Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Harmor 07-23-04, 01:44 PM	I would like to create a Tower Shield that, as a Free Action, would be considered Total Cover vs. an damaging Area-effects. In our campaign Tower Shields take 1/4 damage from spells like Fireball. Also Fireball can be blocked partially eventhough its an emination. Now I was thinking that this item work like a cross between a Ring of Evasion and a Shield of Arrow Snatching. Here's what I have so far...let me know what you think. Area-effect Evasion: This property can only be placed on Tower Shields. The wielder is considered to have Total Cover against area-effect damage in the direction they are facing (i.e. Fireball, Cone of Cold, Acid Flasks, Buring Hands, etc.). This effect even works against eminations that bend around corners, however only the wielder is considered protected as the emination continues unabbated. If the spell center is behind or to the side of the wielder the wielder gets no benifit. If the center of the area-effect spell goes though a corner of the tower shield then the wielder gets +2 on Reflex Saves since he has cover. Otherwise the shield takes the damage from the area-effect. Note that this property won't work if the wielder is the center or target of the area-effect. Moderate abjuration; CL 8th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, entropic shield, shield and jump; Price +1 bonus. What do you guys think?
Seeker95 07-23-04, 02:09 PM	Not bad except for the "free action" part. I would make it a standard action to activate, just like every other enhancement on armor and weapons. It is either on or it is not.
Harmor 07-23-04, 02:30 PM	Well obviously I could use a standard action myself, but I wanted this to magically go up as against an attack...technically I could also have a feat like this: Reflexive Tower Shield Defence[GENERAL] Prerequisite: Dex 13, Combat Reflexes, Combat Expertise, Tower Shield Profiecency, BAB +6 Benefit: By making a DC 20 Reflex save once per round you can be considered having total cover against one area-effect attack. This reaction counts towards the number of AoO you are allowed per round. Special: A fighter may select Reflexive Tower Shield Defence as one of his fighter bonus feats.
Vanigo 07-23-04, 09:27 PM	Uh, as written, that feat works even if you're not carrying a tower shield... Also, you should have it not work on bursts, or maybe only give normal cover. Just kinda silly to say that a nonmagical tower shield would block a fireball better than a 5-foot block of stone.
TheGnomishWizard 07-24-04, 12:33 AM	You're description of the magic shield bonus involves it only working from the front, and working not at all from the back and sides. Realistically this is fine... but D&D has no face rules.
Tsuul 07-24-04, 05:23 AM	He could be using the Sage's rules on tower shields, then you chose facing.
Harmor 07-24-04, 07:52 AM	...D&D has no face rules Read the latest FAQ. When using a Tower Shield as total cover there is facing.