Facing Problems? Shield and Tower Shield

[Cloudgatherer]

Is it me or does 3e do a half-hearted job of facing?

Specifically, I'm wondering how the other DMs out there handle tower shields and the shield spell. So far, I've been pretty lenient, if there is only one opponent, I assume they keep their respective defenses pointed at the guy. This avoids the loophole of "bad guys steps around shield/tower shield and lays into you".

Also, how do you handle these two aspects with result to the 3rd dimension (up and down, or above/below)? For example, say a mage with the shield spell up is hit with a flamestrike, is there a situation where he would get the reflex bonus? Is there one where he wouldn't?

Thanks for any feedback!

 

[Crothian]

I use a map a chits for the people. Then I'm able to mark where the shields are. For people to get around tower shields they have to physically move. I don't allow reaching around shields or around corners.

 

[Thanee]

Does the Shield spell grant a reflex save bonus? I supposed it only gave that +7 cover bonus to AC now. At least we play it like that.

Unless the opponent can see the Shield spell (i.e. See Invisibility) or does have knowledge about such spells, he just attacks as usual, not trying to surround the Shield in any way.

If, however, he has knowledge about the spell, he might try to forsake a full attack to move around and hit him in the back. This doesn't really happen usually, tho.

Bye
Thanee

 

[twjensen]

Just the cover bonus?

I believe that the shield was errata'd to only give the cover bonus and the protection from magic missile. Its still arguably the most powerful 1st level spell in the game.

 

[hong]

The only change that has been mooted for the shield spell is whether it provides actual cover. The +7 cover bonus to AC and +4 cover bonus to Ref saves have never been in question.

To answer the original questions, it should be possible to step around a tower shield or shield spell, but that would provoke an AoO from the defender (minimum two 5' squares of movement). The shield spell wouldn't give a benefit against a flamestrike, unless it was positioned to give cover against attacks from above (in which case it wouldn't give cover against attacks from the side).

 

[Artoomis]

Actually, the shield spell has never had errata published fot it.

Be that as it may, those who have addressed the spell at WotC seeem to all feel the same way - it does not protect you from AoO the way actual cover would. Otherwise, it's as written in the spell.