Stackable?

[Jdvn1]

Just wanted to make sure my ruling on this was right:

A shield with:

Animated: Upon command, an animated shield floats within 2 feet of the wielder, protecting her as if she were using it herself but freeing up both her hands. Only one shield can protect a character at a time. A character with an animated shield still takes any penalties associated with shield use, such as armor check penalty, arcane spell failure chance, and nonproficiency.

Armor with:

Wild: The wearer of a suit of armor or a shield with this ability preserves his armor bonus (and any enhancement bonus) while in a wild shape. Armor and shields with this ability usually appear to be made covered in leaf patterns. While the wearer is in a wild shape, the armor cannot be seen.

Monk's Belt, which allows:

AC Bonus (Ex): When unarmored and unencumbered, the monk adds her Wisdom bonus (if any) to her AC. In addition, a monk gains a +1 bonus to AC at 5th level. This bonus increases by 1 for every five monk levels thereafter (+2 at 10th, +3 at 15th, and +4 at 20th level).

These bonuses to AC apply even against touch attacks or when the monk is flat-footed. She loses these bonuses when she is immobilized or helpless, when she wears any armor, when she carries a shield, or when she carries a medium or heavy load.

When a Druid with an Animated shield and Wild armor Wildshapes, he cannot gain the AC benefit from a Monk's AC bonus both because:

A) Although his armor is not visible, he is still wearing armor.
-Dependent on the idea that: Wild armor melding into the creature's shape is not explicitly stated in RAW, just that the armor is not visible.

and

2) Eventhough the Druid is not carrying a shield, he is penalized for doing so because it is "associated with shield use."
-Dependent on the shield quality trumping the Monk description.

Right? Or would you argue:

iii) The Wildshaped creature is now an animal and is neither wearing armor nor holding a shield. If he can wear a rope and his waist (as per Monk's Belt), then he can take advantage of it as well as his armor and shield.

 

[Crothian]

I wouldn't allow it since the belt is designed to not work with armor and he is wearing armor.

 

[Jdvn1]

But you'd allow the Belt and the shield?

 

[Crothian]

well, no, as I wouldn't place the belt in my game....but even if I did I don't think I'd let a monk use an animated shield either and that seems to be the same thing here.

 

[Caliban]

But you'd allow the Belt and the shield?

Nope. From the rules you quoted for animated shield: "A character with an animated shield still takes any penalties associated with shield use, such as armor check penalty, arcane spell failure chance, and nonproficiency. "

From the rules you quoted for monk belt: "She loses these bonuses when she ... carries a shield..."

Losing the belt bonuses would be a penalty associated with shield use.

 

[Jdvn1]

Hm, that's what I thought. There seemed to be some gray area, so I wanted to be sure. I can see how it might be interpreted otherwise.

 

[the Jester]

I agree with your interpetation. The armor is still on, and the character still takes all penalties associated with using a shield.

The strongest argument on the other side is that, since the monk's belt grants a bonus and doesn't remove a penalty, there's no "penalty" associated with using a shield. However, arcane spell failure, strictly speaking, isn't a "penalty" either, so this argument doesn't hold water (imho).