Post/Author/DateTime	Post
unundindur 07-27-07, 01:09 PM	I just wonder why the shield property animated is so much cheaper than a weapons ability to dance, and dancing is even limited to rounds... Each one frees a hand and yeald bonuses, that as far as I know are supposed to be equally powerful (if they are is another matter). Personally i have just disallowed animated, and allowed a shield to be dancing, but I wonder waht you think about this. :)
tarkin 07-27-07, 01:19 PM	Not quite. An Animated shield still gives you a shield bonus to AC, which does not stack with other shield bonuses. In addition, you still take any penalties associated with using the shield. A wizard using an animated shield still suffers the ASF chance. A Dancing weapon on the other hand, once freed grants you an extra attack that CAN stack with any other attacks and you DO NOT take penalties associated with using TWF. In fact, you can activate a dancing weapon then draw TWO new weapons and fight two weapon style, for a total of 3 attacks each round until the Dancing stops (1 dancing, 1 main hand and 1 off hand). That is the difference, and pricing is approrpiate for it.
RikuKupo 07-27-07, 01:26 PM	Just to point something out, there is a dancing enchantment for shields in the Arms and Equipment Guide. It follows the same rules that dancing weapons do, time limits and everything. And it's the same price, even in 3.0. That might be used for balance if you like. But that's like comparing returning and teleporting weapons. Teleporting makes returning look like Gleborp the mentally challenged with only one glowing finger.
unundindur 07-27-07, 01:26 PM	But a warrior with a two handed weapon would be much better of with the shield than an animated longsword. Its continous. Given that a shield is balanced toward a weapon, which it should, abeit I am not sure it really is, this should be a simple "=". You point out a differnece htat is stackability with itself. yes, a shield doesn't help you if you already have a shield, but that is a spesific case. It do help a twf the same way as a dancing weapon helps a twp, IF we assume a shield is equally powerful to a single handed weapon. Do we agree? This leads to a problem in that the shield is continous and cheaper.
unundindur 07-27-07, 01:28 PM	So again its just animated beeing an ass, as usual... I hate it when an item that is un-iconic is so good that its a must for everyone with 10 intelligence...
tarkin 07-27-07, 01:36 PM	No, it is NOT that good, in fact it is a poor idea. A warrior who has a two handed weapon will do MUCH better to get a 2nd Dancing weapon and a glove of storing, then to waste his time using a shield. The basic issue is which you desire more, a defensive bonus to shield, or extra attacks. If you want AC, then it makes far more sense to forget about the minute amount of extra damage you get for using a two handed weapon and get a regular shield. If you want more Offensive capacity, then get yourself a dancing weapon. Yes, price wise, the dancing shield is less, but you get SO much less it is not worth it.
unundindur 07-27-07, 01:40 PM	No, it is NOT that good, in fact it is a poor idea. A warrior who has a two handed weapon will do MUCH better to get a 2nd Dancing weapon and a glove of storing, then to waste his time using a shield. The basic issue is which you desire more, a defensive bonus to shield, or extra attacks. If you want AC, then it makes far more sense to forget about the minute amount of extra damage you get for using a two handed weapon and get a regular shield. If you want more Offensive capacity, then get yourself a dancing weapon. Yes, price wise, the dancing shield is less, but you get SO much less it is not worth it. I don't see what "less" you get... If we assume you only want it if you are a super tank then fine, but again that is a very spesific use. Why would a twf og thf not want it? Its virtually free AC to them... If dancing was akin to its epic conterpart they would be reasonably equal, but such it isn't and I still hold a grudge against it :P
RikuKupo 07-27-07, 01:44 PM	I'm a fan of animated shields. Magic armor is cheap, and theres not much else worth putting on your shield that you can't fit on your armor. All my TWF rogues have an animated buckler. They need it.
unundindur 07-27-07, 01:50 PM	If you want AC, then it makes far more sense to forget about the minute amount of extra damage you get for using a two handed weapon and get a regular shield. Have it not been clearly stated that thf is the king, not because the base damage is higher but because of pwoer attack and other special uses. For the tiny investment in getting an animated shield I would love to wield a thw over a single handed weapon. Of course I want both AC and damage. Since this is DnD and not a computer game one cannot rely entirely on one, in my experience at least.