Bards can cast bard spells while wearing light armor and Any shield?

[Johaan05]

d20pfsrd wrote:

A bard is proficient with ... light armor and shields (except tower shields). A bard can cast bard spells while wearing light armor and using a shield without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. Like any other arcane spellcaster, a bard wearing medium or heavy armor incurs a chance of arcane spell failure if the spell in question has a somatic component.

But if said bard dips a level of Fighter (or other class with Tower Shield proficiency) or even takes the feat Tower Shield Proficiency can he cast Bard spells while using a Tower shield without incurring the normal Arcane Spell Failure chance? It seems to say that using a shield does not incur ASF% and only his proficiency is called into question.

I am planning on blending a Arcane Duelist anyway, and wanted to see if a level of fighter would benefit. Arcane duelists can cast their spells with Buckler/Light/Heavy shields anyway, right?

[wraithstrike]

RAW I would say he can get away with it.

[J3Carlisle]

I doubt it

[Davor]

@OP: Your interpretation of the rules is correct. Just remember that you need a free hand to cast spells with somatic components.

[StreamOfTheSky]

RAW, yes.

And frankly, the drawbacks to tower shields are so hefty I really don't care what the RAI is, it seems fine to allow. Haven't used a tower shield since one of my earliest 3E characters that used one, and realized how bad they were.

[Axl]

I agree with StreamOfTheSky.

Tower shields can be reasonable option for NPC fighters/warriors working as a team. There are feats in the APG that make tower shields a little more versatile. Even so, the attack penalty for tower shields usually makes them suboptimal for PC fighters.

The phalanx soldier archetype loses the penalty, but this is at the expense of missing out on regular fighter benefits.

Also, don't forget to take account of the shield's weight for encumbrance. And heaven forbid you fall into water.

[Vendle]

By RAW they can use a tower shield without arcane failure chance, but that's obviously not the intention.

The very nexy line clarifies that, even if the bard later becomes proficient in armor with more encumbrance he will not be able to spellcast freely with it equipped.

That's a strong implication that tower shields would have the same restrictive effect.

[Johaan05]

Davor wrote:

@OP: Your interpretation of the rules is correct. Just remember that you need a free hand to cast spells with somatic components.

I appreciate you pointing out the Somatic components issue, and Arcane Duelist overcomes this restriction wrapped inside their Arcane Bonded weapon:

Arcane Bond (Ex):

At 5th level, an arcane duelist gains the arcane bond ability as a wizard, using a weapon as his bonded item. He may not choose a familiar or other type of bonded item. He may use the hand holding his bonded weapon for somatic components.

I do think that a -2 to hit with the shield equipped is a tough sell, but un-equipping any shield is a move action. So falling in the water or some such could be solved quickly (I hope)