Animated Shields and Penalties [Archive] - Wizards Community

Animated Shields and Penalties [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lilt
05-10-04, 02:02 PM Do Animated shields still apply armor check penalty or give a chance of spell failure?

I suspect not, after-all you're not holding it, but it dosen't say (at-least not in 3rd ed, don't have 3.5) so I'd like to check.
Sabron
05-10-04, 02:19 PM I'd say it doesn't confer any armour check penalty or spell failure.
After all, you don't really hold the shield, and if concentration were necessary I'm sure that would have been noted.
Buying a +1 animated shield costs you 9000 gp. A ring of protection +2 costs you 8000. That would make an animated shield a very advantageous item, as it confers a +3 armour bonus stacking with other armour, compared to a +2 deflection bonus. This is assuming you wouldn't use a shield otherwise.
Later on, at higher levels, for those regularly wielding shields, the animated enchantment would become less good... if you have a +3 shield, it's going to cost you an extra 16000 gp (on top of the 9000 for the +3 shield. For that 16000 gp, you can buy 2 rings of protection +2. That means you free up your hands and massively increase the price of future shield enchantments for 16000 gp, which would otherwise give you a +4 deflection bonus (speaking theoretically for a bit, because you can't wear the same item twice. But other items are similarly priced with similar effect). The above doesn't seem like too great a trade-off to me...
But for those normally not using shields (two-weapon fighters, mages, double-handed weapong fighters, etc.), the animated enchantment is a very powerful enchantment... perhaps overpowered, but I don't see how a floating shield causes armour check penalty and/or spell failure.

So, my conclusion to your question: no :)
The_Ditto
05-10-04, 02:44 PM Easy answer .. just read the description of "animated" in the books ..

from the SRd:

Animated: Upon command, an animated shield floats within 2 feet of the wielder, protecting her as if she were using it herself but freeing up both her hands. Only one shield can protect a character at a time. A character with an animated shield still takes any penalties associated with shield use, such as armor check penalty, arcane spell failure chance, and nonproficiency.
Strong transmutation; CL 12th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, animate objects; Price +2 bonus.

(emphasis mine)

so .. yes .. you do still suffer armor check penalties .. (and non-proficiency penalties, and arcane spell failure .. etc ... etc ..

:tiphat:
Lilt
05-10-04, 02:49 PM K. That just wasn't stated in the 3rd edition (rathert than 3.5) DMg.
Sabron
05-10-04, 03:12 PM And neither in mine ;)
Hmm... actually for my current character that's not too good. Rogue/Ranger fighting with 2 swords, not wanting armour check penalty. Will have to make it Mithral then, +1000 gp.
mr_floppy
05-10-04, 04:40 PM it's stated in 3rd edition 'sword and fist' if i remember correct
mr_floppy
05-10-04, 04:43 PM it's stated in 3rd edition 'sword and fist' if i remember correct

Hmm... actually for my current character that's not too good. Rogue/Ranger fighting with 2 swords, not wanting armour check penalty. Will have to make it Mithral then, +1000 gp.
actually. somebody fighting with two weapons and having a shield hovering before him looks...errrm...unstylish let's say ;)
Lilt
05-10-04, 05:06 PM That depends on what you make the shield look like. If you just make it move around like a boring-old upright shield then it could look boring. If you make it dart swiftly from side to side between your blows and make it spikey then it could be cool.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lilt 05-10-04, 02:02 PM	Do Animated shields still apply armor check penalty or give a chance of spell failure? I suspect not, after-all you're not holding it, but it dosen't say (at-least not in 3rd ed, don't have 3.5) so I'd like to check.
Sabron 05-10-04, 02:19 PM	I'd say it doesn't confer any armour check penalty or spell failure. After all, you don't really hold the shield, and if concentration were necessary I'm sure that would have been noted. Buying a +1 animated shield costs you 9000 gp. A ring of protection +2 costs you 8000. That would make an animated shield a very advantageous item, as it confers a +3 armour bonus stacking with other armour, compared to a +2 deflection bonus. This is assuming you wouldn't use a shield otherwise. Later on, at higher levels, for those regularly wielding shields, the animated enchantment would become less good... if you have a +3 shield, it's going to cost you an extra 16000 gp (on top of the 9000 for the +3 shield. For that 16000 gp, you can buy 2 rings of protection +2. That means you free up your hands and massively increase the price of future shield enchantments for 16000 gp, which would otherwise give you a +4 deflection bonus (speaking theoretically for a bit, because you can't wear the same item twice. But other items are similarly priced with similar effect). The above doesn't seem like too great a trade-off to me... But for those normally not using shields (two-weapon fighters, mages, double-handed weapong fighters, etc.), the animated enchantment is a very powerful enchantment... perhaps overpowered, but I don't see how a floating shield causes armour check penalty and/or spell failure. So, my conclusion to your question: no :)
The_Ditto 05-10-04, 02:44 PM	Easy answer .. just read the description of "animated" in the books .. from the SRd: Animated: Upon command, an animated shield floats within 2 feet of the wielder, protecting her as if she were using it herself but freeing up both her hands. Only one shield can protect a character at a time. A character with an animated shield still takes any penalties associated with shield use, such as armor check penalty, arcane spell failure chance, and nonproficiency. Strong transmutation; CL 12th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, animate objects; Price +2 bonus. (emphasis mine) so .. yes .. you do still suffer armor check penalties .. (and non-proficiency penalties, and arcane spell failure .. etc ... etc .. :tiphat:
Lilt 05-10-04, 02:49 PM	K. That just wasn't stated in the 3rd edition (rathert than 3.5) DMg.
Sabron 05-10-04, 03:12 PM	And neither in mine ;) Hmm... actually for my current character that's not too good. Rogue/Ranger fighting with 2 swords, not wanting armour check penalty. Will have to make it Mithral then, +1000 gp.
mr_floppy 05-10-04, 04:40 PM	it's stated in 3rd edition 'sword and fist' if i remember correct
mr_floppy 05-10-04, 04:43 PM	it's stated in 3rd edition 'sword and fist' if i remember correct Hmm... actually for my current character that's not too good. Rogue/Ranger fighting with 2 swords, not wanting armour check penalty. Will have to make it Mithral then, +1000 gp. actually. somebody fighting with two weapons and having a shield hovering before him looks...errrm...unstylish let's say ;)
Lilt 05-10-04, 05:06 PM	That depends on what you make the shield look like. If you just make it move around like a boring-old upright shield then it could look boring. If you make it dart swiftly from side to side between your blows and make it spikey then it could be cool.