Defending Weapons [Archive] - Wizards Community

Defending Weapons [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Gnarl
09-18-04, 10:15 AM Hello,
I could use a little help understanding how defending weapons work.
Roughly, it says instead of having an enhancement bonus to attack and damage you get one to AC.

Question 1: is it like expertise where you need to attack in order to gain any benefit out of it, or you could be carrying a +3 Defending staff and still be casting spells.

Question 2: can you have a defending main gauche in one hand and a buckler in the same hand.
tarkin
09-18-04, 12:28 PM 1) It is like expertise, you must be attacking to get the benefit. Merely holding a weapon NEVER activates the power unless the power specifically states so.

2) Yes you may have a Defending Main Gaunche active in the same hand you have a buckler. But without a feat, you can not attack with a weapon in your off hand and also get the benefit from the shield. As the weapon's Defender ability does not apply unless you are attacking, it does not help. This is a feat that lets you get the buckler bonus while attacking with what's in the hande.

However, I personally prefer to do it like this:

A) Take the feat Improved Shield Bash.
B) Get a Spiked Small shield, enchant the shield, and also enchant the spike at least +1 to hit/damage and Defender.

Then they may attack with the shield, getting the Defender bonus to AC and the shield bonus to AC, and also keeping the masterwork bonus to hit for having a masterwork spike.
Gnarl
09-19-04, 08:02 AM 1) It is like expertise.

I don't read this at all. I read, each round, as a free action, you get an enhancement bonus to AC that stacks with everything else. And that's about it.

Merely holding a weapon NEVER activates the power unless the power specifically states so

So you're telling me that a Staff of the Magi only grants magic resistance when used as a weapon ?
tarkin
09-19-04, 09:32 AM 1) Re-read it again: (Bolded the important part)

As a free action, the wielder chooses how to allocate the weapon’s enhancement bonus at the start of his turn before using the weapon, and the effect to AC lasts until his next turn.

2) "So you're telling me that a Staff of the Magi only grants magic resistance when used as a weapon ?"

No I am not telling you that. Staves are special cases, as they are not only a Magic weapon, they are also a Stave. Please notice that the Staff requires the use of the Craft Staff feat. The SR granted is NOT granted by the "Weapon Enchantment method", because it is not a weapon enchantment (+1, +2, +3). As such the SR does not follow the rules for Magic Weapons, it follows the rules for Magic Staves, a spell trigger item.

Here are the rules for using magic items: (I am paraphrasing)

Magical abilities of Slotted Wonderous Items can be used only if they are in the right slot.
Magical abilities for unslotted items usually require them to be "attended" by the owner/ to activate. Any exceptions to this is stated in the description.
Magic rings only work if they were the first two rings (Both can be on the same hand) you put on.
Magic Scrolls need only be read to be used. They may be 50 ft away in some one else's hands.
Magic potions need to be drunk. They can be dribbled into an unconcious body
Magic Oils need to be applied (touching) the item/person
Ioun Stones must be grabbed and placed in orbit
Armor must be used in such a way to provide there Non-magical bonus (If you use two shields, they both are providing there non-magical bonus, but they overlap. This means you do get there magical abilitieis, even though you don't benefit from both there AC bonuses)
Magic Weapons generally must be being used to attack, although Elemental weapons do provide immunity to there weapon's elemental damage if you are merely holding the weapon in a manner that you could attack with it.
Wands and staves must be in your hand/manipulative limbs.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Gnarl 09-18-04, 10:15 AM	Hello, I could use a little help understanding how defending weapons work. Roughly, it says instead of having an enhancement bonus to attack and damage you get one to AC. Question 1: is it like expertise where you need to attack in order to gain any benefit out of it, or you could be carrying a +3 Defending staff and still be casting spells. Question 2: can you have a defending main gauche in one hand and a buckler in the same hand.
tarkin 09-18-04, 12:28 PM	1) It is like expertise, you must be attacking to get the benefit. Merely holding a weapon NEVER activates the power unless the power specifically states so. 2) Yes you may have a Defending Main Gaunche active in the same hand you have a buckler. But without a feat, you can not attack with a weapon in your off hand and also get the benefit from the shield. As the weapon's Defender ability does not apply unless you are attacking, it does not help. This is a feat that lets you get the buckler bonus while attacking with what's in the hande. However, I personally prefer to do it like this: A) Take the feat Improved Shield Bash. B) Get a Spiked Small shield, enchant the shield, and also enchant the spike at least +1 to hit/damage and Defender. Then they may attack with the shield, getting the Defender bonus to AC and the shield bonus to AC, and also keeping the masterwork bonus to hit for having a masterwork spike.
Gnarl 09-19-04, 08:02 AM	1) It is like expertise. I don't read this at all. I read, each round, as a free action, you get an enhancement bonus to AC that stacks with everything else. And that's about it. Merely holding a weapon NEVER activates the power unless the power specifically states so So you're telling me that a Staff of the Magi only grants magic resistance when used as a weapon ?
tarkin 09-19-04, 09:32 AM	1) Re-read it again: (Bolded the important part) As a free action, the wielder chooses how to allocate the weapon’s enhancement bonus at the start of his turn before using the weapon, and the effect to AC lasts until his next turn. 2) "So you're telling me that a Staff of the Magi only grants magic resistance when used as a weapon ?" No I am not telling you that. Staves are special cases, as they are not only a Magic weapon, they are also a Stave. Please notice that the Staff requires the use of the Craft Staff feat. The SR granted is NOT granted by the "Weapon Enchantment method", because it is not a weapon enchantment (+1, +2, +3). As such the SR does not follow the rules for Magic Weapons, it follows the rules for Magic Staves, a spell trigger item. Here are the rules for using magic items: (I am paraphrasing) Magical abilities of Slotted Wonderous Items can be used only if they are in the right slot. Magical abilities for unslotted items usually require them to be "attended" by the owner/ to activate. Any exceptions to this is stated in the description. Magic rings only work if they were the first two rings (Both can be on the same hand) you put on. Magic Scrolls need only be read to be used. They may be 50 ft away in some one else's hands. Magic potions need to be drunk. They can be dribbled into an unconcious body Magic Oils need to be applied (touching) the item/person Ioun Stones must be grabbed and placed in orbit Armor must be used in such a way to provide there Non-magical bonus (If you use two shields, they both are providing there non-magical bonus, but they overlap. This means you do get there magical abilitieis, even though you don't benefit from both there AC bonuses) Magic Weapons generally must be being used to attack, although Elemental weapons do provide immunity to there weapon's elemental damage if you are merely holding the weapon in a manner that you could attack with it. Wands and staves must be in your hand/manipulative limbs.