Mabye not fortification, though I don't allow shields of fort. either).

Item pricing guidelines are not a shopping list, so yes, the lack of armor is a balance issue. That is why monks get wisdom bonus to AC.

 

[niteshade6]

Under the current rules shields don't stack with a bracers of armor or mage armor anyway, so the value of a shield to a monk wouldn't be that great to begin with, unless he was low level.

In 3.5 it sounds like shields and force armor effects will stack, so it would be more useful for a monk. Still I doubt we will see it, for both flavor and balance reasons.

 

[reapersaurus]

With a bashing throwing and returning shield you're all set. One of my PC's has this except for the unarmed strike feat. A friend of mine does something similar but uses the unarmed strike.

No no no....

What you need for a ridiculous shield-thrower is a Ranged, DISTANCE (PsiHB) shield, on a PC with the Far Shot feat.
This gives the shield a range increment of 90 ft, and can be thrown up to 5 range increments.

449 ft attack range, anyone?

This is the trick I used for a power-gaming thread awhile back... didn't get to use it, though.