2 weapons/bucklers [Archive] - Wizards Community

2 weapons/bucklers [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Mace Windu, Jedi Master
09-07-04, 11:45 AM If you have two weapons and bucklers on both arms, why dont both bucklers add to AC?
JabberWocky
09-07-04, 12:04 PM Literally, because bucklers add a shield bonus to AC, and bonuses with the same name do not stack.

Realistically, you can only do so much blocking versus so much attacking. If you wore a buckler on both arms, could you really move enough to make effective use of both bucklers as well as employ your weapons?
Mirtek
09-07-04, 02:13 PM If you have two weapons and bucklers on both arms, why dont both bucklers add to AC? Also note that you either have the feat Improved Buckler Defense or you lose the AC bonus when you're attacking with the arm wearing the buckler.
Glak
09-07-04, 05:06 PM If a player in my game tried to use two weapons and two bucklers he would only hit on a 20. Heck I usually house rule against most usage of two weapons. If using two weapons really worked well there would be more examples of it. The only examples that I know of are an off-hand dagger for fencer types, or the very best (not average, and definitely not 1st level) samurai using their wakazashis. The off-hand is normally used for: a shield, a two-handed weapon, or balance.
Fixxxer
09-07-04, 06:28 PM You don't gain a bonus to AC from both bucklers because (as JabberWocky pointed out), bonuses of the same name (except for dodge bonuses) do not stack. This would be the exact same thing as trying to wear a suit of padded armor under a suit of chainmail under a suit of full plate and trying to get the DM to let you have the AC bonus from all three armors.

Note also (as Mirtek pointed out) that if you have a shield of any kind and you use your shield hand for attack (either with the shield itself or with a weapon in that hand), you lose the shield's bonus to your AC for the rest of your turn. There are feats that can deal with this, naturally, but if you don't have them, this is the way it is.
Vaelan
09-08-04, 11:58 AM There are plenty of examples of effective two weapon fighting, while many sword/shield and two-handed weapon styles are redundancies based on new weapons(the styles didn't really change, just a slight tweak to use the latest armor-wrecking weapon optimally) or mass-combat tactics which usually don't apply to a D&D game.

There are plenty of fighting styles that encompass paired weapons such as Escrima and the Florentine style(which encompasses an extremely large range of weapon combinations and pairs) and there are also styles that emphasize synergy between the two weapons, such as the Net/Trident and Katana/Wakizashi combination.

As for the original post: Bonuses of the same type don't stack and the amount of effort needed to effectively use two bucklers would severely hamper one's offensive capabilities.
simen_88
09-09-04, 03:47 PM One thing I've been wondering about for a while: Could you use two tower shields, using one to gain concealment and one for AC?
DwarvinJedi
09-09-04, 05:43 PM One thing I've been wondering about for a while: Could you use two tower shields, using one to gain concealment and one for AC?
That reminds me of my cool gnome wizard with still spell and a suit of chainmail, and yes 2 tower shields, unfortunatley i never got to play him, :weep:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mace Windu, Jedi Master 09-07-04, 11:45 AM	If you have two weapons and bucklers on both arms, why dont both bucklers add to AC?
JabberWocky 09-07-04, 12:04 PM	Literally, because bucklers add a shield bonus to AC, and bonuses with the same name do not stack. Realistically, you can only do so much blocking versus so much attacking. If you wore a buckler on both arms, could you really move enough to make effective use of both bucklers as well as employ your weapons?
Mirtek 09-07-04, 02:13 PM	If you have two weapons and bucklers on both arms, why dont both bucklers add to AC? Also note that you either have the feat Improved Buckler Defense or you lose the AC bonus when you're attacking with the arm wearing the buckler.
Glak 09-07-04, 05:06 PM	If a player in my game tried to use two weapons and two bucklers he would only hit on a 20. Heck I usually house rule against most usage of two weapons. If using two weapons really worked well there would be more examples of it. The only examples that I know of are an off-hand dagger for fencer types, or the very best (not average, and definitely not 1st level) samurai using their wakazashis. The off-hand is normally used for: a shield, a two-handed weapon, or balance.
Fixxxer 09-07-04, 06:28 PM	You don't gain a bonus to AC from both bucklers because (as JabberWocky pointed out), bonuses of the same name (except for dodge bonuses) do not stack. This would be the exact same thing as trying to wear a suit of padded armor under a suit of chainmail under a suit of full plate and trying to get the DM to let you have the AC bonus from all three armors. Note also (as Mirtek pointed out) that if you have a shield of any kind and you use your shield hand for attack (either with the shield itself or with a weapon in that hand), you lose the shield's bonus to your AC for the rest of your turn. There are feats that can deal with this, naturally, but if you don't have them, this is the way it is.
Vaelan 09-08-04, 11:58 AM	There are plenty of examples of effective two weapon fighting, while many sword/shield and two-handed weapon styles are redundancies based on new weapons(the styles didn't really change, just a slight tweak to use the latest armor-wrecking weapon optimally) or mass-combat tactics which usually don't apply to a D&D game. There are plenty of fighting styles that encompass paired weapons such as Escrima and the Florentine style(which encompasses an extremely large range of weapon combinations and pairs) and there are also styles that emphasize synergy between the two weapons, such as the Net/Trident and Katana/Wakizashi combination. As for the original post: Bonuses of the same type don't stack and the amount of effort needed to effectively use two bucklers would severely hamper one's offensive capabilities.
simen_88 09-09-04, 03:47 PM	One thing I've been wondering about for a while: Could you use two tower shields, using one to gain concealment and one for AC?
DwarvinJedi 09-09-04, 05:43 PM	One thing I've been wondering about for a while: Could you use two tower shields, using one to gain concealment and one for AC? That reminds me of my cool gnome wizard with still spell and a suit of chainmail, and yes 2 tower shields, unfortunatley i never got to play him, :weep: