Defending Weapons

[trentonjoe]

Defending: A defending weapon allows the wielder to transfer some or all of the sword’s enhancement bonus to his AC as a bonus that stacks with all others. As a free action, the wielder chooses how to allocate the weapon’s enhancement bonus at the start of his turn before using the weapon, and the effect to AC lasts until his next turn.
Moderate abjuration; CL 8th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, shield or shield of faith; Price +1 bonus.

Do you need to actually attack with a defending weapon to be able to transfer the bonus to AC or is having in in your hand enough?

I am thinking of wizard charcter who keeps it in his hand and always uses the points for defense.

 

[Darklone]

There was some FAQ or so about it IIRC... Yes, you have to fight with it. Wielding two weapons in your hands and not using the defending one in the left hand did not allow to use the defensive bonus.

 

[Scharlata]

There was some FAQ or so about it IIRC... Yes, you have to fight with it. Wielding two weapons in your hands and not using the defending one in the left hand did not allow to use the defensive bonus.

For 3.0:

Do you have to actively wield a weapon of defending to
use its power? Or could you hold a longsword of defending
in your left hand, not use it to attack (so you are not
actually using the two weapons) and still wield a sword in
your right hand without penalties? Or is the defending
bonus considered part of the normal parrying that happens
in the background?

Using a weapon of defending works just like the Expertise
feat. (You have to use an attack or full attack action.) You can’t
use the weapon like a shield; if you hold the weapon in your off
hand and claim an Armor Class bonus for it, you take all the
penalties for fighting with two weapons, even if you don’t
actually attack with the weapon.


Kind regards

 

[Hypersmurf]

There was some FAQ or so about it IIRC...

It's one of the points that comes up in the "What does 'fight this way' mean?" debate

-Hyp.

 

[Darklone]

It's one of the points that comes up in the "What does 'fight this way' mean?" debate

-Hyp.

Hyp, we need some sticky debates about these topics... starting them all over again every week is tiring