anyone seen my hand? [Archive] - Wizards Community

anyone seen my hand? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Thubby
12-10-06, 12:40 PM my character has lost his hand (as the title may have suggested). and was wondering a couple of things. obviously he cant use a standard weapon in the missing hand, but what about a shield? what penalties are there? im talking about after it heals, not the whole "shock of losing a limb" thing.
before anyone asks, he lost it due to a rather cool (and i think balanced) combat mechanic that we all agreed to.
thanks in advance :D
Cryforge
12-10-06, 01:00 PM Strapping a shield to your stump?

Well, some shields are strapped to the arm rather than held by a handle. Maybe with a slight price increase, you could get a special shield that you can strap on to your stumpy little limb.

Might look a little funny, though. :D
Delfedd
12-10-06, 01:05 PM If you could post the system here, I would be most greatful.
The White Sorcerer
12-10-06, 01:06 PM I'd allow the character to strap shields to the stump, perhaps with an additional -1 to the armor check penalty.
RevIron
12-10-06, 03:02 PM As part of that 4th edition spoof they suggested these stumps are good for holding torches, and that there was actually a standard design for stump torch holders.
IdleAltruism
12-10-06, 03:10 PM Stump Knife!!! From the arms and equipment. My players have been pestering me with bad jokes and threats of creating a dual wielding stump knife character since the book came out.
Thubby
12-10-06, 03:47 PM Stump Knife!!! From the arms and equipment. My players have been pestering me with bad jokes and threats of creating a dual wielding stump knife character since the book came out.

i know about the stump knife, i just dont want to use it, he was a sword/shield fighter before, want him to stay one (that and he invested in wpn spec). it is a good idea though.
lol, isnt the stump knife actualy crazy good? i dont have my book with me, but doesnt it double threat range each swing or something. a duel stump knife wielder would actualy be pretty good, despite the obvious stupidity involved "i wanna become super powerful. quick chop off my hands!!!". next we'll add double peg legs "go stumpy!".
EDIT: make that double peg legs of springing and striding
any other ideas what kind of problems would arise from missing a hand, skill issues? (kinda hard to tie your shoes 1 handed)
Grod_The_Giant
12-10-06, 04:14 PM well, slight of hand will be a lot harder :P
angelus_truelove
12-10-06, 10:35 PM it only doubles the threat range on anyone you have damaged during that combat....it doesn't keep doubling...though the fact that it has an 18-20 crit range to start with does make it kinda serious
Ashok_Lal
12-10-06, 11:12 PM A small adjustment on a masterworked shield that straps to your arm should give you no penalties at all. Imho
Newpaintbrush
12-11-06, 02:43 AM Your arm tapers.

Most shields require a handgrip of some sort, so they will not slip.

Really, imagine your hand was missing, and something that weights 5 to 15 pounds is being violently jiggled around. Straps or no, that thing's gonna come off.

I'd say a shield would have to be customized, but that you would still take penalties to AC for six months.

Go visit a gnome and get fitted with an artificial hand, or get it regenerated.
Yokomohoyo
12-11-06, 03:56 AM you could always have your DM make a form of the stump dagger apply to the sword of prefrence of your character... or have him use iron claws ( I forget the name from oriental adventures)
Sphyre
12-11-06, 04:46 AM Buckler: This small metal shield is worn strapped to your forearm. You can use a bow or crossbow without penalty while carrying it. You can also use your shield arm to wield a weapon (whether you are using an off-hand weapon or using your off hand to help wield a two-handed weapon), but you take a –1 penalty on attack rolls while doing so. This penalty stacks with those that may apply for fighting with your off hand and for fighting with two weapons. In any case, if you use a weapon in your off hand, you don’t get the buckler’s AC bonus for the rest of the round. You can’t bash someone with a buckler.

Shield, Heavy, Wooden or Steel: You strap a shield to your forearm and grip it with your hand. A heavy shield is so heavy that you can’t use your shield hand for anything else. Wooden or Steel: Wooden and steel shields offer the same basic protection, though they respond differently to special attacks. Shield Bash Attacks: You can bash an opponent with a heavy shield, using it as an off-hand weapon. See Table: Weapons for the damage dealt by a shield bash. Used this way, a heavy shield is a martial bludgeoning weapon. For the purpose of penalties on attack rolls, treat a heavy shield as a one-handed weapon. If you use your shield as a weapon, you lose its AC bonus until your next action (usually until the next round). An enhancement bonus on a shield does not improve the effectiveness of a shield bash made with it, but the shield can be made into a magic weapon in its own right.

Shield, Light, Wooden or Steel: You strap a shield to your forearm and grip it with your hand. A light shield’s weight lets you carry other items in that hand, although you cannot use weapons with it.
Wooden or Steel: Wooden and steel shields offer the same basic protection, though they respond differently to special attacks. Shield Bash Attacks: You can bash an opponent with a light shield, using it as an off-hand weapon. See Table: Weapons for the damage dealt by a shield bash. Used this way, a light shield is a martial bludgeoning weapon. For the purpose of penalties on attack rolls, treat a light shield as a light weapon. If you use your shield as a weapon, you lose its AC bonus until your next action (usually until the next round). An enhancement bonus on a shield does not improve the effectiveness of a shield bash made with it, but the shield can be made into a magic weapon in its own right.

Shield, Tower: This massive wooden shield is nearly as tall as you are. In most situations, it provides the indicated shield bonus to your AC. However, you can instead use it as total cover, though you must give up your attacks to do so. The shield does not, however, provide cover against targeted spells; a spellcaster can cast a spell on you by targeting the shield you are holding. You cannot bash with a tower shield, nor can you use your shield hand for anything else. When employing a tower shield in combat, you take a –2 penalty on attack rolls because of the shield’s encumbrance.

Without some DM arbitration, by the rules you can only use a buckler since you lack the hand to hold it.
Yokomohoyo
12-11-06, 04:53 AM true s/he could use a buckler without penalty whats the fun in that... talk to you DM and make your character into a "Haz Delgado" (Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy) by say for example talking to a gnome tinker that could make a multi-tool like thing that can lock on a blade / cross bow with a snap on type tool thus you could snap on a blade for melee combat or a x-bow for range/ infiltration (could put on a grappling hook with a rope to get over a wall of two ^_^)
M_Tigersoul
12-11-06, 09:05 AM If it's your left hand, you could always find the Hand of Vecna like my character! It's awesome...could mean an allignment change, though...unless your will saves are pretty sweet.
Kradlo
12-11-06, 11:10 AM I've heard legends of the Head of Vecna...

:schemes:
Buccaneer
12-11-06, 11:43 AM I'd whip up some kind of hook personally. Bonus on climb and intimidate checks, maybe even disarm ;). Slip a Ring of Force Shield on there and your good to go :D

P.S. Not to mention hook hands are awesome
DrMorganes
12-11-06, 12:03 PM Meh. Why stop at a hook? Fantasy fiction (c.f., The Bull and the Spear in the second chronicles of Corum and Dragonlance) and even folklore (Nuada of the Silver Hand (http://www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/europe/celtic/articles.html) - which may well have been a portion of Moorcock's inspiration for Corum's hand) have artificial limbs all over the place.

However, to answer the original question: using more than a buckler would require some sort of Masterwork modification to the shield in question. Standard cost for a masterwork item, or perhaps slightly (no more than +30%) more.
arl1987
12-11-06, 09:40 PM Wow.. I'm surprised that no one has suggested the obvious.... You get a chainsaw attached to your stump. with a hook on your chest that grabs the cord so you can start it without the use of your other hand. And when that runs out of gas, you engineer a gauntlet into a mechanical hand that is attached to your nerves so it responds to your actions. Then you can crush metal goblets and say "Groovy":D

-Duh.

P.S. <- Huge Army of Darkness/Evil Dead Fan, In case you didn't catch that.
Yokomohoyo
12-12-06, 03:07 AM Wow.. I'm surprised that no one has suggested the obvious.... You get a chainsaw attached to your stump. with a hook on your chest that grabs the cord so you can start it without the use of your other hand. And when that runs out of gas, you engineer a gauntlet into a mechanical hand that is attached to your nerves so it responds to your actions. Then you can crush metal goblets and say "Groovy":D

-Duh.

P.S. <- Huge Army of Darkness/Evil Dead Fan, In case you didn't catch that.

I sort of did with the parody named Haz Delgado whome has a chainsaw, rockett launcher, lightsaber, plasma rifle all built into the stubb... watch the grim adventures of billy and mandy on cartoon network

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Thubby 12-10-06, 12:40 PM	my character has lost his hand (as the title may have suggested). and was wondering a couple of things. obviously he cant use a standard weapon in the missing hand, but what about a shield? what penalties are there? im talking about after it heals, not the whole "shock of losing a limb" thing. before anyone asks, he lost it due to a rather cool (and i think balanced) combat mechanic that we all agreed to. thanks in advance :D
Cryforge 12-10-06, 01:00 PM	Strapping a shield to your stump? Well, some shields are strapped to the arm rather than held by a handle. Maybe with a slight price increase, you could get a special shield that you can strap on to your stumpy little limb. Might look a little funny, though. :D
Delfedd 12-10-06, 01:05 PM	If you could post the system here, I would be most greatful.
The White Sorcerer 12-10-06, 01:06 PM	I'd allow the character to strap shields to the stump, perhaps with an additional -1 to the armor check penalty.
RevIron 12-10-06, 03:02 PM	As part of that 4th edition spoof they suggested these stumps are good for holding torches, and that there was actually a standard design for stump torch holders.
IdleAltruism 12-10-06, 03:10 PM	Stump Knife!!! From the arms and equipment. My players have been pestering me with bad jokes and threats of creating a dual wielding stump knife character since the book came out.
Thubby 12-10-06, 03:47 PM	Stump Knife!!! From the arms and equipment. My players have been pestering me with bad jokes and threats of creating a dual wielding stump knife character since the book came out. i know about the stump knife, i just dont want to use it, he was a sword/shield fighter before, want him to stay one (that and he invested in wpn spec). it is a good idea though. lol, isnt the stump knife actualy crazy good? i dont have my book with me, but doesnt it double threat range each swing or something. a duel stump knife wielder would actualy be pretty good, despite the obvious stupidity involved "i wanna become super powerful. quick chop off my hands!!!". next we'll add double peg legs "go stumpy!". EDIT: make that double peg legs of springing and striding any other ideas what kind of problems would arise from missing a hand, skill issues? (kinda hard to tie your shoes 1 handed)
Grod_The_Giant 12-10-06, 04:14 PM	well, slight of hand will be a lot harder :P
angelus_truelove 12-10-06, 10:35 PM	it only doubles the threat range on anyone you have damaged during that combat....it doesn't keep doubling...though the fact that it has an 18-20 crit range to start with does make it kinda serious
Ashok_Lal 12-10-06, 11:12 PM	A small adjustment on a masterworked shield that straps to your arm should give you no penalties at all. Imho
Newpaintbrush 12-11-06, 02:43 AM	Your arm tapers. Most shields require a handgrip of some sort, so they will not slip. Really, imagine your hand was missing, and something that weights 5 to 15 pounds is being violently jiggled around. Straps or no, that thing's gonna come off. I'd say a shield would have to be customized, but that you would still take penalties to AC for six months. Go visit a gnome and get fitted with an artificial hand, or get it regenerated.
Yokomohoyo 12-11-06, 03:56 AM	you could always have your DM make a form of the stump dagger apply to the sword of prefrence of your character... or have him use iron claws ( I forget the name from oriental adventures)
Sphyre 12-11-06, 04:46 AM	Buckler: This small metal shield is worn strapped to your forearm. You can use a bow or crossbow without penalty while carrying it. You can also use your shield arm to wield a weapon (whether you are using an off-hand weapon or using your off hand to help wield a two-handed weapon), but you take a –1 penalty on attack rolls while doing so. This penalty stacks with those that may apply for fighting with your off hand and for fighting with two weapons. In any case, if you use a weapon in your off hand, you don’t get the buckler’s AC bonus for the rest of the round. You can’t bash someone with a buckler. Shield, Heavy, Wooden or Steel: You strap a shield to your forearm and grip it with your hand. A heavy shield is so heavy that you can’t use your shield hand for anything else. Wooden or Steel: Wooden and steel shields offer the same basic protection, though they respond differently to special attacks. Shield Bash Attacks: You can bash an opponent with a heavy shield, using it as an off-hand weapon. See Table: Weapons for the damage dealt by a shield bash. Used this way, a heavy shield is a martial bludgeoning weapon. For the purpose of penalties on attack rolls, treat a heavy shield as a one-handed weapon. If you use your shield as a weapon, you lose its AC bonus until your next action (usually until the next round). An enhancement bonus on a shield does not improve the effectiveness of a shield bash made with it, but the shield can be made into a magic weapon in its own right. Shield, Light, Wooden or Steel: You strap a shield to your forearm and grip it with your hand. A light shield’s weight lets you carry other items in that hand, although you cannot use weapons with it. Wooden or Steel: Wooden and steel shields offer the same basic protection, though they respond differently to special attacks. Shield Bash Attacks: You can bash an opponent with a light shield, using it as an off-hand weapon. See Table: Weapons for the damage dealt by a shield bash. Used this way, a light shield is a martial bludgeoning weapon. For the purpose of penalties on attack rolls, treat a light shield as a light weapon. If you use your shield as a weapon, you lose its AC bonus until your next action (usually until the next round). An enhancement bonus on a shield does not improve the effectiveness of a shield bash made with it, but the shield can be made into a magic weapon in its own right. Shield, Tower: This massive wooden shield is nearly as tall as you are. In most situations, it provides the indicated shield bonus to your AC. However, you can instead use it as total cover, though you must give up your attacks to do so. The shield does not, however, provide cover against targeted spells; a spellcaster can cast a spell on you by targeting the shield you are holding. You cannot bash with a tower shield, nor can you use your shield hand for anything else. When employing a tower shield in combat, you take a –2 penalty on attack rolls because of the shield’s encumbrance. Without some DM arbitration, by the rules you can only use a buckler since you lack the hand to hold it.
Yokomohoyo 12-11-06, 04:53 AM	true s/he could use a buckler without penalty whats the fun in that... talk to you DM and make your character into a "Haz Delgado" (Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy) by say for example talking to a gnome tinker that could make a multi-tool like thing that can lock on a blade / cross bow with a snap on type tool thus you could snap on a blade for melee combat or a x-bow for range/ infiltration (could put on a grappling hook with a rope to get over a wall of two ^_^)
M_Tigersoul 12-11-06, 09:05 AM	If it's your left hand, you could always find the Hand of Vecna like my character! It's awesome...could mean an allignment change, though...unless your will saves are pretty sweet.
Kradlo 12-11-06, 11:10 AM	I've heard legends of the Head of Vecna... :schemes:
Buccaneer 12-11-06, 11:43 AM	I'd whip up some kind of hook personally. Bonus on climb and intimidate checks, maybe even disarm ;). Slip a Ring of Force Shield on there and your good to go :D P.S. Not to mention hook hands are awesome
DrMorganes 12-11-06, 12:03 PM	Meh. Why stop at a hook? Fantasy fiction (c.f., The Bull and the Spear in the second chronicles of Corum and Dragonlance) and even folklore (Nuada of the Silver Hand (http://www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/europe/celtic/articles.html) - which may well have been a portion of Moorcock's inspiration for Corum's hand) have artificial limbs all over the place. However, to answer the original question: using more than a buckler would require some sort of Masterwork modification to the shield in question. Standard cost for a masterwork item, or perhaps slightly (no more than +30%) more.
arl1987 12-11-06, 09:40 PM	Wow.. I'm surprised that no one has suggested the obvious.... You get a chainsaw attached to your stump. with a hook on your chest that grabs the cord so you can start it without the use of your other hand. And when that runs out of gas, you engineer a gauntlet into a mechanical hand that is attached to your nerves so it responds to your actions. Then you can crush metal goblets and say "Groovy":D -Duh. P.S. <- Huge Army of Darkness/Evil Dead Fan, In case you didn't catch that.
Yokomohoyo 12-12-06, 03:07 AM	Wow.. I'm surprised that no one has suggested the obvious.... You get a chainsaw attached to your stump. with a hook on your chest that grabs the cord so you can start it without the use of your other hand. And when that runs out of gas, you engineer a gauntlet into a mechanical hand that is attached to your nerves so it responds to your actions. Then you can crush metal goblets and say "Groovy":D -Duh. P.S. <- Huge Army of Darkness/Evil Dead Fan, In case you didn't catch that. I sort of did with the parody named Haz Delgado whome has a chainsaw, rockett launcher, lightsaber, plasma rifle all built into the stubb... watch the grim adventures of billy and mandy on cartoon network