Hey all,
For my archer build, do magical bucklers lose all shield bonus after you fire your bow?
Also, because I have seen some conflicting posts on this point, can you actually have a darkwood Buckler that functions like a true buckler (and not a small shield)?
Thanks!
Ok, i don't know why they did it this way, but a darkwood "buckler" is a small shield.
A light shield's weight lets you carry other items in that hand, although you cannot use weapons with it.
You are certainly wielding a bow with that hand no matter which hand is on the string and which hand is on the wood, so that absolutely doesn't work.
The item you want is a buckler. A masterwork buckler has no Armor check penalty, so it should be as good as a darkwood "buckler".
Buckler: This small metal shield is worn strapped to your forearm. 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. 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. You can cast a spell with somatic components using your shield arm, but you lose the buckler's AC bonus until your next turn. You can't make a shield bash with a buckler.
Case A: You use a buckler to fire a bow or cross bow with no penalty
Case B: You use a buckler with any other weapon and you take a -1 penalty on the hand its strapped to.
In either case, you lose the bucklers bonus to ac. Yes, that includes the +1 enhancement bonus, because the magic enhances the buckler's ability to do its job, and if its not doing that then its not helping you at all.
For starters,
This small metal shield is worn strapped to your forearm.and
Items not normally made of wood or only partially of wood (such as a battleaxe or a mace) either cannot be made from darkwood or do not gain any special benefit from being made of darkwood.
Your darkwood buckler cannot be in PFS play.
Giving that bows require two hands to use and using a weapon in the hand that has the buckler causes you to lost the shield bonus, I'd rule that you lose the shield bonus to your AC, regardless of its magical properties.
EDIT: Ninja'd by a stealthy wolf.
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downer, you *can* have a darkwood buckler. It just isn't a buckler.
As BNW states, there is an item *named* a darkwood buckler. It is the same price as a darkwood light wooden shield, the same weight as a darkwood light wooden shield, etc. Including using the same rules as a darkwood light wooden shield.
Why didn't they just call it a light darkwood shield? Who knows. But as a result, people keep buying darkwood bucklers expecting them, against all logic, to use the buckler rules.
downer, you *can* have a darkwood buckler. It just isn't a buckler.
As BNW states, there is an item *named* a darkwood buckler. It is the same price as a darkwood light wooden shield, the same weight as a darkwood light wooden shield, etc. Including using the same rules as a darkwood light wooden shield.
Why didn't they just call it a light darkwood shield? Who knows. But as a result, people keep buying darkwood bucklers expecting them, against all logic, to use the buckler rules.
Not arguing with you, but it's why I quoted rules for the buckler and rules for darkwood.
A named item is its own thing, and uses its own set of rules which are [usually] detailed in the item description.
The created item "darkwood buckler" cannot be.
If the named item "darkwood buckler" acts as a wooden shield, then it provides all the relevant penalties.
Moreover, the OP did not state he was interested in the named item, and there are plenty of people who have inappropriately applied special materials to items.
Thanks everyone!
Sorry if I posted this in the wrong area. Just wanted to make sure my character is still legal for PFS.
Cheers!
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downer, you *can* have a darkwood buckler. It just isn't a buckler.
As BNW states, there is an item *named* a darkwood buckler. It is the same price as a darkwood light wooden shield, the same weight as a darkwood light wooden shield, etc. Including using the same rules as a darkwood light wooden shield.
Why didn't they just call it a light darkwood shield? Who knows. But as a result, people keep buying darkwood bucklers expecting them, against all logic, to use the buckler rules.
As one of those people who didn't realize until this thread that they were in error, I can say it is far from "against all logic" Having now read the item in detail and see the wording, i see that I was using the item in error, but the logic of an item called a darkwood buckler being a buckler made of darkwood isn't far fetched, a gamer who knows what a buckler is and knows what the special material rules are, is likely to see the name and make the obvious but erroneous assumption that something called a darkwood buckler follows the rules for those two things. It happens to not, but hey who said english was deterministic and logical.
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Sorry I realize I'm playing thread resurrection, but this was found in anther thread
EDIT: Scratch that - checking the GameMastery Guide it looks like buckler is listed as metal or wood, so you're good!
Indeed. On page 118. Interesting. After years of telling my players they were limited to bucklers made of metal I suppose I shall have to change my stance.
So a buckler made of darkwood is PFS legal by RAW?
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Nope.
Added: the GameMastery Guide is one of the few books not even listed on the Additional Resources document. Nothing from it is legal in PFS play.