Shield spell armor type

[uberkitty]

The description of the spell "Shield" doesn't specify what type of AC bonus it provides (shield, armor, deflection, etc.). This was relevant because a fighter was attempting to grapple a mage with Shield cast on him. The first stage of grapple is a grab: a melee touch attack. The question was, could the mage count the AC bonus of Shield or not?

(We eventually agreed that, since Shield is called , uh, SHIELD, it should be counted as a shield bonus to AC, and therefore could NOT protect the mage from a touch attack.)

Any thoughts?

 

[Judas]

I've always ruled it as a Deflection bonus by the spells own description. So in case of your example, yes it would apply. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[mikebr99]

SRD:

Shield creates an invisible, mobile disk of force that hovers in front of the character. It negates magic missile attacks directed at
the character. The disk also intercepts attacks, providing three-quarters cover (+7 AC and +3 on Reflex saves against attacks
that affect an area). The disk moves out of the way when the character attacks, so it does not provide cover to opponents. The
disk protects the character only against magic missiles and attacks from one direction. The character designates half the
battlefield as being blocked by the shield. The other half is not. The character can change the defensive direction of the shield
(that is, rotate the dividing line) once as a free action on each of the character's turns.

Sounds like a deflection bonus to me...

 

[Jack Haggerty]

It's not any sort of armor or deflection bonus... It's cover. The quote from the SRD states that explicitly.

 

[uberkitty]

It's not any sort of armor or deflection bonus... It's cover. The quote from the SRD states that explicitly.

So how would cover affect a melee touch attack?

 

[Dr. Zoom]

3/4 cover provides a +7 to your AC. Melee touch attacks do not ignore cover.

If you play with the popular house rule that this spell does not provide cover, but only a +7 cover bonus to the AC, then it still provides this bonus vs. a melee touch attack.

 

[Dreaddisease]

3/4 Cover and the +7 to AC are nearly synonymous. The only thing cover adds is the Reflex Save. So that may be a popular house rule but I still don't think that +3 to reflex is that bad.

From the SRD
"
Degree of Cover AC Cover Reflex
Cover Bonus Save Bonus
--------- -------- ------------
1/4 +2 +1
1/2 +4 +2
3/4 +7 +3
9/10 +10 +4*
Total - -
"

 

[nsruf]

The problem with a shield spell providing real cover is that 50%+ cover prevents AoOs, which many people consider too powerful. The reflex save bonus is listed in the spell description and thus does apply anyway.

 

[Judas]

Oops... Page cache re-submitted.. D'oh!

 

[Xarlen]

Note, however, that it only applies to One Direction. You can flank a wizard as so:

R
W)F
B

W-Wizard B-Barbarian F-Fighter R-Rogue )- Shield spell.

As you can see, that wizard is dead, that's obvious. But, he doesn't get the +7 to his AC on either side.

Really, they should change the name. It seems better as 'Force Barrier' or 'Forcefield' or something.

Edit: Fixed due to next post. Thanks for clearing that up.