Buckler Penalty?

[talien]

Hi Guys,

Here's the description of the buckler from d20srd.org:

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.

Here's the description of the buckler from the 3.5 PHB:

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 because of the extra weight on your arm. 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.

Here's the questions I have regarding the buckler:
1) What kind of penalty is this, exactly? I assume it's not an armor penalty (and thus, isn't reduced by the buckler being masterwork).
2) If the penalty is due to weight, which is how the PHB version describes it, does reducing the buckler's weight remove the penalty?
3) Can that penalty be removed by magic (making the buckler light) or by making the shield out of another material like darkwood?
4) What's considered "extra weight"? Would a stronger race not have this penalty?

I've looked around on the boards and the WOTC FAQs with no luck. Any insight would be greatly appreciated, as we're trying to figure out if it's worth it for a ranger to wear a buckler and wield a dagger in his off hand.

 

[Vysires]

There is a feat called Improved buckler defense. It's in Complete Warrior I believe. It allows you to gain the AC benefit from weaering a buckler while using a weapon in your off-hand. I think you still get the -1 attack penalty.

I don't know of any way to remove that penalty. And to be clear, the penalty is a -1 to your attack rolls. And like most penalties it's unnamed.

 

[Starglim]

1) In version 3.5, all penalties stack, unless they are from the same source, and therefore do not need a type unless some special rule applies.
You're correct that it isn't an armor check penalty. I would say that it's a difficulty factor for wielding the shield, equivalent to the size class of a weapon.

2, 3 and 4) No to all. You are making too much of the comment about weight, which is simply flavour text.
If my theory above holds true, that the buckler attack penalty is equivalent to the size of a weapon, you would need a new feat to negate the penalty. I think that one feat for effectively +1 to attack with your off hand weapon is well balanced:

Buckler Balance
Your strength and coordination allows you to ignore the encumbrance of a buckler.
Prerequisites: STR 11, BAB +1
Benefit: When you use an off-hand weapon or a two-handed weapon with a buckler you do not suffer any attack penalty.