Lots of buckler questions ;)
I'd say yes, you'd keep your spell resistance with your two handed weapon.
The buckler specifies that you lose the AC bonus if you attack, not all the bonuses or special properties tied to your buckler.
I'd say yes, you'd keep your spell resistance with your two handed weapon.
I would say no, you don't get to keep your spell resistance. That you have to use your buckler as a shield in order to gain any special abilities of the shield. It's not just a magic item with a shield slot.
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I'd say yes, you'd keep your spell resistance with your two handed weapon.I would say no, you don't get to keep your spell resistance. That you have to use your buckler as a shield in order to gain any special abilities of the shield. It's not just a magic item with a shield slot.
Strictly speaking, Stynkk is right: the RAW only stipulate that you lose the AC bonus when you wield a weapon, not anything else. A magic property would have to call itself out as not functioning when you don't have your shield bonus (due to wielding a weapon with your buckler hand or performing a non-improved shield bash with a light/heavy shield) in order to not work.
But realistically speaking, Tim is definitely onto something. Turning a buckler that you're not actually using into what's basically an extra magic item slot could be considered cheesey.
If I were your GM, I'd probably make case-by-case rulings based on what powers your buckler had. Cast continual flame on it? It doesn't go out just because you don't have your shield bonus. But a light fortification buckler? I'd probably declare it to be only functional while you have your shield bonus.
So I suggest consulting with your GM if possible. If it's PFS and you either can't talk to your GM or there are multiple GMs with varying opinions, I suggest either skipping it (to avoid hassle), or have a backup one-handed weapon, just in case.
Strictly speaking, Stynkk is right: the RAW only stipulate that you lose the AC bonus when you wield a weapon, not anything else. A magic property would have to call itself out as not functioning when you don't have your shield bonus (due to wielding a weapon with your buckler hand or performing a non-improved shield bash with a light/heavy shield) in order to not work.
Magic items have to be activated in order to use them. Shields are use activated:
"Use Activated: This type of item simply has to be used in order to activate it. A character has to drink a potion, swing a sword, interpose a shield to deflect a blow in combat.... (Pathfinder Core Rulebook, p. 458)"
I will state the rules are largely silent on what exactly is 'use' in this case, although the above seems to indicate using a shield in a defensive manner. I don't consider merely wearing a buckler or shield to be using it.
It gets a little muddier when you use a shield for a bash attack. Does no special abilities work, do all, or just some (e.g. bashing)? Personally, I think I will go with you lose defensive abilities when you lose your shield bonus to AC because you are using that hand for something else.
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Strictly speaking, Stynkk is right: the RAW only stipulate that you lose the AC bonus when you wield a weapon, not anything else. A magic property would have to call itself out as not functioning when you don't have your shield bonus (due to wielding a weapon with your buckler hand or performing a non-improved shield bash with a light/heavy shield) in order to not work.Magic items have to be activated in order to use them. Shields are use activated:
"Use Activated: This type of item simply has to be used in order to activate it. A character has to drink a potion, swing a sword, interpose a shield to deflect a blow in combat.... (Pathfinder Core Rulebook, p. 458)"
I will state the rules are largely silent on what exactly is 'use' in this case, although the above seems to indicate using a shield in a defensive manner. I don't consider merely wearing a buckler or shield to be using it.
Oh snap, you're right. Alright Stikye, ignore what I said before: Tim's right on this one.
It gets a little muddier when you use a shield for a bash attack. Does no special abilities work, do all, or just some (e.g. bashing)? Personally, I think I will go with you lose defensive abilities when you lose your shield bonus to AC because you are using that hand for something else.
Wouldn't it be that you lose the benefits of the abilities unless you have Improved Shield Bash?
It gets a little muddier when you use a shield for a bash attack. Does no special abilities work, do all, or just some (e.g. bashing)? Personally, I think I will go with you lose defensive abilities when you lose your shield bonus to AC because you are using that hand for something else.Wouldn't it be that you lose the benefits of the abilities unless you have Improved Shield Bash?
I went for a broader way of stating it (because new feats and abilities are added all the times). But, yes, I was thinking that would allow Improved Shield Bash to retain the defensive abilities of a magic shield.
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Tim, I actually think your 'slot' argument is better than your 'use' one, but they also go hand in hand.
Would that buckler work while in your backpack? If not, then it shouldn't work when it isn't in the right slot. And using a 2h-weapon means not using a shield (unless you have more than two arms), so I'd have to say 'not working'. It doesn't necessarily matter that the bucker means you don't have to drop the shield.
I said what I said, because you are still using a shield. It is still equipped on your person. Its also in the correct shield slot.
It simply does not provide AC if you attack with a two handed weapon, you're not unequipping anything, you are still using this item, it is just not providing it's shield bonus. Interposing a shield to deflect a blow has nothing to do with a passive boost attached to that shield. Would you allow someone with a buckler who casts a spell with that hand keep passive shield boosts such as spell resistance?
I would. Perhaps I am more lenient than most.
The fact remains that Spell Resistance shields are not use activated. They are continually functioning items that provide spell resistance that must be lowered.
Many use-activated items are objects that a character wears. Continually functioning items are practically always items that one wears. A few must simply be in the character's possession (meaning on his person).
Spell Resistance
This property grants the armor's wearer spell resistance while the armor is worn. The spell resistance can be 13, 15, 17, or 19, depending on the armor.
A creature can voluntarily lower its spell resistance. Doing so is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Once a creature lowers its resistance, it remains down until the creature's next turn. At the beginning of the creature's next turn, the creature's spell resistance automatically returns unless the creature intentionally keeps it down (also a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity).
Aside: I don't think spell resistance can even be on a buckler since RAW the magic item section only states Armor.
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I'm almost completely certain that 'worn' is shorthand for 'worn in the correct slot'. If you have a weapon in that slot instead, you get no benefit outside of what the weapon gives itself. If the buckler isn't in the shield slot, you get not only no AC, but nothing else as well.
All in the name of balance...
The buckler IS in the shield slot. You can wield a buckler and a two handed weapon. What are you talking about?
Is it possible to wear a buckler and use a heavy shield with the same arm? Say a +1 heavy fortification buckler and +5 heavy shield. Would you get +7 shield AC and heavy fort?
Err.. no. You can wear a buckler on your arm and hold a heavy shield or you can wear a heavy shield on your arm and hold a buckler. So impossible on the same arm.
If you wear them on different arms then it would be a bit muddier, but the answer would still be no.
However, why not just get a + 5 heavy shield with heavy fortification? That would be an allowable item to create.
Would you allow someone with a buckler who casts a spell with that hand keep passive shield boosts such as spell resistance?
Nope. You are either using the buckler to gain defenses bonuses (mundane and magical) or you're using the hand for something else. Kinda like a defending weapon.
Defending Weapon Property: Do I have to make attack rolls with the weapon to gain its AC bonus?
Yes. Merely holding a defending weapon is not sufficient. Unless otherwise specified, you have to use a magic item in the manner it is designed (use a weapon to make attacks, wear a shield on your arm so you can defend with it, and so on) to gain its benefits.
Therefore, if you don't make an attack roll with a defending weapon on your turn, you don't gain its defensive benefit.
Likewise, while you can give a shield the defending property (after you've given it a +1 enhancement bonus to attacks, of course), you wouldn't get the AC bonus from the defending property unless you used the shield to make a shield bash that round--unless you're using the shield as a weapon (to make a shield bash), the defending weapon property has no effect.—Sean K Reynolds, 06/06/11
I didn't realize that this quote hints a special abilities and shields.
Perhaps I am more lenient than most.
Or perhaps I'm just a jerk GM. :-P
As long as you and your group are having fun, you're playing the game correctly.
You are using the buckler in the way it is designed. It is being worn in the shield slot. You have it equipped. It does not say anything about the buckler "turning off all abilities" or "ceasing to exist".
It is not like a defending weapon as you must use that as a weapon to gain the boost from defending. You are actively using the buckler as a buckler. It even has a clause that the AC does not apply if you attack with a weapon in that hand.
So then, if the buckler "shuts off" when you attack, would the -1 to attack rolls no longer apply when you attack with a weapon?
Since you are putting forth the case that a person who uses their buckler'd arm to attack is no longer wearing the buckler correctly then neither the benefits nor the penalties of wearing the buckler should apply.
As long as you and your group are having fun, you're playing the game correctly.
Concur.