Shield Enhancement...Greater Dancing

[kreynolds]

This one is pretty easy. Basically, its a kick-butt version of dancing (S&F, and I think it might have shown up somewhere else too, but I'm not sure about that). The rules portion is quite simple, but let me know whether or not you think I pegged the market price modifier. I was trying to be cautious with it, so some of you might think I pegged it too high. Anyways, here it is...

Greater Dancing
As a dancing shield but with the following changes: The wearer can loose a greater dancing shield as a standard action and command it to protect a single character (possibly the wearer himself). The greater dancing shield floats in the air in front of the protected character, darting in front of an opponent’s weapons and providing its full AC bonus, just as if it was worn by the character. While dancing, the shield does not bestow an arcane spell failure chance or an armor check penalty, but neither can it be used as a weapon (such as with a shield bash). There is no limit to how long it can dance. Speaking the command word again (a standard action) returns the shield to the bearer fully equipped.
&nbsp&nbsp&nbspOnly one greater dancing shield can protect a character at a time. Unlike a dancing shield, it is fully effective at protecting any sized creature, so long as the shield is of the proper size for that creature. The dancing shield only functions for a character that is proficient with using shields.
&nbsp&nbsp&nbspCaster Level: 20th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armor, animate objects; Market Price: +5 bonus.

 

[Nifft]

The wearer can loose a greater dancing shield as a standard action and command it to protect a single character (possibly the wearer himself)... The dancing shield only functions for a character that is proficient with using shields.

HTML point: "non-breaking space" is "nbsp" between a "&" and a ";" -- without the semicolon, it's not a complete "HTML entity", and some browsers will show an "&nbsp" or two instead of making a space.

Now, about the enhancement: what does this last bit mean? Only a proficient user can TRIGGER the Greater Dancing, or only a proficient character can be the TARGET of the Greater Dancing effect?

Could a single fighter have two Large Greater Dancing shields, send one each to protect a couple of spellcasters, then draw his Greatsword and lay down some smack?

I think the first property -- that you can send it to protect someone else -- is going to prove problematic. I'd remove that property and lower the price to just +1 over the standard Dancing price, whatever that is. (Don't have my books at work, for some strange reason. )

-- Nifft

 

[kreynolds]

Re: Re: Shield Enhancement...Greater Dancing

...some browsers will show an "&nbsp" or two instead of making a space.

If you're not using IE, its not my problem. I don't support other browsers.

Now, about the enhancement: what does this last bit mean? Only a proficient user can TRIGGER the Greater Dancing, or only a proficient character can be the TARGET of the Greater Dancing effect?

I used the same verbage from Sword and Fist. I interpret that to mean "only a proficient user can trigger".

Could a single fighter have two Large Greater Dancing shields, send one each to protect a couple of spellcasters, then draw his Greatsword and lay down some smack?

Nope. That is also my interpretation of the original dancing enhancement from Sword & Fist.

I think the first property -- that you can send it to protect someone else -- is going to prove problematic.

Why is that?

I'd remove that property and lower the price to just +1 over the standard Dancing price, whatever that is. (Don't have my books at work, for some strange reason. )

That's what the shield enhancement animated is for. It's from the DMG, functions only for the wielder and has no limited duration. It also provides the full AC bonus, whereas dancing from S&F only provides a cover bonus to AC equal to the enhancement bonus on the shield.

 

[Phaedrus]

Why +5?

The difference from "normal" dancing is no duration limit and armor vs cover bonus to AC, right?

Is that worth +2? I'm inclined to make it +4

 

[kreynolds]

Why +5?

See first post.

The difference from "normal" dancing is no duration limit and armor vs cover bonus to AC, right?

Yup.

Is that worth +2?

I don't know for sure. That's why I asked.

I'm inclined to make it +4

Cool. Thanks for the input.

 

[Nifft]

Okay, I checked S&F, and IMHO "Dancing" is a stupid quality. Greater Dancing is at least somewhat useful -- I'd give it a +4.

However, I prefer Animated -- less power, but also less potential for loopholes.

-- Nifft

PS: You now owe my custom PrC a look-see

http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=44247