Clawhand Shield-Arcane Spell Failure's Worst Nightmare?

[WombattheDaniel]

So I recently found the Clawhand Shield and I had some questions.

From the Advanced Class Guide:

CLAWHAND SHIELD
Price 8,158 gp; Slotshield; CL 9th; Weight 8 lbs.; Aura moderate necromancy

This shield is made of bone and ivory, but has been imbued with magic to function as a +2 mithral heavy steel shield (though it is not considered to be made of metal). The shield has stylized animal claws encircling its outer rim. If the wearer is grappled, pinned, or swallowed whole, as a standard action he can cause the claws to animate and make a single melee attack dealing 1d8 points of damage + the wielder's Strength modifier (1d6 + his Strength modifier for a Small wielder) without requiring a successful combat maneuver check to do so. This is considered a weapon attack with a one-handed weapon the wielder is proficient with, not a shield bash.

Additionally, the claws can animate to perform the somatic components of a spell as long as the arm holding the shield would be able to provide these components if it weren't carrying a shield. As a result, the shield has no arcane spell failure chance.

CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS

Cost 4,158 gp
Craft Magic Arms and Armor, summon nature's ally I

So right there it states that The Clawhand shield has no Arcane Spell Failure. This makes sense, since it's performing the somatic components of arcane spells. However, upon looking up Somatic Components, this is what I found:

From the SRD:

Somatic (S)

A somatic component is a measured and precise movement of the hand. You must have at least one hand free to provide a somatic component.

Fair enough. You have to have one hand free to provide the somatic component. But, this shield is pretty cool, as it performs the component for you, as if it was your hand.

My question is this: If the shield is able to perform these components for you (seemingly requiring no move, standard, swift, immediate or even free action), is it safe to assume that any ASF resulting from other armor one might be wearing is negated?

Simply: Does the Clawhand Shield negate ASF entirely?

[Jeff Merola]

No. It has no ASF of its own, but it doesn't negate any from other armor. It does what it says it does and no more.

[WombattheDaniel]

Why would that be?

[Imbicatus]

Quote:

Additionally, the claws can animate to perform the somatic components of a spell as long as the arm holding the shield would be able to provide these components if it weren't carrying a shield. As a result, the shield has no arcane spell failure chance.

The arm holding the shield need to be able to provide somatic components. If you are wearing armor, that arm had the normal ASF chance of not being able to provide those components. Therefore ASF from anything other than the shield still applies.

[Jeff Merola]

The other answer to why would that be is "because that's how the rules work."

[NikolaiJuno]

WombattheDaniel wrote:

Additionally, the claws can animate to perform the somatic components of a spell as long as the arm holding the shield would be able to provide these components if it weren't carrying a shield. As a result, the shield has no arcane spell failure chance.

That means the shield, not you, not your armor, just the shield.