Can I use two shields at the same time?

[dcollins]

Since I usually agree with you, your opinion on this matter carries some weight with me...

Flattery will get you everywhere.

Personally, I wouldn't want to see anyone in my games carrying around two shields (visualizing them clearly getting in the way of each other), so I would look for the most restrictive ruling I could find. This is a case in which I could easily see someone like the Sage ruling that the "off-hand" statement is presumptive only.

 

[reapersaurus]

But I'd have to take a -4 to my shield bashes for using the off hand or else pick up the Ambidexterity feat.

So, any further comments or insights on these two character ideas?

i don't understand - if you are using the shield to bash in the primary hand, you get no penalty.

As for comments and character ideas - i think the idea is sound (since I refined the idea of a shield-smacking PC of course i like it) but it can be done more effectively, if you wanted to.

Look for the Sultans of Smack thread, about 3/4s of the way down the first page is a smackdown involving a shield-bashing PC.

If you wanna do serious hurt, it probably helps to take a couple levels of fighter, then go cleric. (actually a level of Ranger first if you wanna use 2 shields)
Use as high of STR and CHA as you can get, take Divine Might and be a cleric with the Charm domain and get a Shield of Command and you'll be doing +8 damage on each shield bash just from your Divine Might.
+16 if using both shields.
+32 when doubled from Improved Shield Bash.
Get ahold of Rhino Hide Armor and do double damage again on a charge.
That's not to mention the damage from the shield (of Bashing) and your STR bonus.

 

[Rel]

Thanks for the further replies guys.

dcollins, I hear you about trying to visualize using those shields at the same time. But I have an easier time with that than picturing effectively using the orcish double axe effectively and some of the other double weapons that nobody bats an eye at.

I'm going on vacation this weekend with the guy who will be my GM so I'll run this by him and make sure it doesn't mess up his campaign mojo because it is too silly.

reapersaurus, I read the paladin-shield smackdown. It certainly made me feel less munchkin

I'm not necessarily looking to totally max out this guy for shield bash combat. I just want him to be effective and interesting to play. I haven't gotten much chance to play 3E as I've mostly been GMing. I've been wanting to try out a Cleric and was looking for some ways to make him stand out.

One thing that I did pick up from the smackdown thread is the idea of using Brambles to enhance a wooden shield. Thanks for that.

 

[reapersaurus]

LOL

actually, Spikes is 10 times better, but Brambles helps it, too.

Have fun playing him!

 

[dcollins]

But I have an easier time with that than picturing effectively using the orcish double axe effectively and some of the other double weapons that nobody bats an eye at.

Well, clearly quarterstaffs (and bo sticks, lajatangs, and sang kauws -- I think those are all real weapons) exist in reality, which is not true for a double-shield wielding style.

- It's not that much of a stretch to imagine something a bit heavier and bladed than a staff/lajatang/sang kauw.
- Obviously the blades of a double axe couldn't actually smack into each other, like would be the problem with two shields.
- The double axe (and all wierd D&D double weapons) require a feat to be expended to avoid penalties, so the rules support your (and my) intuition that something like that should be harder to use than a normal weapon.

 

[reapersaurus]

dcollins - there is nowhere in the books that states than shields are different when using TWF with them.

Shields come in all shapes and sizes.
I don't think pigeon-holing them into big round pieces of metal to fit your picture is doing a Shield-bashing PC very much justice.

 

[dcollins]

GOTO top of page;

 

[reapersaurus]

i know the words in the books, and i'm stating again - there are no rules that say shields work differently (or i should clarify: there's nothing that stops you from using them in a TWF configuration)

 

[ForceUser]

Hate to be the party pooper, but I'd probably rule-zero dual-wielding shields IMC if any player seriously approached me with this character concept. It's silly and defies plausibility as a method of martial training. That said, I don't see why you couldn't do it mechanically, though if you had a shield in each hand you'd have to declare every round whether you were using your off-hand shield as a weapon or as protection. If you declared weapon, you'd be dual-wielding with all the inherent penalties and applicable feats. If you declared protection, I'd treat your combo like sword-and-board.

 

[reapersaurus]

It's silly and defies plausibility as a method of martial training.

Just because:

And some of the other more implausible weapons currently in the core rules of 3E ARE covered in "martial training"?

And how can you say that a magic Bashing Shield of Knockback is not a plausible method of martial training?

If you really are taking the approach that unless a particular weapon was used in real life military, than a PC can't have it.... that sounds awfully unreasonable as a DM to me.