Post/Author/DateTime	Post
spikevampire 08-01-07, 09:18 AM	As topic, and also i can use it with a two handed sword but i cannot take the bonus to AC and i also take a -1 penalty.
Harliquinn 08-01-07, 09:25 AM	You can use a buckler and fire a bow with no penalty. You can use a buckler and wield a weapon in your off hand or a two-handed weapon with a -1 attack penalty. In either case (bow or melee) you do not get the buckler's AC in the round you use the weapon.
spikevampire 08-01-07, 11:38 AM	if i take the improved buckler defense, complete warrior, can i use the buckler with a bow or can i use it only with a secondary weapon like a dagger in two weapon fighting???
Kouk 08-01-07, 02:48 PM	It is my interpretation that you can use a buckler with, say, your left arm and hold the bow while you fire it. You would still retain your armor bonus on the round you fire the bow. Buckler This small metal shield is worn strapped to your forearm. You can use a bow or crossbow without penalty while carrying it. You can also use your shield arm to wield a weapon (whether you are using an off-hand weapon or using your off hand to help wield a two-handed weapon), but you take a -1 penalty on attack rolls while doing so. This penalty stacks with those that may apply for fighting with your off hand and for fighting with two weapons. In any case, if you use a weapon in your off hand, you don’t get the buckler’s AC bonus for the rest of the round. You can’t bash someone with a buckler. It says you can use a bow without penalty. My understanding of the language is that wielding a weapon refers to non-bow/crossbow weapons such as daggers or longswords whatever, since they in the beginning state bows have no penalties, not "no penalties to attack". My reasoning is also that when you fire the bow, your buckler arm is right out there and it is not too hard to block with it, compared to if you are using that arm to raise a weapon and then bring it down. You still provoke an AoO for shooting a bow in melee (for the vast majority of classes) so it isn't that tremendous a benefit. But anyway, I just feel that is the usage for that item, I am aware many people disagree.
PhilipR 08-01-07, 10:21 PM	DnD defines the buckler as a small shield strapped to the wrist, but historically the buckler was gripped in the center by a rigid metal or wooden handle, and was rather handy in offense as well as defense. Many bucklers were equipped with a center spike for this reason. My "house rules" reflect this interpretation. As far as wielding a bow or other weapon while using the (historical) buckler, it might be an awkward task to keep the rim of the shield from touching the arrow when the bow is drawn back and interfering with its flight, in fact, come to think of it, the DnD interpretation of a buckler would probably have the same problem. I also see either species of buckler interfering with "loading" the bow, at least the way I way taught to shoot, FWIW. A melee weapon, like a dagger, could probably be used without much interference. The Scots went into battle with targes (small round shields strapped to the forearm) and held dirks in the shield-hand, protruding from the rim. Sooo, considering the DnD buckler to be roughly equivalent to the targe, I'd say, "sure".
Watchman 08-01-07, 10:44 PM	Historically, for that matter, it wasn't all that uncommon for archers to have a small shield strapped to their arm to ward off the return fire. The practice wasn't universal, but common enough.
PhilipR 08-01-07, 10:56 PM	I think that's right, I recall that peltasts from the Byzantine empire practiced something like that. English archers AFAIK kept the buckler hanging from their belts for ready access should melee combat ensue. Something else that isn't mentioned often is that shields were sometimes hung from the shoulder by a guige allowing the use of both hands while the shield still provided cover for the left flank. Here's a "true buckler" showing how it was gripped in the fist rather than strapped: http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u147/Ratel_2007/WoodenBucklerWallace.jpg Here's a page from a Medieval sword and buckler manual that shows the center grip shown above; notice also that a number of grappling/trapping options are available to the combatants. http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u147/Ratel_2007/bucklers.jpg
Kouk 08-02-07, 02:44 AM	They look so happy.
spikevampire 08-02-07, 04:55 AM	LOL in the end? :D