Covering Shield question.

[NobyShroom]

So two friends were talking about the specifics of the Covering Shield feat. The feat states:

While using a shield of the type to which your Shield Focus feat applies, you gain a bonus on Reflex saves against area of effect attacks equal to your shield's base bonus to armor class plus any bonuses granted by feats or class abilities. This does not transfer any enhancement bonuses on a shield to Reflex saves.

One friend says that it applies to all AOE attacks. The second friend says that it only applies to AOE from that angle. His reason is that a fireball lobbed from behind wouldn't be blocked. So I'm curious who is right about this.

[Blindmage]

There are no facing rules, so there is no 'behind'. Which is annoying :P

[lakobie]

you auto roll reflex saves regardless of where the attack is coming from or if you noticed it being cast in the first place.

If someone throws a fireball and you dont see it coming you STILL get to roll a reflex save against the following explosion and covering shield makes it so your shield makes it easier to avoid.

[HaraldKlak]

Your first friend is rigth. It applies to all AoE reflex saves, given that there is no rules for facing.

Otherwise it would be quite bad for the feat investment. As it is now, it will normally grant you +3 (more if you are very specialized or for some reason using a tower shield) to AoO reflex saves, when you wield your shield.
Anyone can get +2 to all reflex saves by taking Rightning Reflexes, so even when Covering Shield applies to all AoO, it might not be worth taking.

[NobyShroom]

Ah okay. Thanks for clearing that up guys.

[NO37]

The only time this feat is really any good is when you use a towers shield and are benefiting from the shield wall teamwork feat (which stacks as it falls "bonuses granted by feats") so now it becomes +7 (4:tower shield, 1:shield focus, 2:shield wall). For a fighter this can make a world of difference since they have no natural reflexes.