Goliaths and Very Large Shields

[Tetsubo]

The Goliath race (Races of Stone) has the Powerful Build racial ability. Which, among other things, allows the race to wield weapons one size larger than their Medium size. If a Goliath can wield a Large Bastard Sword in one hand (with appropriate Exotic Feat) what would stop them from utilizing a Very Large Shield in one hand as well? Something like a Tower Shield in size but not requiring the Feat, Tower Shield Proficiency... Would this be unbalancing? Maybe just have a Large shield (no Tower Shield cover issue) that was +1 over a normal sized shield of that type... Any thoughts?

 

[UltimaGabe]

The Goliath race (Races of Stone) has the Powerful Build racial ability. Which, among other things, allows the race to wield weapons one size larger than their Medium size. If a Goliath can wield a Large Bastard Sword in one hand (with appropriate Exotic Feat) what would stop them from utilizing a Very Large Shield in one hand as well? Something like a Tower Shield in size but not requiring the Feat, Tower Shield Proficiency... Would this be unbalancing? Maybe just have a Large shield (no Tower Shield cover issue) that was +1 over a normal sized shield of that type... Any thoughts?

Well, the thing is, the reason that they have to make a distinction between sizes of weapons is because different sizes of weapons do different amounts of damage. Different shields, however, don't- a Cloud Giant wearing a Large Steel Shield gets the same +2 to AC that a Kobold wearing one gets, even though there's dozens of feet in the size difference. Basically, mechanically, the size of the shield means nothing- so don't bother trying to change that. If you want your character to use a Tower Shield, they have to have the Tower Shield proficiency. Powerful Build is already crazy enough as it is- don't go and hand out more bonuses that don't apply anywhere else in the game.

 

[Tetsubo]

Well, the thing is, the reason that they have to make a distinction between sizes of weapons is because different sizes of weapons do different amounts of damage. Different shields, however, don't- a Cloud Giant wearing a Large Steel Shield gets the same +2 to AC that a Kobold wearing one gets, even though there's dozens of feet in the size difference. Basically, mechanically, the size of the shield means nothing- so don't bother trying to change that. If you want your character to use a Tower Shield, they have to have the Tower Shield proficiency. Powerful Build is already crazy enough as it is- don't go and hand out more bonuses that don't apply anywhere else in the game.

But neither the Giant nor the Kobold have the Powerful Build racial ability. If you can use a Large weapon with ease as a Goliath, you should be able to use a Large X with ease as well. The Large object in question should be immaterial. That the game doesn't make a disctinction for Large shields is a flaw with the game...

And I've never really liked the Tower Shiled mechanics...

I guess I'll have to dwell on this a bit more...

 

[Crothian]

sure, why not. let the shiled give a +3 bonus insterad of +2. an AC of one higher is not going to break anything....