Bards and Shields [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bards and Shields [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Twinkletoes73
06-23-05, 02:18 AM The Player's Handbook says that bards are proficient with shields, and it also says that they don't incurr arcane spell failure by wearing light armor, but it doesn't say if they incurr arcane spell failure by wearing a shield. Do they?
Greyman
06-23-05, 02:38 AM Yes, a bard suffers arcane spell failure while wielding a shield. Shields are not light armor, they are shields.

Plus, read the relevant paragraph again, as you've missed the bit where it does say so.Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A bard is proficient with all simple weapons, plus the longsword, rapier, sap, short sword, shortbow, and whip. Bards are proficient with light armor and shields (except tower shields). A bard can cast bard spells while wearing light armor without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. However, like any other arcane spellcaster, a bard wearing medium or heavy armor or using a shield incurs a chance of arcane spell failure if the spell in question has a somatic component (most do). A multiclass bard still incurs the normal arcane spell failure chance for arcane spells received from other classes.
Cloud Clone
06-23-05, 02:42 AM Get a buckler +1, I think that takes away the spell failure and the armor penalty.
Greyman
06-23-05, 07:57 AM A buckler, like a light sheild has a 5% arcane spell failure chance and a -1 armor check penalty. Being a masterwork item, which is a necessity in order to be magically enhanced, reduces the armor check penalty to 0 but does nothing to reduce the arcane spell failure. Nor does magical enhancement do anything to improve the situation further.

However, mithral shields and armor have their arcane spell failure reduced by 10% and lessens their armor check penalty by 3. This means that using a mithral buckler or mithral light shield incures no arcane spell failure and no armor check penalty. Using a mithral heavy shield also has no armor check penalty and only a 5% arcane spell failure (instead of the normal 15%).

Making an shield from mithral costs an additional +1000 gp over the base item cost, but this includes the 150 gp masterwork cost. If arcane spell failure an issue, I suggest purchasing a mithral shield as your first upgrade, rather than a +1 enhancement.
CommanderFalken
06-23-05, 10:17 AM What about other materials such as darkwood? I know that in A&E They have other materials that reduce Spell Failure. Just find a (cheaper) stuff to make your buckler.
ClementWillowbreaker
06-23-05, 06:07 PM Darkwood is lighter, but it doesn't change ASF, as it states clearly in its description. So you can carry that tower shield easier, but it still screws up your spells.

Other materials remain cheesy until examined and considered against all others.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Twinkletoes73 06-23-05, 02:18 AM	The Player's Handbook says that bards are proficient with shields, and it also says that they don't incurr arcane spell failure by wearing light armor, but it doesn't say if they incurr arcane spell failure by wearing a shield. Do they?
Greyman 06-23-05, 02:38 AM	Yes, a bard suffers arcane spell failure while wielding a shield. Shields are not light armor, they are shields. Plus, read the relevant paragraph again, as you've missed the bit where it does say so.Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A bard is proficient with all simple weapons, plus the longsword, rapier, sap, short sword, shortbow, and whip. Bards are proficient with light armor and shields (except tower shields). A bard can cast bard spells while wearing light armor without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. However, like any other arcane spellcaster, a bard wearing medium or heavy armor or using a shield incurs a chance of arcane spell failure if the spell in question has a somatic component (most do). A multiclass bard still incurs the normal arcane spell failure chance for arcane spells received from other classes.
Cloud Clone 06-23-05, 02:42 AM	Get a buckler +1, I think that takes away the spell failure and the armor penalty.
Greyman 06-23-05, 07:57 AM	A buckler, like a light sheild has a 5% arcane spell failure chance and a -1 armor check penalty. Being a masterwork item, which is a necessity in order to be magically enhanced, reduces the armor check penalty to 0 but does nothing to reduce the arcane spell failure. Nor does magical enhancement do anything to improve the situation further. However, mithral shields and armor have their arcane spell failure reduced by 10% and lessens their armor check penalty by 3. This means that using a mithral buckler or mithral light shield incures no arcane spell failure and no armor check penalty. Using a mithral heavy shield also has no armor check penalty and only a 5% arcane spell failure (instead of the normal 15%). Making an shield from mithral costs an additional +1000 gp over the base item cost, but this includes the 150 gp masterwork cost. If arcane spell failure an issue, I suggest purchasing a mithral shield as your first upgrade, rather than a +1 enhancement.
CommanderFalken 06-23-05, 10:17 AM	What about other materials such as darkwood? I know that in A&E They have other materials that reduce Spell Failure. Just find a (cheaper) stuff to make your buckler.
ClementWillowbreaker 06-23-05, 06:07 PM	Darkwood is lighter, but it doesn't change ASF, as it states clearly in its description. So you can carry that tower shield easier, but it still screws up your spells. Other materials remain cheesy until examined and considered against all others.