FoxWander
Adventurer
Does the goliath's powerful build ability to use weapons one size category larger than themselves allow them to use a large-sized spiked shield for a shield bash?
There are two schools of thought on this in my gaming group:
1) Powerful build does not allow you to use armor a size larger than you are. Shields are "armor" therefore- no large spiked shield.
2) Per the SRD, "Used this way, a [light/heavy] shield is a martial bludgeoning weapon." As a "weapon", powerful build applies, therefore- large spiked shield is good to go.
The DM, when presented with the goliath shield and waraxe wielding character concept, initially ruled towards position one. Since we didn't know a rules source either way, that's what we went with. If the DM likes it that way, this is a moot point and not a very big deal anyway- the character's fighting style still works, just not as damaging as he envisioned it. But the DM is fairly open to the RAW changing his initial rulings as long as it's not 'rules lawyering' during the game AND the relevant rules on the issue are both balanced and obviously meant to work contrary to his initial ruling.
So, is having powerful build allow "large" shield bash attacks balanced? Is it the best way to interpret how 'shield bash = weapon' and powerful build should work together? Are there any rules we're overlooking on this? Any help or advice would be appreciated.
There are two schools of thought on this in my gaming group:
1) Powerful build does not allow you to use armor a size larger than you are. Shields are "armor" therefore- no large spiked shield.
2) Per the SRD, "Used this way, a [light/heavy] shield is a martial bludgeoning weapon." As a "weapon", powerful build applies, therefore- large spiked shield is good to go.
The DM, when presented with the goliath shield and waraxe wielding character concept, initially ruled towards position one. Since we didn't know a rules source either way, that's what we went with. If the DM likes it that way, this is a moot point and not a very big deal anyway- the character's fighting style still works, just not as damaging as he envisioned it. But the DM is fairly open to the RAW changing his initial rulings as long as it's not 'rules lawyering' during the game AND the relevant rules on the issue are both balanced and obviously meant to work contrary to his initial ruling.
So, is having powerful build allow "large" shield bash attacks balanced? Is it the best way to interpret how 'shield bash = weapon' and powerful build should work together? Are there any rules we're overlooking on this? Any help or advice would be appreciated.