My fighter always gets battered-am I "normal"?

[SBMC]

You've read over the magic item description, right? Didn't skip this part, did you?

You'll note the OP's DM did skip this part, which is too bad. Doing that does make it unbalanced.

The Animated enhancement costs a +2. That means, generally, that there are much cheaper ways to get AC up until level 14 or so. And after that....so what?

The primary issue I have is that ya get the free hand...exta attacks or more damage with TWF or two handed weapons, respectively. If it also took up an arm to use then no problem; though that would also negate the reason for it. So ti si not the act that the shiled is animaed; its what you can do now that it is that is the issue.

The reason this is an issue is +2 ; +2! just a mere +2! I get this for 4,000 GP! If it was +5 - no issue from my end; I still think it is overpowered but 25k versus 4k. At 4k I an buy he thing easily by 5th level!

 

[TimSmith]

Not to get off topic to much; but since we are on AC and such; animated sheidls are the most overpowered item in the DMG by far IMO; an item that more or less makes it possible for ANYONE to use a sheild if they have the money (and it' ain't much at all!) ...(which sooner or later they will)...

Foir under 10K ya get a free hand for TWF or double handed use...or casting spells...insane and silly. A wish spell could'nt grow you another arm...but this can? (well it could in theory...ya all get the point I hope)

In my campaigns they are outlawed without exception.

Well, I can see what you mean- since my DM didn't mind this use, I went with it for the extra damage. However, as we have been seeing in the rest of this post, maybe I should have just taken an extra 2 AC points!

Whilst I don't necessarily disagree with your overall assessment of balance, its cost me 8000gp (as it has to have at least a +1 first) BUT don't forget it makes any further AC bonuses through the shield a lot more expensive (as its not 8000gp really, but a +2 enhancement equivalent). I entirely accept that by the RAW I ought to have -2 to hit. However, I am not sure any unbalancing is significant enough to change the advice people are very kindly coming up with. Thanks again to everyone for their input.

 

[Nail]

The reason this is an issue is +2 ; +2! just a mere +2! I get this for 4,000 GP! If it was +5 - no issue from my end;...

Uhmm....

Read that part over again. An animated (heavy) shield would have, at a minimum, a +3 enchantment; +1 enhancement, +2 from the animated power. Total cost: 9,170gp.

Given the typical wealth of a PC, that means such a shield might be worth it by level 11...higher if your other needs take precedence.....Keep in mind: No PC should put all his wealth into one item, or even into just AC. There are other needs.

 

[Nail]

...its cost me 8000gp....

Uh-oh. You get a discount on your items, do you?

...I entirely accept that by the RAW I ought to have -2 to hit.

....but as long as the DM doesn't find out the actual RAW, yer golden.

 

[Grogtar]

Getting discounts on items is cake. I have a Paladin with very high (30+) base diplomacy.

After taking it out with my DM we agreed that a 10% discount on items is fair, and we've roleplayed out brokered deals for better before. Somting like "We will sell all our loot here, and buy our new weapons here too, but we want X% discount"

Cake walk. Either that or someone in the party with crafting feats.

 

[IcyCool]

Getting discounts on items is cake. I have a Paladin with very high (30+) base diplomacy.

After taking it out with my DM we agreed that a 10% discount on items is fair, and we've roleplayed out brokered deals for better before. Somting like "We will sell all our loot here, and buy our new weapons here too, but we want X% discount"

Cake walk. Either that or someone in the party with crafting feats.

To be more clear, this works as per the expanded skill rule for Diplomacy on page 98-99 of Complete Adventurer.

 

[TimSmith]

Uh-oh. You get a discount on your items, do you?

....but as long as the DM doesn't find out the actual RAW, yer golden.

Sorry, I meant that the EXTRA enhancement to make the shield go from +1 to effectively +3 costs 8000gp (as that's the difference between +1 at 1000 and +3 at 9000).

I DO like the two handed damage and (naughty) effective bonus +2 to hit for ignoring tower shield penalties, but as per the responses to this thread I wonder if I might have been better to just take a +3 shield for the AC. Especially because it will make it more expensive to up the AC on the shield later, because the animation counts as +2 rather than just +?gp for animation....

Oh for the heady days of 1st ed when you got what the DM gave you, barring very unusual circumstances, and didn't have the agony of choice at the magic item show room

 

[Nail]

Oh for the heady days of 1st ed when you got what the DM gave you, barring very unusual circumstances, and didn't have the agony of choice at the magic item show room

True.

Given the special staus of your shield, I think you're in fine shape. Even a (total) +7 shield costs a mere 49,000gp....and really, at higher levels that's no big deal (and cheaper than the alternatives).

 

[werk]

Oh, yes. The "conga line of doom", as it used to be known.

Battlefield control is amusing and fun.

Brad

We did that with a room full of lizardmen and about half-way through the DM just said "FINE! You kill them all! You happy?!?" Of course we said "yes, that was our intent."

Strategery...

 

[JamesDJarvis]

The level 12 AC 29 fighter is gonna be hit about 25%. A fair portion of these blows will be ciritcal blows as well. You are goign to take damage. The best way to avoid taking damage isn't a better ac but the ability to dish out more damage, get some +3 weapons.