Does a Shield Guardian's amulet take a slot?

[Jeff Wilder]

My necrotheurge recently acquired the amulet which controls a shield guardian. Does that amulet take up the necklace/brooch magic item slot?

On the one hand, the entry for shield guardian says nothing to indicate it would. The shield guardian is simply keyed to recognize the wearer of the amulet as its master.

On the other hand, since the shield guardian can find the amulet anywhere it is on the same plane, and since there's an obvious link between the wearer and the guardian, it clearly is, technically speaking, a magical amulet.

Anybody know an official rule, or have an informed opinion?

 

[Jack Simth]

Not sure if this qualifies as informed, but....

Created by spellcasters to be bodyguards, shield guardians are constructs that protect their masters with spells and stamina. When it is fashioned, a shield guardian is keyed to a particular magical amulet. Henceforth, it regards the wearer of that amulet to be its master, protecting and following that individual everywhere (unless specifically commanded not to do so).

A shield guardian obeys its master’s verbal commands to the best of its ability, although it is not good for much beyond combat and possibly simple manual labor. It can also be keyed to perform specific tasks at specific times or when certain conditions are met. The wearer of the amulet can call the shield guardian from any distance, and it will come as long as it is on the same plane.

A shield guardian is some 9 feet tall and weighs more than 1,200 pounds.

Shield guardians cannot speak, but they understand commands given in any language.

COMBAT

Shield guardians are straightforward in battle, bashing with their heavy stone fists. They are made for defense and are not particularly impressive on offense.

Find Master (Su): As long as a shield guardian and its amulet are on the same plane, the shield guardian can find the amulet wearer (or just the amulet, if it is removed after the guardian is called).

Guard (Ex): If ordered to do so, a shield guardian moves swiftly to defend the wearer of its amulet, blocking blows and disrupting foes. All attacks against the amulet wearer take a –2 penalty when the shield guardian is adjacent to its master.

Shield Other (Sp): The wearer of a shield guardian’s amulet can activate this defensive ability if within 100 feet of the shield guardian. Just as the spell of the same name, this ability transfers to the shield guardian half the damage that would be dealt to the amulet wearer (this ability does not provide the spell’s AC or save bonuses).

(Emphasis added)

As I'm reading it, you have to wear the amulet, and you only have one amulet slot - but note the shield other spell like ability - it's The Wearer that casts it, not the construct - I take this to mean that it does, indeed, consume the item slot.

 

[Henrix]

Yes, it is an amulet, after all. As long as the descriiption of the item does not state otherwise (like the Necklace of fireballs) an item takes up the slot its name indicates.