Should shields count against touch attacks?

[Narfellus]

I was thinking the other day after reading another thread about how shields aren't as useful in DnD as they are in real life. So, a touch attack only has to bypass Dex and deflection and maybe a few other special AC bonuses, but in general it's pretty easy. But would throwing a shield up to divert someone's hand, or that ray of frost, wouldn't that little inkling of a shield bonus be applicable? It's being directed away from your body...

 

[Tatsukun]

But what about shocking grasp?

I think the idea with touch attacks is that they hit you, or something you are wearing / holding.

I guess I missed the shield thread, but I think they are fairly useful in DnD. If for nothing else, they are easy to equip when you get surprised. I have had (as DM) mooks running to the sound of a fight with chain shirts and tower shields because they didn't have time for heavier armor (and they spleep in the chain shirts).

-Tatsu

 

[Narfellus]

What if the shocking grasp was grounded into a wooden shield, or charred the shield and not the target? Maybe i'm splitting hairs, i know the combat system is abstract by default, and it probably does mean touching/hitting in your vicinity. It just seemed logical to me that using a +3 tower shield would make it much harder to be touched than having nothing at all. And since touch attacks are so easy anyway...

 

[Aaron2]

So, a touch attack only has to bypass Dex and deflection and maybe a few other special AC bonuses, but in general it's pretty easy. But would throwing a shield up to divert someone's hand, or that ray of frost, wouldn't that little inkling of a shield bonus be applicable?

I've always played where shields provide Cover bonuses so they affect touch AC. It's generally pretty minor since most touch attacks are by the PC rather than against them. I also allow large shield to give you a +1 Reflex save versus burst attacks (like fireballs and dragon's breath).


Aaron

 

[Thanee]

Shields are modelled in an incredibly weak way in the rules, anyways.

Bye
Thanee

 

[billd91]

I've house-ruled it in my campaign, with player input, that shield bonuses are not ignored by touch attacks. I think the touch should be bodily and no, I don't think the attack should be accomplished by just touching something the target is holding.

 

[Chroma]

Wow! I really like the idea of shield-as-cover-bonus! I'll have to bring that up with my players; it makes so much sense I'm surprised I hadn't thought of it myself!

 

[Thanee]

Well, in 3.0 tower shields worked like that.

Bye
Thanee