Friend of mine is in a campaign that I am DMing and would like to use a version of Orbbcress. For those not familiar this is a magical shield that can enlarge/shrink at will and also has the ability to make the surface of the shield behave like a web spell where an attacking weapon/natural attack sticks to the shield. It also has been used to adhere to a surface to avoid falling damage using that property as well.
I have no problem with one of my players having a shield like this but I have absolutely no idea how to create one. How would a shield with a webbing effect like that even work in combat? Something like...if you are successfully hit while wielding the shield the attacker must succeed a Str saving throw of DC XX in order to use the weapon/natural attack after XX rounds? Or would you have to use it offensively as some kind of shield bash to basically force the enemy to parry you and then you adhere the shield to their weapon/natural attack?
I like the idea, really liked how it was done in the books but I just do not know how to create this item for him or how to use something like that in actual combat.
Appreciate any help.
I would probably just model it after the mimic's adhesive. If you wanted to emphasize that it's just the shield, you could replace the Reflex save with "if an attack misses by less that the shield's bonus", but I think a Reflex save fits better with general PF mechanics.
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Assuming that it's base is a +1 Mithral Heavy Steel Shield
Shrink/Grow: If this simply resizes the shield between light and tower, I'd have it cost an additional 5,000 gp for this ability, similar to the Fighter's Fork.
Web Shield: There was a magic armor in 3.0 that would animate, the spikes on it grabbing weapons in order to make a disarm check. If you know what I'm talking about, use that. Otherwise, I'd recommend that, as an immediate action in response to an attack, the wielder can attempt a Disarm check with a +2 bonus. Success results in the weapon sticking to the shield, requiring a DC 20 Strength check or Universal Solvent to remove. If the attack is a natural attack, the attacker is entangled, requiring a DC 20 Strength check to break free. While an opponent is entangled, each must succeed a Combat Maneuver (Push, Drag, Reposition, or Bullrush) in order to move the pair of them. Successfully making the Disarm check results in the attack being negated. Further, the wielder takes a -2 on AC and attack rolls, and cannot gain any other benefits from their shield or shield arm. I'd make this equivalent to a +2 enhancement bonus.
Wall Grab: While wearing the shield, the wielder can attempt a shield bash in place of a Climb check to catch himself as an immediate action. He gets a +5 bonus on this attack, must be adjacent to a wall or other structure capable of supporting his weight, and can only break the shield free with a DC 20 Strength check. +1,000 gp (like shadow armor, but much more situational).
Total Cost
1,020 gp Mithral
9,000 gp Enhancements
5,000 gp Resize
1,000 gp Wall Grab
-------------------
16,020 gp
This places it in the same power vain as Armor of Insults. I'd say that's about right from what you've described.
Assuming that it's base is a +1 Mithral Heavy Steel Shield
Shrink/Grow: If this simply resizes the shield between light and tower, I'd have it cost an additional 5,000 gp for this ability, similar to the Fighter's Fork.
Web Shield: There was a magic armor in 3.0 that would animate, the spikes on it grabbing weapons in order to make a disarm check. If you know what I'm talking about, use that. Otherwise, I'd recommend that, as an immediate action in response to an attack, the wielder can attempt a Disarm check with a +2 bonus. Success results in the weapon sticking to the shield, requiring a DC 20 Strength check or Universal Solvent to remove. If the attack is a natural attack, the attacker is entangled, requiring a DC 20 Strength check to break free. While an opponent is entangled, each must succeed a Combat Maneuver (Push, Drag, Reposition, or Bullrush) in order to move the pair of them. Successfully making the Disarm check results in the attack being negated. Further, the wielder takes a -2 on AC and attack rolls, and cannot gain any other benefits from their shield or shield arm. I'd make this equivalent to a +2 enhancement bonus.
Wall Grab: While wearing the shield, the wielder can attempt a shield bash in place of a Climb check to catch himself as an immediate action. He gets a +5 bonus on this attack, must be adjacent to a wall or other structure capable of supporting his weight, and can only break the shield free with a DC 20 Strength check. +1,000 gp (like shadow armor, but much more situational).
Total Cost
1,020 gp Mithral
9,000 gp Enhancements
5,000 gp Resize
1,000 gp Wall Grab
-------------------
16,020 gpThis places it in the same power vain as Armor of Insults. I'd say that's about right from what you've described.
That is...wow. Thank you so much. I can absolutely use this as you listed. I know his next question is going to be how to build something around that Disarm ability from the shield. Is there a Dirty Trick build in there somewhere?
The Collapsible Tower from Ultimate Equipment, pg. 131 already does the re-sizing bit. Though it goes from Heavy to Tower, it's good for a guideline. Dropping the 4k for the +2 enhancement bonus, the 150gp masterwork component, and the 20gp base cost for the shield, re-sizing should be 4,000gp
Aura moderate transmutation CL 6th
Slot shield; Price 8,170 gp; Weight 15 lbs.
Description
Three times per day, this +2 heavy steel shield can be commanded to transform into a +2 tower shield. It can stay in tower shield form for 1 minute or until it is commanded to take its normal form again (a swift action). A collapsible tower’s weight does not change when it takes tower shield form.
Construction
Requirements Craft Magic Arms and Armor, shrink item; Price 4,170 gp