The shield spell and grappling/tumbling

[Kershek]

When you start to grapple someone, they get an AoO on you. Do you think the +7 AC from a shield spell will help you against the AoO or is grappling too close-up for it to be any use? How about when tumbling through an opponent's square?

 

[shilsen]

As written, the AC bonus from the shield spell should apply in both cases, presuming the facing is appropriate. I can definitely see someone making a case for it not applying in such cases, but that would be a house rule.

 

[the Jester]

It will apply vs. the grapple aoo, but the tumbling through a square issue is a little less clear. When you're in the same square as someone else, who can say which side of them you're on? And since shield only blocks attacks from half the battlefield, this question becomes relevent...

I guess I'd roll d% in that case, with a 50/50 chance of it applying or not.

 

[Zulkir of Dartmouth]

The shield spell gives the caster 3/4 cover. So if you were going to tumble through it I don't think that it would be anymore difficult than tumbling through the same area with a fighter carrying a tower shield (which gives full cover). And because the DC for tumbling through an opponents square is already 25, I don't think that this task should be any tougher because the spellcaster has a shield up.

 

[Destil]

It will apply vs. the grapple aoo, but the tumbling through a square issue is a little less clear. When you're in the same square as someone else, who can say which side of them you're on? And since shield only blocks attacks from half the battlefield, this question becomes relevent...

I guess I'd roll d% in that case, with a 50/50 chance of it applying or not.

I'd basicly play it like that, too. Only, when you think about it three dimentionaly, the shield only covers 9 of 26 possible 5'x5' cubes around the caster. Because a tumble could be over, under or around someone, I'd only give it a 1/3 chance of working, myself.

 

[Kershek]

I ask about grappling because I'm not sure if the shield would have any room between attackers when they're grappling to offer any help.