A Light Shield and Using a Wand

[Majestic8705]

Hey all,

So I have a question about the wording of the of the Light Shield weapon description. It reads as follows:

PFSRD wrote:

You strap a shield to your forearm and grip it with your hand. A light shield's weight lets you carry other items in that hand, although you cannot use weapons with it.

Now the wording definitely allows one to hold an item in the off-hand with the shield. But what can one do with the item?

Basically, what I'm wondering is whether my character can use a wand in the same hand they hold a shield. I don't think a wand qualifies as a weapon...but then, what do I know?

If offensive wands qualify as weapons, it should be noted that I'm planning on using a buff wand in that hand (a wand of Vanish)...so I dunno if different rules would apply or if it is just a flat out 'nope' all around.

[Cerberus Seven]

If it were a buckler, which is strapped to the arm, I'd say you're you're good to go. Anything heavier than a buckler, though, requires the hand be occupied most of the time in keeping the shield up. So no, no wand usage in the same hand that's holding a light shield.

[Ashes]

Cerberus Seven wrote:

So no, no wand usage in the same hand that's holding a light shield.

Actually, I'm not sure that's true. By RAW we know that:

1) you can hold an item in your light-shield hand
2) wands are lightweight items
3) wands are spell trigger activated

Wands wrote:

To activate a wand, a character must hold it in hand (or whatever passes for a hand, for non-humanoid creatures) and point it in the general direction of the target or area. A wand may be used while grappling or while swallowed whole.

Spell Trigger wrote:

Spell trigger activation is similar to spell completion, but it's even simpler. No gestures or spell finishing is needed, just a special knowledge of spellcasting that an appropriate character would know, and a single word that must be spoken.

So it seems that a case could be made that wands require nothing more than being pointed in the right general direction, and a word is spoken, therefore any hand that is capable of holding a wand (which a light shield hand is) is sufficient to use the wand.

At the very least, I'm not sure the RAW is entirely clear enough on that issue if it is meant to be disallowed.

Personally, I think I would allow it, but the player would lose the shield AC bonus for that round, similar to using a shield bash, or using a weapon in a buckler hand. Somewhat of a compromise.

[Ashes]

Just out of curiosity, why not just stick with a buckler for the same AC bonus?

[Majestic8705]

@Ashes

The buckler is the backup plan. My character is a level 3 whip bard and I won't be able to threaten with the whip until level 7. I'm wanting to use a spiked light shield in the off-hand so that I can threaten the squares around me (ineffectually, but nevertheless it is something).

The wand of Vanish is going to be spring-loaded in a wrist sheath on that hand and is my...'if I don't move I'm gonna die' escape plan. So that way, I can threaten and then if things get too intense I can poof away and position myself for optimal whipping action.

[LazarX]

If you use a wand in the same hand that's attached to your shield arm, you lose the AC bonus from the shield until your turn comes up again.

[LounginJim]

yes you can hold a wand in the same hand as a light shield and no rule supports losing the AC bonus from using it.