Bucklers and Two-Weapon Fighting

[Garnfellow]

The buckler description in the SRD says

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.

Does the -1 penalty apply only to off-hand attacks, or to primary hand attacks as well?

 

[Rallets2]

"This penalty stacks with those that may apply for fighting with your off hand and for fighting with two weapons"

They are discussing using off hand tactics or using the hand that has the buckler on for two handed attacks.

So If you are duel Weilding then yes just the offhand. Im not sure if you can use 2 bucklers though so if you have one on each arm I think that the -1 should apply to the Hand that is using the buckler

 

[Pinotage]

So If you are duel Weilding then yes just the offhand. Im not sure if you can use 2 bucklers though so if you have one on each arm I think that the -1 should apply to the Hand that is using the buckler

Except that the AC bonus from the bucklers won't stack while wielding two, so while I could imagine it could be done, it doesn't gain you anything since you can't even bash with a buckler. Of course, there is a lot of debate about bashing with a shield in the primary hand, but that's another matter.

Pinotage

 

[Kemrain]

"This penalty stacks with those that may apply for fighting with your off hand and for fighting with two weapons"

They are discussing using off hand tactics or using the hand that has the buckler on for two handed attacks.

So If you are duel Weilding then yes just the offhand. Im not sure if you can use 2 bucklers though so if you have one on each arm I think that the -1 should apply to the Hand that is using the buckler

I think you can, and might want to if you found 2 bucklers that gave cool magical effects ontop of their shield bonuses.
Cool idea.

- Kemrain the Dual Wielder.

 

[Jdvn1]

... I thought you'd take the -1 to all attacks. You have to fight awkwardly to get the shield bonus.

 

[Yeoman]

... I thought you'd take the -1 to all attacks. You have to fight awkwardly to get the shield bonus.

That is what I thought as well. It's what my group has been doing.

 

[hazmat]

I thought it only applied to the off hand attack and you don't get the shield bonus if you attack with the off hand. I think there's a feat that allows you to get the bonus even if you attack with the off hand.

 

[Jdvn1]

Hm, I'm pretty sure how it works RAW (this is that forum, isn't it? ) is you get a -1 to all of your attacks when fighting with two weapons(or a double weapon) and weilding a buckler (and wanting the shield bonus).

The result is +1 shield bonus to AC traded for +1 to attacks, which makes sense.

 

[Jdvn1]

I think you can, and might want to if you found 2 bucklers that gave cool magical effects ontop of their shield bonuses.
Cool idea.

- Kemrain the Dual Wielder.

Well, shield bonuses don't stack.

And a dual-shield-wielding fighter would be... well, odd, for one.

 

[Darthjaye]

I thought it only applied to the off hand attack and you don't get the shield bonus if you attack with the off hand. I think there's a feat that allows you to get the bonus even if you attack with the off hand.

There is. It's called Improved Buckler Defense and it's from the Complete Warrior. It allows you to retain the AC bonus with the bucklere in your off hand while still making attacks with said hand.