Just curious.
Buckler +1
Small Shield +2
Large Shield +3
Tower shield +4 OR cover
This what you mean?
Buckler +1
Small Shield +2
Large Shield +3
Tower shield +4 OR coverThis what you mean?
We've never done this, but my players have talked about the idea extensively in the past.
One player, when cracking the Pathfinder core rulebook's cover for the first time, even went straight to the shields section and let out a big "Aaaww, they haven't fixed shields yet!"
I never thought about it, but that does make sense. Why take a light shield when you can use a Buckler? Unless you want to hit some one with it, I guess. And then heavy shield actually progresses at least, but is already held back by the light shield-buckler thing.
hmm..Interesting...I will ponder this.
The main reason to use a light shield over a buckler would be to be able to use TWF with an off hand shield bash effectively (since a light shield is a light weapon bashing, whereas a heavy shield is a one-handed weapon and using it with, say, a longsword will impose double the normal TWF penalties).
You can use somatic components with a light shield or buckler. Can't do that with a heavy shield or tower shield.
I always thought this was funny because the 3.5 iconic cleric, Jozan, would have to drop his mace every time he went to cast a spell.
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IMHO, upping the armor value of the shield might make it end up being OP. You can get improved shield bash (AC stays when TWF with shield), the improved shield feat (+1AC), and Two-Weapon Defense (+1 AC since you're TWF with your shield). That allows you to keep an extra +4AC while still TWF. Is it feat heavy? Yes, but very beneficial considering you are still getting damage output from your shield while getting MORE benefits.
Uh, no. TWF gives you a +1-+2 shield bonus. So unless stacking rules changed in Pathfinder...
And wth is Improved Shield?
But heavy shields are -4/-4 with a one-handed weapon. Also you have to take a feat to do get your full strength-damage bonus.
I haven't considered house ruling it, but I have always wondered why it isn't that way in the first place. Bucklers, lt. shields, hvy shields, Tower shields, +1,+2,+3,+4, seems like a natural progression.
Uh, no. TWF gives you a +1-+2 shield bonus. So unless stacking rules changed in Pathfinder...
And wth is Improved Shield?
Forgot about it being a shield bonus. Shield focus is what I meant.
Regardless, you are getting a +3 bonus to AC while TWF with a shield...
So you get decent AC from your shield after burning ... 4 feats. I'm sorry, how is this a counterargument again?
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I personally love the ideas of shields getting higher ACs.
I experimented conceptually with changing shields to higher ACs and armor to DR. But my players are too conservative to try new ideas. Took years to get them to go from 3.0 to 3.5 got one to go Pathfinder right away, but the others JUST went 3.5 a couple of years ago (or maybe less) so they won't change any time soon.
Trying new ideas on them is a major no go.