Improved Buckler Def + Shield Ward?

[0-hr]

Does Improved Buckler Defense (from Complete Warrior - allows you to add shield bonus to AC when fighting with a two-handed weapon) work with Shield Specialization & Shield Ward (from PHBII, pg82 - allows you to add shield bonus to touch AC, disarm/trip defense, etc.) ?


And just to check, can you use Improved Buckler Defense with a two handed weapon?

 

[Legildur]

I thought that Shield Specialisation could only be taken for light and heavy shields?

Many people don't believe that Improved Buckler Defense works with a two-handed weapon, but there are many people who do. There are some threads around on the topic that were discussed heavily this year.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

First point: If Shield Specialization works on bucklers, then yes.

Second Point: Any rational DM will let you fight 2-handed with a buckler and IBD. If your DM is irrational, abuse the fact that you're apparantly not using your off-hand to wield a weapon (carry a torch, cast spells, maybe even TWF!), justifying each time by saying, "but I'm not using the hand to wield my greatsword," until (s)he realizes the hole in his/her logic. ^_^

 

[Darklone]

First point: If Shield Specialization works on bucklers, then yes.

Second Point: Any rational DM will let you fight 2-handed with a buckler and IBD. If your DM is irrational, abuse the fact that you're apparantly not using your off-hand to wield a weapon (carry a torch, cast spells, maybe even TWF!), justifying each time by saying, "but I'm not using the hand to wield my greatsword," until (s)he realizes the hole in his/her logic. ^_^

Shield Spec works with bucklers.

To the second point: If you're DM does not like twohanded weapons with a buckler, be it because he thinks it's silly or because he does not like a shield plus 1.5 str bonus to damage... plus the Power Attack advantage... Talk to him, ask him, don't argue. I'm usually nice and people can argue with me... sensible. But if a player would ask me about this topic and wouldn't understand the meaning of the word "NO!" and would try to follow such an "abuse" tactic to annoy me and disturb the game, I'd kick him. And that kicking would be totally rational.

Cheese is fine but not everyone likes it.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Shield Spec works with bucklers.

To the second point: If you're DM does not like twohanded weapons with a buckler, be it because he thinks it's silly or because he does not like a shield plus 1.5 str bonus to damage... plus the Power Attack advantage... Talk to him, ask him, don't argue. I'm usually nice and people can argue with me... sensible. But if a player would ask me about this topic and wouldn't understand the meaning of the word "NO!" and would try to follow such an "abuse" tactic to annoy me and disturb the game, I'd kick him. And that kicking would be totally rational.

Cheese is fine but not everyone likes it.

I meant that second part mostly in jest. I woud argue with the DM about it and try to convince him of my point, rather than being combative with him. But if the DM thinks 2-handed fighting is "broken," the solution should be to power-up TWF, not nerf the former or apply arbitrary houserules that don't really make sense. At least, that's my opinion.

 

[Darklone]

I meant that second part mostly in jest. I woud argue with the DM about it and try to convince him of my point, rather than being combative with him. But if the DM thinks 2-handed fighting is "broken," the solution should be to power-up TWF, not nerf the former or apply arbitrary houserules that don't really make sense. At least, that's my opinion.

No offense taken, I'm simply in a mood today to express myself clearly.

But can you imagine that your DM might think allowing IBD with a twohanded weapon might be what he considers to be an "arbitrary houserule"?

If you're interested in that point of view, check out the last page long discussions about that topic

 

[0-hr]

I guess I feel that all of the shield bonus feats are meant to offset the big bonuses of fighting two handed. If you are doing x2 power attack and x1.5 STR damage, then (balance-wise), I don't think players should be milking the shield feats at the same time. Since I also have trouble imagining using a buckler effectively with both hands on one weapon, I'm inlclined to interpret the IBD feat conservatively barring official clarification.

That's a shame that the rule is not 100% clear though (there should be a place to get answers to Frequently Asked Questions like this...).


EDIT: And if anyone has a link to one of these previous threads, I'd love to read 'em.