Three simple questions

[Ormraxes]

Even though I know the answers to these myself, a friend of mine would like this in writing, so that he can show it to his players .

1. Does the Tower Shield Proficiency feat remove the -2 penalty to attack rolls caused by the tower shield?

2. Do enhancement bonuses on armor and shield stack when determining your AC?

3. Does the enhancement bonus on a bow apply to both attack rolls and damage the arrow deals?

 

[shilsen]

1. No

2. Yes

3. Yes

 

[drunkmoogle]

1) No.
2) Yes.
3) Yes.

Edit: Damn you, Shilsen... and your Improved Initiative!

 

[Pax]

To be even more clear WRT #2 - stacking is irrrelevant.

First, +2 Leather Armor (for example) does not give it's wearer "a +2 armor bonus to AC, and a +2 enhancement bonus to AC". The +2 bit enhances the leather armor, increasing it's +2 armor bonus to +4. Thus, +2 leather armor gives it's wearer a "+4 armor bonus to AC", and only that.

Similarly, a +2 Heavy Shield (for example) does not give it's wearer "a +2 armor bonus to AC, and a +2 enhancement bonus to AC". The +2 bit enhances the heavy shield, increasing it's +2 armor bonus to +4. Thus, a +2 heavy shield gives it's wearer a "+4 armor bonus to AC", and only that.

The armor bonus from one worn suit of armor stacks with the armor bonus from one equipped shield. Thus, the character wearing +2 leather armor and bearing a +2 heavy shield has an Armor Class of 18, barring other modifiers (most especially from Dexterity).

Onthe issue of #3 - remember, however, that attacks made with a magic bow, while firign magic arrows, use onlyt he largest enhancement bonus. +2 arrows fired from a +4 longbow gain a single +4 enhancement bonus on their attacks and on any resulting damage rolls ... and only that +4 bonus, not a +6 bonus!

 

[MichaelH]

To be even more clear WRT #2 - stacking is irrrelevant.

First, +2 Leather Armor (for example) does not give it's wearer "a +2 armor bonus to AC, and a +2 enhancement bonus to AC". The +2 bit enhances the leather armor, increasing it's +2 armor bonus to +4. Thus, +2 leather armor gives it's wearer a "+4 armor bonus to AC", and only that.

Similarly, a +2 Heavy Shield (for example) does not give it's wearer "a +2 armor bonus to AC, and a +2 enhancement bonus to AC". The +2 bit enhances the heavy shield, increasing it's +2 armor bonus to +4. Thus, a +2 heavy shield gives it's wearer a "+4 armor bonus to AC", and only that.

The armor bonus from one worn suit of armor stacks with the armor bonus from one equipped shield. Thus, the character wearing +2 leather armor and bearing a +2 heavy shield has an Armor Class of 18, barring other modifiers (most especially from Dexterity).

Although the result is correct (AC 18), it is even simpler than that. Shields do not provide an armor bonus, they provide a shield bonus. Therefore, +2 leather armor provides a +4 armor bonus to AC and a +2 heavy steel shield provides a +4 shield bonus to AC, resulting in an AC of 18.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Although the result is correct (AC 18), it is even simpler than that. Shields do not provide an armor bonus, they provide a shield bonus. Therefore, +2 leather armor provides a +4 armor bonus to AC and a +2 heavy steel shield provides a +4 shield bonus to AC, resulting in an AC of 18.

Yup. Pax's explanation was correct for 3E, but not 3.5.

In 3.5, for example, you can benefit from both your heavy shield and your Bracers of Armor... which wouldn't have stacked in 3E.

-Hyp.

 

[Sejs]

1) No. The -2 to hit is a function of the item; a balance against it giving you +4 to AC.

2) Yes. Armor bonus and Shield bonus are two different bonuses, and as such enhancements to them are counted seperatly.

3) Yes. The same as it does with any other weapon.