Tower Shields

[trentonjoe]

If you take the Tower Shield feat you can use it without penalty?

Do Fighters start with this feat?

I checked the SRD (I don't have my books) and got this:

TOWER SHIELD PROFICIENCY [GENERAL]
Prerequisite: Shield Proficiency.
Benefit: You can use a tower shield and suffer only the standard penalties.
Normal: A character who is using a shield with which he or she is not proficient takes the shield’s armor check penalty on attack rolls and on all skill checks that involve moving, including Ride.
Special: Fighters automatically have Tower Shield Proficiency as a bonus feat. They need not select it.

What are the standard penalties?

 

[Camarath]

Do Fighters start with this feat?

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A fighter is proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with all armor (heavy, medium, and light) and shields (including tower shields).

What are the standard penalties?

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.