Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Norric121 01-01-07, 02:19 PM	Unattended while being used?
draconic_swine 01-01-07, 02:23 PM	Are you asking if an animated shield counts as being unattended (for purposes such as damaging it) while it is being used? If you are, then I'd have to say no. While I can't find anything RAW that says so either way, you take all associated penalties when using it, it stays close to you, it travels with you, and you're using it. Sounds attended to me.
gravitywell 01-01-07, 03:10 PM	I'm sort of hijacking... But can an animated shield guard you while you sleep? (Hover near, or over your body, still granting you your AC bonus from it while you are sleeping.)
stargate525 01-01-07, 07:02 PM	I'm sort of hijacking... But can an animated shield guard you while you sleep? (Hover near, or over your body, still granting you your AC bonus from it while you are sleeping.) Seems reasonable enough, although I don't remember if shields count towards fatigue/exhaustion rules.
bondious 01-01-07, 08:08 PM	Unattended while being used? I agree with draconic_swine. Since you take all normal penalties (max Dex, armor check, arcane spell failure) while using it, I'd say it's reasonable to assume that it's under your control and, thus, should be considered an attended item. Treat it like it's in your character's hand for everything except weight/encumbrance issuses. But can an animated shield guard you while you sleep? (Hover near, or over your body, still granting you your AC bonus from it while you are sleeping.) Well, as far as I can tell, you don't normally get a sandard shield's benefit while sleeping. You're unconsious, and therefore cannot manipulate the shield to protect you. Same thing with Dex and dodge bonuses...you're asleep, and not A) aware of what's going on round you and B) on your feet and moving about. So I'd say no. ONE EXCEPTION that I can think of would be an intelligent Animated shield. As far as I can tell, intelligent items don't have to sleep, so if it's inclined to protect you while you sleep then yeah, I'd rule in favor of that in one of my games.
Jay_Ibero_911 01-01-07, 09:54 PM	I agree with draconic_swine. Since you take all normal penalties (max Dex, armor check, arcane spell failure) while using it, I'd say it's reasonable to assume that it's under your control and, thus, should be considered an attended item. Treat it like it's in your character's hand for everything except weight/encumbrance issuses. Well, as far as I can tell, you don't normally get a sandard shield's benefit while sleeping. You're unconsious, and therefore cannot manipulate the shield to protect you. Same thing with Dex and dodge bonuses...you're asleep, and not A) aware of what's going on round you and B) on your feet and moving about. So I'd say no. ONE EXCEPTION that I can think of would be an intelligent Animated shield. As far as I can tell, intelligent items don't have to sleep, so if it's inclined to protect you while you sleep then yeah, I'd rule in favor of that in one of my games. Nowhere in the rules does it say you lose your shield bonus while denied dex or helpless. As far as RAW is concerned if you are wearing the shield, you get the bonus, even while helpless, just like armor.
bondious 01-01-07, 11:00 PM	Nowhere in the rules does it say you lose your shield bonus while denied dex or helpless. As far as RAW is concerned if you are wearing the shield, you get the bonus, even while helpless, just like armor. You might be correct there, I haven't read through all the rules to find out. It just seems logical that if you're asleep that a shield strapped to your arm isn't gonna do much to protect you. I mean, maybe if you were laying down with a tower shield on top of you, covering your whole body, I MIGHT say okay, but then all someone would have to do is move the shield, thus exposing your helpless form, and perform a coup de grace on you. From my own experiences in using a shield (or a shield-like item like a trash can lid), I actually had to move my arm to and fro, and be conscious of what I was doing for it to be effective. Just holding it did nothing to protect me from any but the most incidental of attacks. Anyhow, I've always ruled it that you don't get your shield bonus when helpless (sleeping, held, etc) or when flat-footed. If you're denied your Dex, though, it doesn't necessarily mean you'd lose your shield bonus...depends on the circumstance. And of all the folks I've played with, none have ever had a problem with this and felt it was a natural conclusion. So anyhow, that's where I'm coming from.
draconic_swine 01-01-07, 11:07 PM	I'd have to say that you can get the benefit from an animated shield while sleeping. Like Jay_Ibero_911 pointed out, you get your shield bonus whether you are denied your Dexterity bonus to AC or not - D&D considers shields to be "static" protection, much like armour. And since unlike dancing weapons animated shields don't last for a number of rounds before deactivating, there seems to be nothing RAW to prevent you from getting the benefit of an animated shield while you sleep.