- If a Large creature uses a Medium-sized heavy shield, do they get a regular +2 Shield Bonus to AC?
- What about if the same Large creature uses a Large-sized heavy shield, do they still get a +2 Shield Bonus to AC?
While there are different damage rules for weapons optimised for different size categories, there only seem to be cost and weight rules for armor optimised for different sized wearers (Core Rules, p. 153).
My sense is that for balance purposes the same AC bonus should apply to all size categories, but I can see someone arguing that a Medium-optimised heavy shielf might be equivalent to a buckler in the hand of an ogre. But then, there's the relative size of the attacker to consider...
Is there some rule that I'm overlooking? Or do the rules imply the simple method that a Storm Giant's heavy shield offers as much AC bonus as a halfling's heavy shield?
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- If a Large creature uses a Medium-sized heavy shield, do they get a regular +2 Shield Bonus to AC?
- What about if the same Large creature uses a Large-sized heavy shield, do they still get a +2 Shield Bonus to AC?While there are different damage rules for weapons optimised for different size categories, there only seem to be cost and weight rules for armor optimised for different sized wearers (Core Rules, p. 153).
As mentioned in your third paragraph, a Medium-sized heavy shield is not suitable armour for a Large-sized creature, in the same way that a Medium chain mail wouldn't fit it. If a Large creature uses it as improvised protection anyway, the rules don't specify what benefit, if any, it provides.
Since it changes from a one-handed weapon to a light weapon for the Large creature, a GM might treat it as the shield type that is a light weapon for it, that is, a light shield. By similar logic, it might be too small for a Huge creature to use, or might act as a buckler.
It's awkward to use (the handles are too small and it's too lightly constructed for the sort of blows a Large creature expects to block) so the shield wouldn't get the benefit of any masterwork construction and might take an additional -1 armour check penalty per step of size difference.
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It's awkward to use (the handles are too small and it's too lightly constructed for the sort of blows a Large creature expects to block) so the shield wouldn't get the benefit of any masterwork construction and might take an additional -1 armour check penalty per step of size difference.
Or the Large creature simply might not be proficient with it, though that could have inconsistent effects.