Armor Expert Trait Question

[Andrew Besso]

The Weapon Finesse feat description says that the Armor Check Penalty (ACP) for a shield applies when a character uses the feat. The Armor Expert Trait reduces the ACP by 1. Does the decrease apply to shields?

[Wolfthulhu]

PFSRD wrote:

Benefit: When you wear armor of any sort, reduce that suit’s armor check penalty by 1, to a minimum check penalty of 0.

Seems pretty clear that it applies to armor only.

[Andrew Besso]

Wolfthulhu wrote:

PFSRD wrote:

Benefit: When you wear armor of any sort, reduce that suit’s armor check penalty by 1, to a minimum check penalty of 0.

Seems pretty clear that it applies to armor only.

I really hoped I was misunderstanding that text. That is not what I want it to mean!

[Kierato]

FYI a master work shield reduces it's ACP by 1 (to 0 for bucklers and light shields) and mithral and Dark wood reduces the ACP by 3 and 2 respectively (Bringing a heavy shield down to 0 in both cases.

[Wolfthulhu]

On the up side, unless you are using a tower shield, the ACP is only -1 or -2 and as soon as you get a mithril or darkwood shield it drops to 0. And darkwood is pretty cheap.

[Andrew Besso]

If I ever get around to building the character, I'll hold off on buying a shield until I can afford darkwood or mithral. I'm thinking of a fighter who might eventually become a duelist (perhaps with a level or two of monk along the way for the saving throws). With the Combat Expertise, Improved Feint and Weapon Finesse (rapier) feats, combined with the Fast Talker trait (Bluff becomes a class skill), he'd be a pretty good fencer at first level.

But I already have three active characters and two more almost ready to go (waiting for one of the others to die or, I hope, retire).

[Abraham spalding]

Masterwork buckler = -0 ACP, costs 150+buckler cost gp.