Complete Warrior - Improved Buckler Defense feat

[Legildur]

Apologies in advance, but I don't have books here.

From memory, the Improved Buckler Defense feat from Complete Warrior allows a character to keep the shield bonus to AC when attacking with a weapon in the shield hand (or words to that affect).

My question is, would this also apply to a character wielding a weapon with two-hands? For example, either a double weapon, or say a greatsword.

I suspect not for the greatsword.

 

[Greatfrito]

I'd say that it always allows you to keep the shield bonus, even if you attack with two weapons, or a weapon needing both hands. That seems to be the purpose of the feat.

 

[SeRiAlExPeRiMeNtS]

I'd say that it always allows you to keep the shield bonus, even if you attack with two weapons, or a weapon needing both hands. That seems to be the purpose of the feat.

It makes this feat VERY good, and makes the improved two-weapon defence and greater two-weapon defense feats very useless.

Anyway this feat is too powerfull, makes the one handed weapon and shield combination almost useless...

 

[hong]

It makes this feat VERY good, and makes the improved two-weapon defence and greater two-weapon defense feats very useless.

Anyway this feat is too powerfull, makes the one handed weapon and shield combination almost useless...

I gotta agree.

PS. Tell Nockers to get off his a$$ and start posting already, dammit. Here or on rgfd, it don't matter.

 

[youspoonybard]

Is it too late to agree?

 

[jgsugden]

Could someone post the language of this feat?

If I recall correctly, it uses language stating that a weapon must be wielded in the hand of the buckler. That would seem to apply to one handed (or smaller) weapons wielded in the buckler hand. Using a two handed weapon would be wielding a weapon in both hands, not just that hand. Considering that it would have been easy for them to specify both hands as well, it seems likely that the intention was for this to only work with one hande (or smaller) weapons wielded in that hand. If I recall the language correctly, this is not 100% clear, but does seem to be the intent.

As for balance: This feat has a huge range in usefulness. If someone has a nonmagical buckler, this feat is very reasonable. If they have a very powerful buckler, this feat is far more valuable. Considering that the availability of a buckler can be controlled by the PC (he can buy one, have one made, etc ...), I think we'll need to assume that the PC would have a quality buckler given his level and wealth. Of course, if that PC really wants a shield bonus, he can easily by a dancing shield, or find a way to generate a shield spell.

It might be fine in a low level campaign that will end at 10th level, but I feel that by the time the characters get a ways into epic levels, this feat will be too good not to have. A single feat that can offer a +10 bonus (plus special abilities) to a PC is a bad idea in my mind.

 

[Steverooo]

A single feat that can offer a +10 bonus (plus special abilities) to a PC is a bad idea in my mind.

Huh?

A Buckler is +1 AC. It can be enchanted with up to a +5 Enhancement Bonus (for up to 25,000, is it?) That's +6, maximum. Where are you getting the +10?

 

[jgsugden]

Huh?

A Buckler is +1 AC. It can be enchanted with up to a +5 Enhancement Bonus (for up to 25,000, is it?) That's +6, maximum. Where are you getting the +10?

Epic level bucklers could be +10. I should have said +11.

 

[dagger]

I don't have a problem with Epic characters getting a +10 or even +11 from a shield, most (if not all the monsters) after level 15th level pretty much always hit with the first and second attacks anyway.

Also , the characters are Epic, and they tend to have Epic abilities and Epic gear.

 

[Darklone]

Who cares about Epic. The problem with the feat is that it's better than TWD even with a nonmagical buckler as long as you don't fight defensively and as long you don't carry too much stuff to be able to carry a buckler.