| 2 people marked this as FAQ candidate. |
While using a longbow, do you get a +1 Shield bonus to AC or not? I'm a bit unsure about the bolded parts of the description:
Buckler: This small metal shield is worn strapped to your
forearm. You can use a bow or crossbow without penalty
while carrying it. You can also use your shield arm to wield
a weapon (whether you are using an off-hand weapon or
using your off hand to help wield a two-handed weapon),
but you take a –1 penalty on attack rolls while doing so.
This penalty stacks with those that may apply for f ighting
with your off hand and for f ighting with two weapons. In
any case, if you use a weapon in your off hand, you lose the
buckler’s AC bonus until your next turn. You can cast a
spell with somatic components using your shield arm, but
you lose the buckler’s AC bonus until your next turn. You
can’t make a shield bash with a buckler.
My interpretation is that you don't get the penalty while using the bow, but you also don't get the AC bonus either. Am I wrong in this? Or you get +1 Shield Bonus even while attacking without any penalties?
I interpret that as:
"you can use a bow with a buckler strapped to your arm without it getting in the way like a larger shield would, but since a bow is a 2 handed weapon, you won't gain benefit from it in the rounds you shoot, either".
While using a longbow, do you get a +1 Shield bonus to AC or not? I'm a bit unsure about the bolded parts of the description:
My interpretation is that you don't get the penalty while using the bow, but you also don't get the AC bonus either. Am I wrong in this? Or you get +1 Shield Bonus even while attacking without any penalties?Buckler: This small metal shield is worn strapped to your
forearm. You can use a bow or crossbow without penalty
while carrying it. You can also use your shield arm to wield
a weapon (whether you are using an off-hand weapon or
using your off hand to help wield a two-handed weapon),
but you take a –1 penalty on attack rolls while doing so.
This penalty stacks with those that may apply for f ighting
with your off hand and for f ighting with two weapons. In
any case, if you use a weapon in your off hand, you lose the
buckler’s AC bonus until your next turn. You can cast a
spell with somatic components using your shield arm, but
you lose the buckler’s AC bonus until your next turn. You
can’t make a shield bash with a buckler.
Your interpretation is correct.
If you're dying to have both, check out the ring of force shield.
I think the important thing in interpreting this is:
You can use a bow or crossbow without penalty
while carrying it.
To benefit from the buckler's AC bonus, you need to use it, carrying it is just adding dead weight.
On the flip-.side it also means, you cannot attack with a bow when using the buckler to add to your AC, rigth?What I always wondered is, do you get a shield's AC bonus when flat-footed? You are not really able to deflect any incoming attack while staring slackjawed into the distance, i.e. being unaware of said incoming attack.
|
Previous posters are correct.
Just to add: the Buckler's advantage isn't boosting your AC when the baddies are too far away to whack you in the first place. It's purpose is giving you an extra boost when you get charged, or are fighting skeletons, and have to break out your morningstar.
Definitely worth having, definitely worth upgrading occasionally as you level, definitely not worth throwing too much money at.
What I always wondered is, do you get a shield's AC bonus when flat-footed? You are not really able to deflect any incoming attack while staring slackjawed into the distance, i.e. being unaware of said incoming attack.
By the rules, yes. It provides an armor (shield) bonus, which applies when you are flat-footed, so yes, regardless of what sort of logic would dictate otherwise.