Animated shields clarification. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Animated shields clarification. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
doombringer
04-26-04, 04:29 PM Two questions/clarifications I have are as follows:

1) Are you allowed to have 2 animated shields floating around you at a time like an animated tower shield and an animated large steel shield and have the cover bonus from the tower shield and the shield bonus from the large steel shield count towards AC?

2) If you're a fighting class, are you allowed to have a large steel shield in one hand and an animated tower shield float around you and have the cover bonus from the tower shield and the shield bonus from the large steel shield count towards AC?

I have a feeling I know what the answers are going to be, but any clarification of the issue would help greatly.

Thanks ahead of time!
Beamup
04-26-04, 04:42 PM Absolutely not. I quote from the description of Animated:

Only one shield can protect a character at a time.

And adding to that is the fact that shields give a shield bonus to AC, and multiple bonuses of the same type don't stack. In either of your cases, you have exactly the protection of a normal tower shield. In case 1, you also have a free hand. In either case, your DM would be well within his rights to say you get both sets of penalties for no additional benefit if he let you try at all.
doombringer
04-26-04, 10:11 PM Well, I was working from a 3.0 standpoint where tower shields gave the wearer a cover bonus. I'm aware that this has been changed in 3.5 but I also thought that tower shields can be used to give a cover bonus as well. In that respect, wouldn't the cover bonus from the tower shield and the shield bonus from the regular steel shield work in tandem to give one more AC?

Sorry for any miscommunications.
Ipsissimus
04-26-04, 11:29 PM logically, yes but from a gaming balance perspective no. The shield would just get in the way of each other.

I'm guessing you want to hide behind the towershield while the large shield gives you AC. So, due to the rules you would get the cover bonus from the tower shield but not from the large shield. Once you stepped away and no longer got cover you would get the AC from the large shield but not from the tower shield.

Something like that...IMO

Just reach epic levels you can have 2 animated shields with the proper feat.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
doombringer 04-26-04, 04:29 PM	Two questions/clarifications I have are as follows: 1) Are you allowed to have 2 animated shields floating around you at a time like an animated tower shield and an animated large steel shield and have the cover bonus from the tower shield and the shield bonus from the large steel shield count towards AC? 2) If you're a fighting class, are you allowed to have a large steel shield in one hand and an animated tower shield float around you and have the cover bonus from the tower shield and the shield bonus from the large steel shield count towards AC? I have a feeling I know what the answers are going to be, but any clarification of the issue would help greatly. Thanks ahead of time!
Beamup 04-26-04, 04:42 PM	Absolutely not. I quote from the description of Animated: Only one shield can protect a character at a time. And adding to that is the fact that shields give a shield bonus to AC, and multiple bonuses of the same type don't stack. In either of your cases, you have exactly the protection of a normal tower shield. In case 1, you also have a free hand. In either case, your DM would be well within his rights to say you get both sets of penalties for no additional benefit if he let you try at all.
doombringer 04-26-04, 10:11 PM	Well, I was working from a 3.0 standpoint where tower shields gave the wearer a cover bonus. I'm aware that this has been changed in 3.5 but I also thought that tower shields can be used to give a cover bonus as well. In that respect, wouldn't the cover bonus from the tower shield and the shield bonus from the regular steel shield work in tandem to give one more AC? Sorry for any miscommunications.
Ipsissimus 04-26-04, 11:29 PM	logically, yes but from a gaming balance perspective no. The shield would just get in the way of each other. I'm guessing you want to hide behind the towershield while the large shield gives you AC. So, due to the rules you would get the cover bonus from the tower shield but not from the large shield. Once you stepped away and no longer got cover you would get the AC from the large shield but not from the tower shield. Something like that...IMO Just reach epic levels you can have 2 animated shields with the proper feat.