Buckler Question

[James McMurray]

Make it mithral and the rapier wielding arcane trickster can still cast spells.

 

[shilsen]

Make it mithral and the rapier wielding arcane trickster can still cast spells.

And a wizard or sorcerer can use it just as well.

 

[James McMurray]

And the dragon too.

I didn't mean for it to seem that my specific example was the only one available. I was just expounding on Trainz's example.

 

[robberbaron]

Try firing a crossbow while also putting your buckler in the way of incoming weapons. The bolt could go anywhere.

If you need your off hand to use a weapon, you will not be able to get any defensive benefit from your buckler. Either that or your shot would go in a random direction.

 

[Li Shenron]

There is one interesting thing about bucklers:

You don't suffer any penalties from using a magical or masterwork buckler if you don't have the proper shield profeciency.

That would be the same for several light armors as well. I have seen a couple of Wizards or Sorcerers use Padded or Leather armors for a little protection without any proficiency, if you accept to cope with a 5% or 10% ASF.

 

[cantrip]

There is one interesting thing about bucklers:

You don't suffer any penalties from using a magical or masterwork buckler if you don't have the proper shield profeciency.

That is one cool thing. Strap on a buckler +5 and you just gave your rapier weilding rogue a +6 AC, with no penalties on checks or attack rolls.

Ok. A masterwork buckler has its armor check penalty is lessened by 1, but I couldn't find anything about negating the attack penalty.
Am I missing something obvious?

 

[Deset Gled]

Am I missing something obvious?

A rapier is a one handed weapon.

 

[cantrip]

A rapier is a one handed weapon.

No, that I remembered(I think). The part I was missing was

Normal: When you are using a shield with which you are not proficient, you take the shield’s armor check penalty on attack rolls and on all skill checks that involve moving, including Ride checks.

I guess I should try to play a character who doesn't have one or more levels in Bard

 

[Darklone]

I guess I should try to play a character who doesn't have one or more levels in Bard

Nah, it's not worth it

 

[Trainz]

Ok. A masterwork buckler has its armor check penalty is lessened by 1, but I couldn't find anything about negating the attack penalty.
Am I missing something obvious?

You could say so:

- A buckler (or small shield for that matter) has an armor check penalty of -1

- A masterwork shield has it's armor check penalty reduced by 1

Therefore, a masterwork small shield or buckler doesn't have an armor check penalty. It still applies to attack rolls if you're not proficient, but the penalty to apply here is effectively 0.