Can a monk use a shield? It says that the monk is not proficient with armor or shields but if you took shield proficiency or took another class that had it you should be able to use a shield as a monk. It states that a monk using armor doesn't get a bunch of the special abilities and such however it doesn't say that the monk also loses those abilities while using a shield.... was just wondering if it is possible to get the wis AC bonus of a monk and use a shield or buckler.
Monks with shields??
- Thread starter Blib
- Start date
Artoomis
First Post
This has been debated before with the following result, if I remember correctly:
1. The sage says no, monks can't use shields in that manner, because shields = armor.
2. In various places in the PHB a shield is either "armor" or "not armor" - it depends wehere you look and how you read it.
3. You can logically rule it either way base on the rules as written in the PHB.
4. "Real" monks do use shields from time to time - lightweight ones, pretty much. There was even an episode in Kung Fu where Cain used a shield vs. shuriken. If that helps at all (maybe not
)
So, it comes down to whatever you can convince your DM is the right thing to do. It is not earth-shattering either way, especially if you apply the armor check penalty to monk abilities (as you should)..
1. The sage says no, monks can't use shields in that manner, because shields = armor.
2. In various places in the PHB a shield is either "armor" or "not armor" - it depends wehere you look and how you read it.
3. You can logically rule it either way base on the rules as written in the PHB.
4. "Real" monks do use shields from time to time - lightweight ones, pretty much. There was even an episode in Kung Fu where Cain used a shield vs. shuriken. If that helps at all (maybe not
)So, it comes down to whatever you can convince your DM is the right thing to do. It is not earth-shattering either way, especially if you apply the armor check penalty to monk abilities (as you should)..
Mal Malenkirk
First Post
But what if you were using an animated shield?
Artoomis said:
Masterwork small shield or buckler = no armour check penalty. Add a magic vestment spell from your friendly party cleric to bump it up to a +1 to +5 shield. Round out with Mobility, Spring Attack and Expertise.
That said, a party that has access to a 15th level cleric for that +5 shield is pretty buff anyway. It agree, it's not likely to significantly harm game balance.
Hypersmurf
Moderatarrrrh...
The armor check penalty isn't the problem for a monk. They can wear masterwork padded armor - a +1 armor check bonus, if such a thing were possible
- and still lose all their fancy monkisms.The question is whether a shield counts as armor for that purpose. The check penalty of that shield is irrelevant.
-Hyp.
Hypersmurf said:
Indeed, that is the question. I almost had to face this issue with my martial artist/shaman character (the one who isn't a blade dancer yet). I had a wild idea about picking up a small shield, enchanting that, and stacking it with my Wis bonus to AC. Then it was pointed out that I was using a bastard sword two-handed, which put the clappers on that idea.
dcollins
Explorer
The Sage confirmed that for all purposes, shields are armor (just like they're presented on PH p. 104). Thus, monks cannot use them. The documentation is here: http://homepage.mac.com/guyf/DnD/Sage/MonkShield.html
dcollins said:
Screw the sage, I say. If I decide that in my campaign, monks with shields are KeWL and |33t, that's my prerogative.
Not that I'm ever likely to decide that way, mind. I think monks with shields are just... wrong, for some vague, undefinable reason. But in a situation like this, where the rules are ambiguous and a reasonable person could go either way, the sage is just one more voice in the crowd. I've always interpreted the sage's rulings as meaning "if it was my campaign, I would do it this way". Whether or not the sage's campaign feel is something I want to emulate is something that can only be decided on a case-by-case basis.
