Here's the scenario:
A Druid is equipped with a Buckler and a Scimitar.
I understand that:
i) The Druid can use their Scimitar two-handed, but forfeits their Shield AC bonus until the next turn and take a -1 penalty to attack;
ii) The Druid can cast a spell with Somatic components with their shield hand, but lose their Shield Bonus to AC when they do so.
How heavy an item would the Druid be able to hold in their Off-hand, and still retain the shield bonus to AC?
I was wondering if the Druid could switch the Scimitar from Main-hand to Off-hand (Free action?), hold (but not use) the Scimitar with the Off-hand, cast the spell with the free Main-Hand, switch back (Free action?), and still maintain the shield bonus to AC from the Buckler. Can you defend with a Buckler if the Off-hand is holding something?
A Buckler weighs 5 lbs while a Scimitar weights 4 lbs. Those items combined weigh less than the Heavy Wooden Shield, which is 10 lbs.
If you can attack with the shielded off-hand, I'm hoping you can simply hold a weapon and focus on defence with the Buckler.
Thanks in advance,
Byronus
There are no specific rules. As written, you could hold anything, even a greatsword, in your buckler hand and still have the armor bonus, as long as you don't attack with it or use it to cast a spell.
There are no specific rules. As written, you could hold anything, even a greatsword, in your buckler hand and still have the armor bonus, as long as you don't attack with it or use it to cast a spell.
Thanks for the input. :)
What about changing the grip on the Scimitar from Main- to off-hand and back? Is that a Free action?
I know the Druid could always sheathe the weapon to free the Main-hand and keep the shield bonus to AC, but that provokes and AoO. I wanted to be able to keep the bonus and avoiding the provocation.
Changing grip is spelled out as a free action in the FAQ. Sheathing a weapon is also a move action, not a free action, even if you have quick draw.
Sounds good, and thanks for the help. I hope I hear more from others on this issue. :)
I think Paladin of Baha-who? has the gist of it, and it would be how I'd run any interactions with it.
The only interference I could see is that a druid using a buckler is normally not really allowed...
Buckler: This small shield is worn strapped to your forearm.
If your GM lets you buy a wooden one, then it's a moot point. However, the base rules don't have the pricing for one.
How would you be able to cast a spell with your main hand and still attack with a weapon in that same hand within the same round? Quicken spell?
How would you be able to cast a spell with your main hand and still attack with a weapon in that same hand within the same round? Quicken spell?
That would be a way...but none of his hypothetical situations had him casting and attacking in the same round, just casting and re-equipping his scimitar in his main hand.
I wasn't asking whether I could casts a spell and attack in the same round. I just wanted to know whether the Buckler's AC bonus would be lost if an item were held on the off hand.
Also, I didn't realize Bucklers were made of metal until after I started the post. I suppose holding the Scimitar in the off-hand while equipped with the Light Wooden Shield would work, freeing up the main-hand to gesture the spell.
The only interference I could see is that a druid using a buckler is normally not really allowed...
If your GM lets you buy a wooden one, then it's a moot point. However, the base rules don't have the pricing for one.
Darkwood Bucklers are 203gp in Ultimate Equipment, cheaper than Mithral.
Are you supposed to lose the AC bonus when you attack with a bow? The wording is rather confused:
You can use a bow or crossbow without penalty while carrying it. You can also use your shield arm to wield a weapon (whether you are using an off-hand weapon or using your off hand to help wield a two-handed weapon), but you take a –1 penalty on attack rolls while doing so.
Bows and crossbows are of course 'weapons', so that passage is awkwardly written. Still, we can take the explicit mention of bows/cross bow to prevent application of the weapon rule to bows/crossbows.
This penalty stacks with those that may apply for fighting with your off hand and for fighting with two weapons. In any case, if you use a weapon in your off hand, you lose the buckler's AC bonus until your next turn.
Does the last sentence apply to bows/crossbows? That has nothing to do with penalties to the usage of bows/crossbows. On the other hand, the previous passage's usage of 'weapon' clearly means 'weapons besides bows/crossbows'. Should this last sentence about losing AC bonus also apply only to 'weapons besides bows/crossbows'?
Bows aren't generally used for AoOs, so that would be one difference vs. melee weapons that might rationalize why you can use the Buckler for AC after attacking during your turn.
Darkwood buckles are actually dark wood light shields by description and stats.
In any case (usually means regardless like that), if you use a weapon in your off hand (a bow takes two to use, so off hand needs to be used for the bow, which is a weapon), you lose the buckler's AC bonus until your next turn.
Are you supposed to lose the AC bonus when you attack with a bow? The wording is rather confused:You can use a bow or crossbow without penalty while carrying it. You can also use your shield arm to wield a weapon (whether you are using an off-hand weapon or using your off hand to help wield a two-handed weapon), but you take a –1 penalty on attack rolls while doing so.Bows and crossbows are of course 'weapons', so that passage is awkwardly written. Still, we can take the explicit mention of bows/cross bow to prevent application of the weapon rule to bows/crossbows.
This penalty stacks with those that may apply for fighting with your off hand and for fighting with two weapons. In any case, if you use a weapon in your off hand, you lose the buckler's AC bonus until your next turn.Does the last sentence apply to bows/crossbows? That has nothing to do with penalties to the usage of bows/crossbows. On the other hand, the previous passage's usage of 'weapon' clearly means 'weapons besides bows/crossbows'. Should this last sentence about losing AC bonus also apply only to 'weapons besides bows/crossbows'?
Well, since there's no such thing as using a bow or crossbow in your off hand and you can't fight with two weapons with a bow/crossbow, so I think you're initial read of "weapons in off hand <> bows/crossbows" is correct. I think the initial sentence about bows and crossbows is intended to stand alone, and everything else is part of "You can also..."
You can shoot a crossbow in your off hand...
You can't reload it, but you can shoot it.
It goes on to discuss "using your off hand to help wield a two-handed weapon", with bows/crossbows also being 2H weapons.
The final line "if you use a weapon in your off hand, you lose... AC" might or might not apply to ANY 2H weapon just on that basis,
but the previously implied exclusion of bows/xbows from the discussion of 'weapons' might also independently exclude bows/xbows from the AC negation...?
Hard to say what the RAI is in good faith, when the passage is poorly written to begin with.
Safest reading of RAW is that any weapon (including bows) using off hand will negate buckler AC, but I'm not sure of RAI.