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I like shields. This probably comes from my limited experience in boffing where a good shield is just super duper great. So I have made a few changes to shields in my games
Buckler +1 AC
small shield +2 AC
large shield +3 AC
Tower +4 AC
Additionally I make shield bonuses apply to touch AC but not flat footed AC.
What I really want is to somehow make shields useful for blocking AoE spells and effects mainly so that paladins can valiantly block incoming breath attacks with their shields as they often do in fantasy art.
My first thought was to add shield bonus to reflex saving throws but that seems a little too powerful much, any thoughts?
Love this whole concept in every way. I've long thought it should be this way.
You could bring the facing rules back in if you want to block breath weapons and the like.
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Large shields should provide the defense from AoE, but not small and under. And a successful roll with a tower shield should provide a cone of defense behind the player.
I like shields. This probably comes from my limited experience in boffing where a good shield is just super duper great. So I have made a few changes to shields in my games
Buckler +1 AC
small shield +2 AC
large shield +3 AC
Tower +4 ACMy first thought was to add shield bonus to reflex saving throws but that seems a little too powerful much, any thoughts?
I'd do what you're doing and then add +1 shield bonus to Reflex saves for large shields, +2 for tower shields. Add in magical enhancements to Reflex saves as well.
Maybe make it a shield enchancement equivalent to +1 or +2, that it's enhancement bonus also applies to Reflex saves vs spells.
Okay I think I'm going to try something like this:
Feats:
Shield Focus
Prerequisites: +1 BAB, Proficiency Shields
Choose a shield type to focus in. Your shield bonus for that type of shield increases by one and by an additional one for every four levels your posses to a maximum of +6 at 20th level.
(I generally don't have enhancement bonuses on items if you do then this feat is obviously over powered)
Shield Cover
Prerequisites: +6 BAB, Shield Focus
When not flat footed you add half your shield bonus (rounded down) to your reflex saving throws against area of spells and effects such as the fireball spell and a dragons breath weapon.
Greater Shield Cover
Prerequisites: Shield Cover BAB+11
When you successfully take half damage from an AoE spell or effect you the two squares directly behind you takes no damage and all others in a 30th cone behind you get +4 to their reflex saving throws. For this purpose the area behind you as the area on your side of a line defined by your position and the origin of the spell effect. (note this feat doesn't really help against the flame strike spell unless yours standing on someone's shoulders)
Magic Shield Effects
Covering +2
Grants you use of the shield cover fest, if you have the shield cover feat apply your entire shield AS bonus to your reflex save.
Greater Covering +4
Gives you the use of the Greater Shield Cover feat, if you have the greater shield feat the squares in a 15th cone behind you are safe and the squares in a 30ft cone behind you get +8 to their reflex saves
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The APG has the feats Missile Shield and Ray Shield. Missile Shield is basically Deflect Arrows with a shield instead of bare hands, while Ray Shield lets you do the same for any spell that uses a ranged tough attack. Still won't work for breath weapon attacks, since they tend to force Reflex saves, but the ability to just no-sell spells is pretty sweet. Only trouble is, it has Spellbreaker (a fighter-only feat) as a prereq.