Managed to get this ring in an adventure as loot. Was curious as to how it functioned. According the book:
From what I'm gathering, its usable for Wizards and Sorcerer's without any problems to spell casting. Essentially getting a +2 AC 'Force-effect' shield that you can activate at will. I know that the MB can be enchanted and the like. Was just curious as how people use it. I figure you can have it off while your doing something, and then activated afterwards, getting the bonus.
If that were the case, could you give it to a character using a two-handed weapon and allow them to activate it after they attack, giving them some bonus AC that they're lacking by not having a shield?
Managed to get this ring in an adventure as loot. Was curious as to how it functioned. According the book:
** spoiler omitted **
From what I'm gathering, its usable for Wizards and Sorcerer's without any problems to spell casting. Essentially getting a +2 AC 'Force-effect' shield that you can activate at will. I know that the MB can be enchanted and the like. Was just curious as how people use it. I figure you can have it off while your doing something, and then activated afterwards, getting the bonus.
If that were the case, could you give it to a character using a two-handed weapon and allow them to activate it after they attack, giving them some bonus AC that they're lacking by not having a shield?
According to how that is written, no. It says it has to be weilded. If you are weilding a shield you need to use a hand to do it. You cannot hold a twohanded weapon to do it.
Aside from the fact that it's weightless, a force effect and has no encmbrance or spellcasting penalty it's treated used exactly as a normal shield.
All activation of magic items require a STANDARD action unless specficially stated otherwise, so cheesing with a two handed weapon is not allowed.
Its as a Free Action. So its possible no?
If you have a Wizard in the party with Craft Wondrous Items couldn't you just make some bracers with a permanent Shield spell on them?
Spell level (1) x caster level (1) x 2,000 gp = 2,000 gp
2,000 gp x 2 (continuos effect based on a spell with duration of minutes) = 4,000 gp base price
4,000 / 2 (for the price to make it) = 2,000gp
If you don't have anyone to craft it in the party, see if you can find an NPC to craft it for the base price using the 4,250gp you get from selling the Ring of Force Shield.
This wouldn't need any kind of "wielding" at all.
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Shielding Bracers
Slot arms; Price 4,000 gp
Description
These engraved silver bracers can be activated to produce an invisible shield in front of you. This shield grants you a +4 shield bonus to AC and negates incoming magic missile attacks. This special creation has no armor check penalty or arcane spell failure chance since it is weightless and encumbrance-free. It can be activated and deactivated at will as a free action.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, shield; Cost 2,000 gp
To the OP: In 3.5 you could use the Ring as you describe. Here is the FAQ:
Does the shield of force created by the ring of force
shield (DMG 232) require a free hand to use, or can I use it
when wielding two weapons or a two-handed weapon?
The item is silent on the issue, so the Sage believes it
appropriate to assume that the ring’s shield functions just like a
normal heavy shield (except for the lack of armor check
penalty or arcane spell failure chance). Thus, it requires a free
hand to gain the shield’s benefit.
Of course, a character wielding a weapon in that hand
could activate the ring after making his attacks for the round
(thus gaining its benefit while enemies attack) and deactivate it
at the start of his next turn (allowing attacks with that hand).
While you wouldn’t be able to use the shield hand to make
attacks of opportunity while the shield was active, you’d
otherwise be nearly as effectively protected as if the shield
were active continuously.
To Scipion:
You absolutely can NOT make a continuous ring of shield that grants a +4 shield bonus for 4000gp. Such an item duplicates already existing items and must be priced accordingly.
Edit: The absolute minimum cost for such an items, sans protection from magic missile, would be 16,000 (AC bonus squared times 1000).
I'm having trouble finding the rules for not being able to create items like that. Could you provide a page number? The rules do tell you how to craft an item with a continuous effect of a spell though...such as shield. Also none of the AC costs listed are shield, just defleciton, luck, insight, sacred, or profane.
The two items would require different feats to make and take up different body slots.
Edit: I apologize if this seems argumentative, just if my reading of the book is wrong. I'd like to know where in the book I misread.
I'm having trouble finding the rules for not being able to create items like that. Could you provide a page number? The rules do tell you how to craft an item with a continuous effect of a spell though...such as shield. Also none of the AC costs listed are shield, just defleciton, luck, insight, sacred, or profane.
The two items would require different feats to make and take up different body slots.
Edit: I apologize if this seems argumentative, just if my reading of the book is wrong. I'd like to know where in the book I misread.
Well it states for creating items without a similiar effect... and you forgot the line where it says to mulitply the price by 4 if the effect only lasts for rounds per level.
If it behaved like a physical shield, i.e. didn't apply to touch attacks, then I'd go with x1000. If it did apply against touch attacks or incorporeal touch attacks, then the price would have to go up accordingly.
Shield lasts minute/level so it's only times 2, not times 4.
A Ring of Force Shield creates a shield shaped wall of force that you must actually wield. Functioning entirely like a heavy shield. Meaning you could use it for Shield Bash moves and apply all feats relating to shields to it. The shield created from the shield spell floats of it's own volition in front of you. Unwieldable.
A shield bonus does not affect your touch AC, but as per the spell it would affect attacks from incorporeal creatures.
Remember this is an item which can be used to trigger a shield spell. It's not an item which is giving the wearer an inherent +4 Shield bonus such as enchanting an actual physical shield.
I do think I was mistaken in applying the phrase, "It can be activated and deactivated at will as a free action." Like LazarX said it should be a standard action for the bracers I gave.
Regarding the question from the OP the item does specify activating and deactivating it is a free action. Since free actions are described as "don't take any time at all" I fail to see why you couldn't dispel the shield, perform your actions in your turn, then ready the shield again afterward. If this wasn't the implied use of the item, why specify activating it is a free action? Perhaps this explains the extravagant cost in comparison to an item of continuous shield spell?
Having it be a standard action to activate does change things. It's only when it provides a constant or functionally constant effect that the pricing is different.
And you're right about the Ring.
Having it be a standard action to activate does change things. It's only when it provides a constant or functionally constant effect that the pricing is different.
That would knock the price down to command word since continuous would not need activation. Spell level x caster level x 1,800 gp like the cape of the mountebank. And limit the shield effect to 10 rounds. A fine and still very useful trinket.
Constant bonus, whatever the type, to AC have their own entries in the table. You cannot use a continuous shield spell to get them, just like you cannot make a constant effect truestrike item. That would break the game.
Having it be a standard action to activate does change things. It's only when it provides a constant or functionally constant effect that the pricing is different.
Don't get me wrong. It would be a constant affect. My saying it needs a standard action to activate only applies for when you first turn it on. Just like their example of the Lantern of Revealing gives a constant effect of Invisibility Purge. That item is priced 30,000.
(Spell level (3) x caster level (5) X 2000) x 2 for continuous effect based on a min/level spell duration.
True Strike cannot be made a continuous item because it has no duration. It could be produced in something similar to the Cape of the mountebank or more efficiently as an item with charges per day.
(Spell Level x Caster level x 2000) x (uses per day/5)
If that were the case, could you give it to a character using a two-handed weapon and allow them to activate it after they attack, giving them some bonus AC that they're lacking by not having a shield?
You could but as Kolokotroni said, the ring works as a shield and then requires a hand. Thus, you can make a full round attack, activate the ring as a free action but then you can't use your two-handed weapon until your next turn, making you unable to perform AoOs.
If that were the case, could you give it to a character using a two-handed weapon and allow them to activate it after they attack, giving them some bonus AC that they're lacking by not having a shield?You could but as Kolokotroni said, the ring works as a shield and then requires a hand. Thus, you can make a full round attack, activate the ring as a free action but then you can't use your two-handed weapon until your next turn, making you unable to perform AoOs.
But how would such a ring effect spellcasting or wand-wieling?
True Strike cannot be made a continuous item because it has no duration.
It has a duration listed, see text:
You gain temporary, intuitive insight into the immediate future during your next attack. Your next single attack roll (if it is made before the end of the next round) gains a +20 insight bonus. Additionally, you are not affected by the miss chance that applies to attackers trying to strike a concealed target.
That woud be in the mesured in rounds order of magnitude. X4 cost.
But that is not why no DM would allow it as a continuous effect. It's because magic item pricing guidelines are just that, guidelines. The first one to take into account is this:
Many factors must be considered when determining the price of new magic items. The easiest way to come up with a price is to compare the new item to an item that is already priced, using that price as a guide. Otherwise, use the guidelines summarized on Table: Estimating Magic Item Gold Piece Values.
Meaning that if there's already an item giving constant AC bonus, like bracers of armor is, the price for them should be your starting point. You cannot cherrypick the formulae to find the most efficient/optimized one.
All this said, it's up to you as a DM to adjudicate the final price on any item. If these bracers suit your game and are not disrupting it, them by all means go ahead and allow them.
But how would such a ring effect spellcasting or wand-wieling?
It wouldn't at all. You'd have the shield off during your turn.
But how would such a ring effect spellcasting or wand-wieling?It wouldn't at all. You'd have the shield off during your turn.
It doesn't at all... specifically says it has no ACP and no ASF...