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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Elder-Basilisk" data-source="post: 627062" data-attributes="member: 3146">The Kalamar Player's guide has a shield specialization feat that gives all shields a +1 to armor class and the ability to make attacks with the shield without forfeiting the armor class (except for that extra +1).As far as shields go, however, I think they end up modelling the amount of protection they give fairly well all things considered. . . as long as you maintain a level of magic item availability fairly close to the book and the players do more to focus their character defensively than just pick up a shield (buying good armor and, when it's available, amulets of natural armor, rings of protection, etc). If you allow more magic than the book, shields can become unnecessary (as characters can buy more powerful amulets, rings, and armor to offset the loss that would otherwise come from not having a shield) and if you allow significantly less magic, all armor class can become pointless as monsters' attack bonusses increase. (Which is why Star Wars, and WoT include a level based defense bonus which stacks with armor).The reason for this is that small bonusses to armor class mean more the higher an armor class is. A demonstration of how this works out follows:Assume a standard foe at level 1 has +3 to hit (Orc War 1 w/greataxe, 14 str) , at level 4 he has +8 to hit (Orc War 4 w/masterwork greataxe, weapon focus, 14 str) , at level 8 he has +14/+9 to hit (Orc War 8 w/+1 greataxe, weapon focus, 18 str.--after a bull's strength or some other buff)Similarly evaluate the defense of the PC this way: Dex 13.Level 1: Chain mail and large shield; Level 4: Masterwork fullplate, +1 shield; Level 8: +2 fullplate, +2 shield, +1 ring, +1 amulet.Level 1: AC 16 or 18 (with shield)Standard Opponent hits on a 13 or a 15.Level 4: AC 19 or 22 (with shield)Standard Opponent hits on a 11 or a 14.Level 8: AC 23 or 27 (with shield)Standard Opponent hits on a 9/14 or a 13/18.Crunching the numbers with the Munchkin Damage Calculator<a href="http://www.public.asu.edu/~tarchon/munchkin.html" target="_blank">http://www.public.asu.edu/~tarchon/munchkin.html</a>I get the following amount of average damage per round inflicted on the shieldless character and the character with the shield:Level 1: 4.18 or 3.135--a 25% reduction in damageLevel 4: 5.225 or 3.6575--a 30% reduction in damageLevel 8: 14.1075 or 8.1675--a 42% reduction in damageSo, for moderately defense (None of the characters are as well defensively equipped as they could be--although the first level fighter is close for a starting character) focussed characters with reasonable equipment for PCs of their level, the simple shield results in a 25-42% reduction of average damage taken.However, if by level 8, the character has only found a +1 shield and is relying on masterwork fullplate for the rest of his defense, you get the following results from an orc armed with a masterwork axe (the 18 strength may come from rage or slightly better than average stats):18.5625 or 14.4375--a 22% reduction in damageIf the character hasn't managed to get any magic items at all by 8th level, it's:18.5525 or 15.8125--a mere 15% reduction in damageIf the foe has a higher attack bonus, the shield will make less difference; if the foe has a lower attack bonus the shield will make more difference.</blockquote>

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