Tower Shields and Cover. Whua?

[Paragon]

i don't think i'm doing tower shields correctly. can someone explain how to use a tower shield, as far as how the armour ac of the shield vs. the cover bonus, or how they work together and such. i'm pretty sure i jacked this one up good. oh and as an added wrinkle....missle fire!!!

thanks!

 

[Stalker0]

Normally, a tower shield grants +4 to AC and -2 to attacks.

If you choose the total cover option, you cannot attack, however, you can move with the shield and nothing can hit you (only the shield).

You get one or the other at one time, either a normal AC bonus, or total cover, they don't overlap.

 

[Legildur]

Presumably you are talking 3.5 edition....

From footnote to the Armor table in the SRD:

3 A tower shield can instead grant you cover. See the description.

From the Equipment section of the SRD:

Shield, Tower: This massive wooden shield is nearly as tall as you are. In most situations, it provides the indicated shield bonus to your AC. However, you can instead use it as total cover, though you must give up your attacks to do so. The shield does not, however, provide cover against targeted spells; a spellcaster can cast a spell on you by targeting the shield you are holding. You cannot bash with a tower shield, nor can you use your shield hand for anything else.

When employing a tower shield in combat, you take a –2 penalty on attack rolls because of the shield’s encumbrance.

The current FAQ (WotC's FAQ page) also has answers to your questions on p25. But I won't comment on whether it reflects the RAW given some of the other interesting interpretations and conflicts that have been made in that document.

In typical use, the tower shield provides a +4 shield bonus to your armor class.

However, you may elect, as a Standard action, to gain total cover from the shield until the beginning of your next turn, at the expense of any attacks. Therefore you can move (or take a move action) either before or after gaining this benefit.

The FAQ goes on to explain how the shield is positioned relative to your square occupied and how attacks (including spells with line of effect) are resolved against the cover. While ranged attacks aren't specifically covered, they can be adjudicated from the standard rules.

 

[ThirdWizard]

Any reason you make using it as cover a Standard Action instead of a Free Action?

 

[Trainz]

The FAQ goes on to explain how the shield is positioned relative to your square occupied and how attacks (including spells with line of effect) are resolved against the cover. While ranged attacks aren't specifically covered, they can be adjudicated from the standard rules.

In 3.5, I thought there was no facing rules (barring UA).

Is it safe to say that you can get total cover with a tower shield from any attack around you (presumably shifting the shield toward the creature currently attacking) ?

 

[Len]

In 3.5, I thought there was no facing rules (barring UA).

But the cover rules depend on the relative placement of the attacker, the target and the cover.

 

[ThirdWizard]

The obvious flavor of the shield is plopping it down in front of you and hiding behind it. But, then flavor is often flawed. It says you get total cover, so it looks like you don't have to specify a direction. Like the shield spell change to 3.5, it appears they don't want to overcomplicate things. At least as written.

 

[Trainz]

The obvious flavor of the shield is plopping it down in front of you and hiding behind it. But, then flavor is often flawed. It says you get total cover, so it looks like you don't have to specify a direction. Like the shield spell change to 3.5, it appears they don't want to overcomplicate things. At least as written.

That's exactly what I had in mind when I was asking for more precise informations.

I guess a tower shield IS a good thing to have then.

Especially at low levels, I can imagine a situation where the meat shield, after being down to few hit points, turtles himself in, and takes the brunt of the attacks while the casters and missilers (???) finish off the oposition.

The shield would then have to be sundered by the oposition, which would provoke AoO's from Mr. Turtle.

Yup.

 

[Stalker0]

Remember though, that when using teh tower shield as full cover, you can't make AOO's.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Even at higher levels it might be nice for defending yourself against certain types of dragon breath weapon - wouldn't help against spreads, but it is a classic fantasy defence and should work against lines of lightning or acid for instance.