Ring of Force Shield and Two-handed weapons

[Mithril Man]

Hi all,
Anyone know if there is an official ruling on this? Can a character with a ring of force shield get the +2 bonus while using a two-handed weapon given that the ring can be activated as a free action? In other words, can the character attack with the force shield 'off' and then activate it as a free action before being attacked (and vice versa--deactivate it before attacking)?

And specifically with bastard swords--could the character switch from one to two hands that quickly? I assume they would differ from two-handed swords in this regard.

 

[gfunk]

Here is the description from the SRD,

"An iron band, this simple ring generates a large shield-sized (and shield-shaped) wall of force that stays with the ring and can be wielded by the wearer as if it were a normal shield (+2 AC). This special creation, since it can be activated and deactivated at will (a free action), has no armor check penalty or arcane spell failure chance."

Seems pretty straighforward to me. The benefits are that it has no armor check penalty or arcane spell failure, allowing it to be used by classes w/o shield proficiency. However, in other respects it is treated "as if it were a normal shield." A normal shield requires one hand to use...

 

[kreynolds]

[BThis special creation, since it can be activated and deactivated at will (a free action), has no armor check penalty or arcane spell failure chance."[/B]

This part tells me that no matter what you do on your round, it won't interfere with skill checks or spell casting, so why would it interfere with attacks? It wouldn't. It's designed to not interfere with you during your actions but gives you that AC benefit the rest of the time. Have fun with it Mithril Man!

 

[nwn_deadman]

I would have to go with gfunk on this one.

I can be weilded. Does not say that you do not need a hand or arm to use it tho.

 

[kreynolds]

I would have to go with gfunk on this one.

I can be weilded. Does not say that you do not need a hand or arm to use it tho.

It also doesn't say that it explodes in your face if you eat a hotdog, but that isn't really the point. What it does say, and pointedly mention, is that activating and deactivating it is a free action. I figure that since it doesn't get in the way when you cast spells (no arcane spell failure chance) or do anything that may require a Dex involved skill check (no armor check penalty), that it wouldn't interfere with your attacks.

 

[nwn_deadman]

Whatever...

It does have to be wielded, does it not?

It may be activated and de-activated as a free action, but how many free actions can someone take in a round?

 

[Hejdun]

If I were teh DM, I would use logic and say that he doesn't get the AC. For one, what you are describe entails having the shield up for about 1 second every round, roughly .5 second at the beginning and end of a turn. That is hardly enough to provide any significant coverage and still let you swing a 2handed weapon efficeintly.

I realize I am going against the rules here, but I think it's going against the intent of the magic item in a munchy and rules lawyerish manner.

 

[Geoff Watson]

I'd say that it can't be used with a two-handed weapon. It says it is like a normal shield, and doesn't say that you don't need a hand to hold it.

Geoff.

 

[kreynolds]

I realize I am going against the rules here...

Well, that's true. Just pokin'. (but it is true)

...but I think it's going against the intent of the magic item in a munchy and rules lawyerish manner.

Rules Lawyerish? Maybe a little bit. Munchy? Don't gripe to me, I didn't make the frickin' thing, now did I?

But let's go ahead and break down the cost of this item. The Ring of Force Shield (damn silly name if you ask me) costs 8,500gp:

1) +2 AC (armor) - 2 x 2 x 1,000gp = 4,000gp
2) The rest, 4,500gp, would be the free action activate/deactive/0 armor check penalty/0% arcane spell failure chance.

Sounds perfectly fair and reasonable to me.

 

[Valicor]

I myself was using a a 2-handed weapon with this rign for awhile, but it was pointed out that you cannot maintain the ac bonus with a sheild, if the hand was used in an attack. so my DM let me change the item to a ring of protection instead.

As for free actions there is absoluetely no official limit on an amount fo free actions a round.

If you DM does allow you to retain the AC bonus with the sheild and weapon, you should atleast be considered holding the weapon one-handed when you finnish your combat. this way you don't still have a +4 bonus verse disamr checks. Plus it is a good way of repesentign your reshifting the balance to retain AC bonus.