Tower Shields and Lightning Bolts

[schnivelbiv]

What happens when a character is taking full cover with their metal tower shield when someone casts a lightning bolt at them from the direction of the cover?

 

[Infiniti2000]

What happens when a character is taking full cover with their metal tower shield when someone casts a lightning bolt at them from the direction of the cover?

It's not 100% clear, but I think you need to treat Effect: Line as spread effects. The SRD only says this: "A line-shaped spell shoots away from you in a line in the direction you designate. It starts from any corner of your square and extends to the limit of its range or until it strikes a barrier that blocks line of effect. A line-shaped spell affects all creatures in squares that the line passes through."

It's the last line that, to me, shows that the spell affects even people with cover, because they do not have cover with respect to everything that occurs in that square.

 

[RangerWickett]

Logically, I'd check to see if the shield is destroyed by the lightning bolt, and if so, the excess damage hits the guy behind it.

 

[frankthedm]

What happens when a character is taking full cover with their metal tower shield when someone casts a lightning bolt at them from the direction of the cover?

I'd say damn the rules, they get thoughly zapped with a -4 penalty [circumstance] on thier save and the bolt keeps going.

 

[JimAde]

The SRD says:

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.

Emphasis added. Since they bothered to point out that it doesn't provide cover against targeted spells, I have to assume it DOES provide cover against spells that require line of effect. Total cover generally blocks line of effect, so I'm with RangerWickett on this.

 

[werk]

I thought tower shields were made of wood...

SRD-TowerShields
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.

SRD-LB
You release a powerful stroke of electrical energy that deals 1d6 points of electricity damage per caster level (maximum 10d6) to each creature within its area. (Area: 120-ft. line)
If the damage caused to an interposing barrier shatters or breaks through it, the bolt may continue beyond the barrier if the spell’s range permits; otherwise, it stops at the barrier just as any other spell effect does.

Looks like it hits the towershield, and if the shield is destroyed, continues on through...

Electricity and fire attacks deal half damage to most objects; divide the damage dealt by 2 before applying the hardness. A towershield has 20HP.

 

[Obscure]

But what's the definition of a barrier? Why would a tower shield potentially stop the bolt when an ogre in plate mail wouldn't? Could a gelantinous cube stop it?

 

[Infiniti2000]

Logically, I'd check to see if the shield is destroyed by the lightning bolt, and if so, the excess damage hits the guy behind it.

Why would the shield be destroyed? The lightning bolt is certainly not targeting it. Lightning bolt is not a Targeted spell, it's an area effect spell.

 

[ThirdWizard]

Why would the shield be destroyed? The lightning bolt is certainly not targeting it. Lightning bolt is not a Targeted spell, it's an area effect spell.

Isn't there a variant rule where if an attack misses because of cover, your attack deals damage to the cover? I don't know if that was only 3.0 or not, I can't recall. I believe that is what they are referring to, but I'm not sure if it applies in this instance, since the shield is attended. I'm not sure which takes precedence, that or items only being injured on a saving throw natural 1.

 

[schnivelbiv]

There is a steel tower shield in one of the books, I think arms and equipment. Mine is mithral. As far as getting zapped for more because it is metal/lightning combination, This is not the real world, it is fiction. Just like lightning bolts do not conduct in water, and you don't get zapped more in full plate, metal tower shields act just like any other tower shield, they give +4 AC, -2 to hit, or can grant full cover if you give up your attacks. Nothing special vs electrical attacks.