Ring of Force Shield

[RigaMortus2]

Do you treat a Ring of Force Shield like any other shield? That is, can you bash with it and apply shield-based feats to it? Can you gain it's benefits if you use it when wielding a 2-handed weapon?

 

[Hypersmurf]

Do you treat a Ring of Force Shield like any other shield? That is, can you bash with it and apply shield-based feats to it? Can you gain it's benefits if you use it when wielding a 2-handed weapon?

I would rule yes, yes, and no.

But you could, presumably, hold your two-handed weapon in one hand and activate the ring at will as a free action; benefit from the shield bonus while it isn't your turn; then on your turn, deactivate the ring as a free action, regrasp your two-handed weapon as a free action, make your full attack, release your two-handed weapon with one hand, and reactivate the ring as a free action.

You would not have the shield bonus against any AoOs or Readied Action that took place during your turn, and you wouldn't threaten outside your turn.

If you did the same thing with a one-handed weapon, you would gain extra PA and Str bonus benefits duing your turn, but still threaten outside your turn - potentially a better strategy, if you're concerned about missing out on AoOs. Particularly against grapplers.

-Hyp.

 

[Abraxas]

If you rule you can bash with the force shield, don't you threaten with it?

 

[Legildur]

If you did the same thing with a one-handed weapon, you would gain extra PA and Str bonus benefits duing your turn, but still threaten outside your turn - potentially a better strategy, if you're concerned about missing out on AoOs. Particularly against grapplers.

I like the idea, but how would that be different to using a buckler shield to the same effect? i.e. wield longsword in two hands for duration of your turn, then (as free action) drop off hand off the hilt and still threaten and gain shield bonus to AC. Of course, you wouldn't get to claim shield bonus to AC during your turn, which could be an issue for AOOs against you.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I like the idea, but how would that be different to using a buckler shield to the same effect?

Well, the buckler gives a -1 on attack rolls, and if you use a weapon in your off hand, you lose its AC bonus for the rest of the round.

There's been some debate as to whether using a weapon in two hands fulfils the "use a weapon in your off hand" condition, but I think general consensus is that it carries the same definition in this context as "use your shield arm to wield a weapon" - that is, "whether you are using an off-hand weapon or using your off hand to help wield a two-handed weapon".

-Hyp.