What sort of action is loosing an Animated Shield to defend on it's own?
At first I was sure it was a move action, as per the first line in the item description:
as a move action, an animated shield can be loosed to defend its wielder on its own.
But then I read the general combat rules and found this:
Ready or Drop a Shield
Strapping a shield to your arm to gain its shield bonus to your AC, or unstrapping and dropping a shield so you can use your shield hand for another purpose, requires a move action. If you have a base attack bonus of +1 or higher, you can ready or drop a shield as a free action combined with a regular move.
So which is it? A move action (always) or a free action as part of a move, provided you have BAB +1?
Loosing an animated shield to do it's animated thing != unstrapping and dropping a regular shield. Specific trumps general, use the move action in the item description.
Edit: I before E, etc.
Well I would have to say it is a move action always.
Reasoning, it looks like a case of specific trumping general, ie animated states always a move action. think of it as you have to do some mumbo jumbo to get the effect going that takes a second or two longer or simply requires that much more focus to get the effect going.
Was this the intent? Was this an oversight? That I dont know but since the ability is based off of the dancing weapon ability there is defently an argument that it was intended.
I took so long reserching that I got ninja'd :(
Thats what I get for making sure im correct :P
