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<blockquote data-quote="Bullgrit" data-source="post: 2786301" data-attributes="member: 31216">This isn't really a hijack, just a parallel subject.My group had this debate a few weeks ago, but we didn't really come to any decision:If you are using a heavy shield (though it was a buckler in our particular scenario) on your off-arm while casting a spell, you roll the arcane spell failure chance. But if you are just carrying the heavy shield, even holding it in your off-hand, you do not have to roll the failure chance. So can you &quot;give up&quot; the shield bonus of the shield (effectively changing it's status from &quot;using&quot; to &quot;holding&quot;) for the standard action it takes to cast a spell, and then get the bonus back (changing from &quot;holding&quot; to &quot;using&quot;)?Really, this would only make a difference if someone attacks the caster during the casting time (like with a readied action, a AoO, or during a full-round spell).Conceptually and by RAW, I see no problem with it. But I also slightly fear seeing every mage carrying a heavy shield for the extra +2 (or more) AC bonus.Bullgrit</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Bullgrit, post: 2786301, member: 31216"] This isn't really a hijack, just a parallel subject. My group had this debate a few weeks ago, but we didn't really come to any decision: If you are using a heavy shield (though it was a buckler in our particular scenario) on your off-arm while casting a spell, you roll the arcane spell failure chance. But if you are just carrying the heavy shield, even holding it in your off-hand, you do not have to roll the failure chance. So can you "give up" the shield bonus of the shield (effectively changing it's status from "using" to "holding") for the standard action it takes to cast a spell, and then get the bonus back (changing from "holding" to "using")? Really, this would only make a difference if someone attacks the caster during the casting time (like with a readied action, a AoO, or during a full-round spell). Conceptually and by RAW, I see no problem with it. But I also slightly fear seeing every mage carrying a heavy shield for the extra +2 (or more) AC bonus. Bullgrit [/QUOTE]

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