Disarm a Shield [Archive] - Wizards Community

Disarm a Shield [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ADDMMisanthrope
02-10-07, 07:43 PM Been searching the site here for a clarification of the disarm rule. It is my understanding this is because it is obvious you cannot disarm a shield, but some of my players think I am wrong.

It doesn't specifically say under disarm you cannot disarm a shield, but I think it is implied by sharing weapon-like examples.

Also, under grappling, disarming a well-secured item (i.e., a shield?) can be done when you have someone pinned, but the defender gets a +4 bonus to the disarm attempt.

Can anyone point me in the right direction for clarification for this rule, please, so I can post it to our campaign group? :)

(Also, a player in this campaign posted some errata by Wizards, which specifically states Tower Shields are wooden, therefore cannot be Adamantine--or mithral. In Races of Stone and Races of the Wild, these are detailed. That should be updated. ;) --Perhaps, there is somewhere else to post errors, though.)
ShinAkuma2
02-10-07, 10:55 PM Shields are strapped to your forearm, so that should qualify as "well-secured".

You're not just going to yank it off. If you've got the guy pinned, then, as you said, you can try.

As for Tower Shields, there is no error. Tower Shields, as presented in the PHB, are wooden. You can't make a mithral/etc. version of an all-wooden item.

The Races versions you mentioned are specific new items, much like the DMG's "Darkwood Buckler". It's a specific exception to a normal rule.
ADDMMisanthrope
02-13-07, 11:04 AM As for Tower Shields, there is no error. Tower Shields, as presented in the PHB, are wooden. You can't make a mithral/etc. version of an all-wooden item.

The Races versions you mentioned are specific new items, much like the DMG's "Darkwood Buckler". It's a specific exception to a normal rule.

Races of Stone details a steel Tower Shield, because, of course you COULD make a tower shield out of steel, it would just be pretty heavy. This, of course, means you could make an adamantine tower shield (which is not detailed in either book, actually).

Anyone know of any actual printed (by WotC) rulings (a sentence I am missing in PHB or 3.5 errata) on my main question, though? Disarming a shield clarification?
draconic_swine
02-13-07, 12:44 PM Other than the mention of disarming a well secured object that ShinAkuma2 mentioned, there doesn't appear to be anything (at least not in the core rules) about disarming shields. Disarm itself only mentions disarming weapons. You could always try searching the FAQ to see if there's a more specific answer.
ADDMMisanthrope
02-13-07, 06:45 PM Other than the mention of disarming a well secured object that ShinAkuma2 mentioned, there doesn't appear to be anything (at least not in the core rules) about disarming shields. Disarm itself only mentions disarming weapons. You could always try searching the FAQ to see if there's a more specific answer.

I've searched the FAQ and it doesn't say anything of the sort. We have agreed in my campaign it is a well-secured item.

Disarm doesn't specifically say weapon, though. I was just hoping I missed something, somewhere.. and someone knew something about this where WotC specifically writes: "a shield cannot be disarmed, as it is well secured" or something less definitive to disarm, "shields are well secured."

They are absolutely well secured, which is my argument to the disagreement. Just have nothing in print to back me up. :weep:
dengarbountyhunter
02-13-07, 09:58 PM For disarming a shield, I don't know. I guess it would be a well-secured item (you must grapple, pin and then try to take off at -4, or something like this). There's a feat in Complete Warrior though... I believe it's called Pin Shield, and it allows you to keep the enemy's shield out of your way with your off-hand weapons, so that he loses the shield's bonus to AC (but you also lose your off-hand attacks).
ADDMMisanthrope
02-14-07, 01:30 AM For disarming a shield, I don't know. I guess it would be a well-secured item (you must grapple, pin and then try to take off at -4, or something like this). There's a feat in Complete Warrior though... I believe it's called Pin Shield, and it allows you to keep the enemy's shield out of your way with your off-hand weapons, so that he loses the shield's bonus to AC (but you also lose your off-hand attacks).

There is further proof. Thank-you.

The fact you cannot disarm a shield should be stated in the FAQ for those few people who will try to argue otherwise, though, as it doesn't speficially say.

On another note--this feat is particularily powerful! Automatic success? At least it just applies to your attack. :confused:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ADDMMisanthrope 02-10-07, 07:43 PM	Been searching the site here for a clarification of the disarm rule. It is my understanding this is because it is obvious you cannot disarm a shield, but some of my players think I am wrong. It doesn't specifically say under disarm you cannot disarm a shield, but I think it is implied by sharing weapon-like examples. Also, under grappling, disarming a well-secured item (i.e., a shield?) can be done when you have someone pinned, but the defender gets a +4 bonus to the disarm attempt. Can anyone point me in the right direction for clarification for this rule, please, so I can post it to our campaign group? :) (Also, a player in this campaign posted some errata by Wizards, which specifically states Tower Shields are wooden, therefore cannot be Adamantine--or mithral. In Races of Stone and Races of the Wild, these are detailed. That should be updated. ;) --Perhaps, there is somewhere else to post errors, though.)
ShinAkuma2 02-10-07, 10:55 PM	Shields are strapped to your forearm, so that should qualify as "well-secured". You're not just going to yank it off. If you've got the guy pinned, then, as you said, you can try. As for Tower Shields, there is no error. Tower Shields, as presented in the PHB, are wooden. You can't make a mithral/etc. version of an all-wooden item. The Races versions you mentioned are specific new items, much like the DMG's "Darkwood Buckler". It's a specific exception to a normal rule.
ADDMMisanthrope 02-13-07, 11:04 AM	As for Tower Shields, there is no error. Tower Shields, as presented in the PHB, are wooden. You can't make a mithral/etc. version of an all-wooden item. The Races versions you mentioned are specific new items, much like the DMG's "Darkwood Buckler". It's a specific exception to a normal rule. Races of Stone details a steel Tower Shield, because, of course you COULD make a tower shield out of steel, it would just be pretty heavy. This, of course, means you could make an adamantine tower shield (which is not detailed in either book, actually). Anyone know of any actual printed (by WotC) rulings (a sentence I am missing in PHB or 3.5 errata) on my main question, though? Disarming a shield clarification?
draconic_swine 02-13-07, 12:44 PM	Other than the mention of disarming a well secured object that ShinAkuma2 mentioned, there doesn't appear to be anything (at least not in the core rules) about disarming shields. Disarm itself only mentions disarming weapons. You could always try searching the FAQ to see if there's a more specific answer.
ADDMMisanthrope 02-13-07, 06:45 PM	Other than the mention of disarming a well secured object that ShinAkuma2 mentioned, there doesn't appear to be anything (at least not in the core rules) about disarming shields. Disarm itself only mentions disarming weapons. You could always try searching the FAQ to see if there's a more specific answer. I've searched the FAQ and it doesn't say anything of the sort. We have agreed in my campaign it is a well-secured item. Disarm doesn't specifically say weapon, though. I was just hoping I missed something, somewhere.. and someone knew something about this where WotC specifically writes: "a shield cannot be disarmed, as it is well secured" or something less definitive to disarm, "shields are well secured." They are absolutely well secured, which is my argument to the disagreement. Just have nothing in print to back me up. :weep:
dengarbountyhunter 02-13-07, 09:58 PM	For disarming a shield, I don't know. I guess it would be a well-secured item (you must grapple, pin and then try to take off at -4, or something like this). There's a feat in Complete Warrior though... I believe it's called Pin Shield, and it allows you to keep the enemy's shield out of your way with your off-hand weapons, so that he loses the shield's bonus to AC (but you also lose your off-hand attacks).
ADDMMisanthrope 02-14-07, 01:30 AM	For disarming a shield, I don't know. I guess it would be a well-secured item (you must grapple, pin and then try to take off at -4, or something like this). There's a feat in Complete Warrior though... I believe it's called Pin Shield, and it allows you to keep the enemy's shield out of your way with your off-hand weapons, so that he loses the shield's bonus to AC (but you also lose your off-hand attacks). There is further proof. Thank-you. The fact you cannot disarm a shield should be stated in the FAQ for those few people who will try to argue otherwise, though, as it doesn't speficially say. On another note--this feat is particularily powerful! Automatic success? At least it just applies to your attack. :confused: