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Is possible? What are penalties?
If you are using it as a shield? I don't think the rules cover it in anyway.
You can only use improperly sized weapons because they effectively go up a use category.
A light large weapon is a one handed medium weapon.
A one handed large weapon is a two handed medium weapon.
A two handed large weapon cannot be used by a medium creature.
A tiny two handed weapon would be a light medium weapon.
A tiny one handed weapon cannot be used by a medium creature.
Maybe you might be able to say a large light shield could be the equivalent of a medium heavy shield. And a large heavy shield would be the equivalent of medium tower shield. But the rules don't really handle it.
I can't think of anywhere that the CRB even mentions larger or smaller shields, only the types of shields, light, heavy, etc.
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Have a medium-sized character wielding a small-sized Darkwood Tower Shield.
Normally a medium-sized shield would weigh 22.5lbs, but a small-sized version weighs half again as much.
The perfect weight to store in a Glove of Storing.
As a free action at the start of your combat round, store the shield, then grip your weapon with both hands (for the added STR damage, and no more -2 attack penalty from the shield), attack, then regrip the weapon with one hand, and recall your shield.
I have seen at least one character in PFS do this exact strategy, simply because the rules for inappropriately sized shields do not exist.
I don't think that works, Nefreet, because the Glove of Storing doesn't reequip your shield. Does it? Doesn't it just put it in your hand? (Unless you're talking about a single attack then move action to equip.)
Also since the rules don't exist re: shield size, you cannot do it by default, especially in PFS where there are no GM rulings on it.
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There are no rules covering the use of smaller or larger equipment other than weapons. This is definitely a grey area. You should ask your GM if it is a home game.
GM opinions will also very if you are asking for PFS play. If I was the GM, I would allow the following:
- A retrofitted large-sized light shield could be used as a medium-sized heavy shield. A non-retrofitted would have additional -2 ACP.
- A retrofitted large-sized heavy shield could be used as a medium-sized tower shield . A non-retrofitted would have additional -2 ACP.
Is possible? What are penalties?
I do not beleive the game rules cover this in RAW.
A common sense way (IMO) to adjudicate it would be using the weapon relative size rules.
Bucklers and light shields could be considered light 'weapons'.
Heavy Shield and Tower Shields could be considered One handed 'weapons'.
- Thus using a buckler or light shield made for a size smaller would make it useless as a defensive object since it would be too small and flimsy relative to the character to be effective.
- Using buckler or light shield made for a size larger would increse them to Heavy Shields and Tower Shield, respectively, with an additional -2 Armor penalty for using a shield not built for your size.
- Using a Heavy or Tower Shield made for a size smaller would make them effectively a Buckler and Light Shield, respectively, with an additional -2 Armor penalty for using a shield not built for your size.
- Using Heavy or Tower Shieldmade for a size larger would not be wieldable as they would be too massive and cumbersome for one of your smaller race (effectively they would be 2 handed weapons).
Since the existing shield selections somewhat cover the gamut of usable sizes, mass and coverege relative to a user, I could not really see using over or undersized shield being any real benefit to do.
Once a shield gets bigger than a tower shield, it becomes physically so large as to literally be an impassable wall of sorts that you cannot attack past yourself, let alone an enemy. You could even be so encumbered by the sheer size it might be a detriment and restict your ability to react in battle.
And if they get too small they simply become useles to actually stop an enemy attack which is why most weapons provide no AC when used in the off hand. They are too small or too ineffective do to shape to be usefull compared to what a actual shield does.
The loophole problem is if you allow PCs to use inappropriately sized shields, they could in turn use them to bash at the higher damage.
Unless one puts a cap on it somewhere, that is.
Since nothing says that it wouldn't work, I suppose you could have it work. The defensive qualities would be the same as a regularly-sized shield, but it'd be heavier and harder to sunder. If you want to use it offensively, increase its handedness category and weapon damage by one step.
It seems like using smaller, not larger, armor is where this really breaks down. A cloud giant wearing pixie full plate should not get the total defensive ability of full plate. I advise the GM to sort these things out through judicious use of the Rule of OH COME ON!.
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The only time when this came up in a home campaign of mine was when the Fighter gave his Tower Shield to a Hill Giant they had befriended as a parting gift. I ruled it would be treated as a heavy wooden shield for the Giant, since it obviously didn't protect as large of an area as it did for the medium-sized Fighter.