When are you unarmoured?

[amethal]

If you are not wearing armour, but are using a shield, do you still count as unarmoured?

(I'm thinking mainly of monks here.)

Thanks for any help. Its such a basic question I should know the answer, but I don't!

 

[irdeggman]

I think your answer is here.

From the SRD:

AC Bonus (Ex): When unarmored and unencumbered, the monk adds her Wisdom bonus (if any) to her AC. In addition, a monk gains a +1 bonus to AC at 5th level. This bonus increases by 1 for every five monk levels thereafter (+2 at 10th, +3 at 15th, and +4 at 20th level).

These bonuses to AC apply even against touch attacks or when the monk is flat-footed. She loses these bonuses when she is immobilized or helpless, when she wears any armor, when she carries a shield, or when she carries a medium or heavy load.

 

[werk]

SRD-Classes-Monk
When wearing armor, using a shield, or carrying a medium or heavy load, a monk loses her AC bonus, as well as her fast movement and flurry of blows abilities.

I don't know about 'unarmored' where are you getting that?

 

[amethal]

So its kind of a moot point for the monk then. Thanks for the help.

Unless there is a definition anywhere, I think I'll take it that "unarmoured" allows shields, and then look at the description of the particular abilities to see if it specifically says it doesn't work if you use a shield.