| 5 people marked this as FAQ candidate. |
Since the original post in another thread is generating so much discussion, but people seem to have decided the question's not clear enough to merit being flagged as a FAQ, I figured I'd ask again here.
Shields are armor. They're also listed on the weapons table.
Light Shields (both wooden and steel) are listed as light weapons, assumedly allowing shield-bashes as part of a two-weapon-fighting action with the reduced attack penalties most light weapons allow.
Heavy Shields (both wooden and steel) are listed as one-handed weapons, assumedly allowing shield-bashes as part of a two-weapon-fighting action, but with full attack penalties.
If you have a heavy shield strapped to one arm, and your other hand is empty, are you able to adjust your grip (as a free action) to wielding the shield with both hands, to apply 1.5x strength on damage, increase power attack damage, etc. like "normal" one-handed weapons?
Further points:
From Weapons section:
HEAVY SHIELD
Price 7 GP/20 gp
Type martial
You can bash with a heavy shield instead of using it for defense. The shield entries for heavy shields appear on page 11"
From Armor section:
You strap a heavy steel shield to your forearm and grip it with your hand. A heavy steel shield is so heavy that you can't use your shield hand for anything else... Shield Bash Attacks: You can bash an opponent with a heavy shield. See "heavy shield" on the Martial Weapons table for the damage dealt by a shield bash with a heavy shield. 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.
The rapier entry in the weapon section specifically states: "You can't wield a rapier in two hands in order to apply 1-1/2 times your Strength modifier to its damage.", as does the Sword Cane and the Whip.
The shield entry lacks such text, but could be interpreted as disallowing two-handed wielding due to its entry reading:
"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."
instead of
"Used this way, a heavy shield is a martial one-handed bludgeoning weapon. For the purpose of penalties on attack rolls, modifiers to damage, and qualifying for feats such as weapon finesse, treat a heavy shield as a one-handed weapon."
or similar text.
Getting a clarification one way or the other would be pretty helpful. It's easy enough for GMs to house-rules whichever way they prefer if there's a disagreement about the ruling, but that sentiment doesn't work as well when things like Pathfinder Society Organised Play are involved.
(P.S.: If I've missed anything important in this post, or if it's too lengthy and confusing, or anything, please feel free to suggest such and I'll fix stuff up to be better organized for requesting a FAQ)