Tower Shield and Facing

[Tom S 820]

Why is the Tower Shiled the only thing in the game that use facing?

[Thokk the Ruleslaywer]

because it gives you cover. basicly it's a wall you can throw up and hide behind. problem is, it is now stable/set so facing applies. anything else you can whip around to take the hit...

[Skylancer4]

Tom S 820 wrote:

Why is the Tower Shiled the only thing in the game that use facing?

Actually it doesn't even use facing amusingly enough. The shield's AC bonus will still be in effect even with the total cover option. The rules say you choose one side of your square and treat that line as if you have total cover for attacks coming through that line. It also says you do not have cover from attacks from other areas, but says nothing about losing your AC bonus.

[Oliver McShade]

page 153 PF phb

""In most situations, it provides the indicated shield bonus to your AC. As a standard action, however, you can use a tower shield to grant you total cover until the beginning of your next turn""

When i read these two sentences together, i take it that normal i used it as a shield for the shield AC, but if use the shield to grant me cover then i lose the shields AC.

[Skylancer4]

Oliver McShade wrote:

page 153 PF phb

""In most situations, it provides the indicated shield bonus to your AC. As a standard action, however, you can use a tower shield to grant you total cover until the beginning of your next turn""

When i read these two sentences together, i take it that normal i used it as a shield for the shield AC, but if use the shield to grant me cover then i lose the shields AC.

Nothing states you lose the AC bonus anywhere, believe me I looked (pdf search how I love thee).

It states by using this item you have X effect, by using a standard action, however, you gain Y (an additional benefit). I agree nit picky, but that is what RAW states, that you gain total cover.

[Tom S 820]

I think instead of 100% cover from one direction change it to 25% to all Sides.

[Michael Gentry]

Tom S 820 wrote:

Why is the Tower Shiled the only thing in the game that use facing?

It doesn't use facing. The tower shield just a portable bit of cover that you can move around as needed. Putting it down in a specific place doesn't imply that you're facing that direction or that you aren't facing other directions -- it only implies that you gain cover from attacks that would cross the line where your shield is now planted.

[Wizard200000]

Why does a rule have to include something that should be common sense? If you plant something in a position and it gives you total cover till your next turn, how can it be moved to continue giving AC in other directions. As to PF not using facing, I see nothing that states that. Maybe I missed it, but again does it have to state something that a intelligent, thinking, reasonable person would surmise. Try explaining to a cop and judge why you are going the wrong way down a one way street, but since your car is facing the correct way it was ok. Do not think so.

A combat round is six seconds, trust me you can not doing that much spinning to face opponents in six seconds. The shield AC was simplified for combat as where a lot of rules.