Shield Bashing

[thorian]

Just found the Shield of Vigilance in Magic of Faerun. It is a +1 bashing, shock, large steel shield (imagine that). They list the market price as 9170 (the 170 for masterwork large steel shield of course). Just because they list it in the book, doesn't make it correct, but it seems like they just took the weapon enhancement of shock (+1) and counted it as an armor enhancement. I would never allow this as it makes shields almost half the price to enchant with weapon abilities. I like Hypersmurf's idea or having the +1 weapon enhancement put on first, before shock can be added. The question then becomes, how do you limit the total enhancement of the shield when adding both weapon and shield enchantments?

 

[Hypersmurf]

The question then becomes, how do you limit the total enhancement of the shield when adding both weapon and shield enchantments?

A shield can be built that also acts as a magic weapon.

Limit of +10 in Shield enhancements and bonuses, and limit of +10 in Weapon enhancements and bonuses. (Just like the two ends of a double weapon are treated completely independently.)

I'd also require that the shield be originally crafted as a masterwork weapon (+300gp) before any weapon abilities are allowed, and as a masterwork shield (+150gp) before any shield abilities are allowed.

So for a +5 Heavy Fortification / +5 Flaming Burst, Shocking Burst, Frost Large Shield, I'd charge 300,470gp.

-Hyp.

 

[Caliban]

You can use armor spikes as either a primary attack or an off-hand attack. So, "off-hand attack" doesn't necessarily mean "a weapon held in the off hand".

I don't think that's relevent to this situation. Armor spikes are attached to both the left and right sides of your armor, so you have a choice as to which side you are using. Also, the description of armor spikes says you have a choice. The shield description does not.

You could hold your shield in your primary hand... but bashing with it would still be using it "as an off-hand weapon".

The 1/2 Str bonus to damage applies to weapons "held in the off hand".

If you make an attack with an off-hand weapon held in your primary hand, does it still take the damage hit?

-Hyp.

What definition of "off-hand" are you using? YOu seem to be trying to create a new definition here.

Based on the MM, your "off-hand" is anything that is not your primary hand. (Page 304, multi-weapon fighting).

Shields are not intended to be used in your primary hand, they are not intended to be primary weapons. They are a defensive device that can be used as a secondary weapon. If you used it in your primary hand, I'd probably give you a non-proficiency penalty on your attack rolls (because that is not how anyone is trained to used it), but allow full strength damage.

If you want to be using the shield as your primary weapon all the time, spend a feat to gain proficiency with it, to represent your unusual fighting style.

 

[reapersaurus]

Interesting, Caliban - what benefit are you going to grant the Shield, since you just made it an Exotic Weapon, and customarily Exotic weapons have SOME advantage over weapons that don't require a feat.