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Today in PFS the DM told me i do not get my burst barrier bonus to reflex unless i have "determined my facing" aka, planted my shield. The wording however states *** Burst Barrier (Ex)
At 2nd level, a tower shield specialist can use his shield to screen himself from burst spells and effects, gaining a +1 bonus on Reflex saves against them while employing a tower shield. This bonus increases by +1 for every four levels after 2nd (to a maximum of +5 at 18th level).
This ability replaces bravery. ***
This says employing, not planting, not facing. Ev ery other bonus this archtype gets uses the same wording, see below
***Tower Shield Training (Ex)
At 3rd level, a tower shield specialist gains armor training as normal, but while he employs a tower shield, the armor penalty is reduced by 3 and the maximum Dexterity bonus allowed by his armor increases by 2. The benefit increases every four levels thereafter as per standard armor training; if the tower shield specialist is not employing a tower shield, the benefits to armor training revert to the normal bonuses.
Tower Shield Specialist (Ex)
At 5th level, when a tower shield specialist employs a tower shield in combat, he does not take the –2 penalty on attack rolls because of the shield’s encumbrance.
This ability replaces weapon training 1.***
Therefor employing, in my understanding is the same as "wielding" or "using" not "planting. Can anyone back me up on this?
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Employing means using it as a tower shield (as opposed to holding or carrying a tower shield).
From the tower shield entry of the CRB:
This massive wooden shield is nearly as tall as its user. In most situations, it provides the indicated shield bonus to your AC. As a standard action, however, you can use a tower shield to grant you total cover until the beginning of your next turn. When using a tower shield in this way, you must choose one edge of your space. That edge is treated as a solid wall for attacks targeting you only. You gain total cover for attacks that pass through this edge and no cover for attacks that do not pass through this edge (see cover, Core Rulebook 195). The shield does not, however, provide cover against targeted spells; a spellcaster can cast a spell on you by targeting the shield you are holding. You cannot bash with a tower shield, nor can you use your shield hand for anything else.
When employing a tower shield in combat, you take a –2 penalty on attack rolls because of the shield’s encumbrance.
Bold is mine.
To employ a tower shield, you are subject to -2 on attack rolls (which affects CMB as normal for attack roll penalties) AND you cannot use the shield arm for anything. The shield is also heavy, has only wooden versions, has massive armor check penalties, massive arcane spell failure chance, and limits your dex (which most shields don't affect).
Now, that said, Burst Barrier doesn't grant reflex saves when subject to burst spells and effects, it merely adds to the roll. A good number of bursts don't give reflex saves, so aren't affected by this ability. I fielded a tower shield specialist and this ability almost never has any useful applications. The tower shield specialist is an awesome archetype, but I'd rather have bravery than burst barrier.
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On a side note, a tower shield, as per the CRB, has only hardness 5 and 20 HP. Every fighter-type NPC should be attempting to sunder your shield. It is just the best non-magic option for dealing with tower shields, and the weight of the tower shield makes it very unlikely that the fighter has a spare. Granted, only viable if your NPC can realistically deal 10+ damage in a single strike. But given the penalty to attack rolls, the tower shield is an ideal sunder target.
A broken shield (half HP) is half AC as per the broken rules. And the -2 penalty to attack remains while it's still employed, even if broken.
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employing does seem to mean wielding. I would say yes you get the bonus to reflex if its a burst that grants a reflex save. no idea why they have a different term for wielding a tower shield, leads to confusion.
None of the shield entries in the CRB refer to "wielding" shields. The buckler entry even suggests that you can wield weapons in the same hand which is occupied by the buckler. I think if they refered to shields as being weilded, it would create more confusion.
Anyway, to the OP, if the GM wants to rule that employing means planting, remind him that the -2 penalty on attack rolls only applies while the shield is employed. So if he rules that burst barrier requires planting the shield, then you aren't penalised on the attack rolls unless you plant the shield. The GM is wrong, but ruling that employed = planted actually works in your favor as the tower shield user, especially at the lower levels of the tower shield specialist.
On a side note, a tower shield, as per the CRB, has only hardness 5 and 20 HP. Every fighter-type NPC should be attempting to sunder your shield. It is just the best non-magic option for dealing with tower shields, and the weight of the tower shield makes it very unlikely that the fighter has a spare. Granted, only viable if your NPC can realistically deal 10+ damage in a single strike. But given the penalty to attack rolls, the tower shield is an ideal sunder target.
A broken shield (half HP) is half AC as per the broken rules. And the -2 penalty to attack remains while it's still employed, even if broken.
The moment you have shield specialization, hitting your CMD becomes simply a fool's errand.
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The moment you have shield specialization, hitting your CMD becomes simply a fool's errand.On a side note, a tower shield, as per the CRB, has only hardness 5 and 20 HP. Every fighter-type NPC should be attempting to sunder your shield. It is just the best non-magic option for dealing with tower shields, and the weight of the tower shield makes it very unlikely that the fighter has a spare. Granted, only viable if your NPC can realistically deal 10+ damage in a single strike. But given the penalty to attack rolls, the tower shield is an ideal sunder target.
A broken shield (half HP) is half AC as per the broken rules. And the -2 penalty to attack remains while it's still employed, even if broken.
Depends if the CMD is higher or lower than your AC. Most NPCs will have the same sunder roll bonuses as they do attack roll bonuses. CMD is usually lower than your AC, at least with fighter-tank.
Though having that feat does mean breaking your shield will lower your CMD, so further benefit from destroying your shield. Dunno, ultimately, it depends how much health you have and if there are any terrain obstacles to manuver you into (since your armor check is horrid, even with the tower shield specialist, espeically if you are in heavy armor). I love this class, but I do understand the limitations of it.
Planting a Tower Shield grants cover (and possibly Evasion). It is not necessary to plant the shield to gain the burst barrier bonus.
Thanks for confirming pretty much everything i thought guys. I wrote this post mid session, and actually used Murdocks very suggestion of pointing out the -2 attack when "employing" and he relented, realizing I was probably right. Wrote the post because he can be a bit obstinate, and was planning on showing this to him this week if it persisted as in issue but i believe that to be resolved now. This character build i am working on is obviously MAX ac/intimidate/antagonize build with bodyguard (by the time i am done with it) I already have 28 ac at level 2, and no magic gear. As for sundering my shield, i have a friend that always has mend on his spell list, since it isnt magic yet, its an easy fix, and i dont think my local gm's have ever dealt with the opposite of a murder hobo, so they dont try that lol.
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Going defensive isn't the opposite of a murderhobo. Murderhobo is a lifestyle of PCs, not a build type, and so they come in all sorts.
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Thanks for confirming pretty much everything i thought guys. I wrote this post mid session, and actually used Murdocks very suggestion of pointing out the -2 attack when "employing" and he relented, realizing I was probably right. Wrote the post because he can be a bit obstinate, and was planning on showing this to him this week if it persisted as in issue but i believe that to be resolved now. This character build i am working on is obviously MAX ac/intimidate/antagonize build with bodyguard (by the time i am done with it) I already have 28 ac at level 2, and no magic gear. As for sundering my shield, i have a friend that always has mend on his spell list, since it isnt magic yet, its an easy fix, and i dont think my local gm's have ever dealt with the opposite of a murder hobo, so they dont try that lol.
Dunno what race you are playing, but if running a Dwarf, or just not restricted by PFS rules, I highly recommend the Dwarven Boulder Helmet from the ARG. It's considered a weapon, but it mounts on your head and gives you +2 AC against crit confirmations.
Technically speaking, it is an exotic weapon for non-dwarves, by RAW the non-profiecency penalty only applies with regard to wielding it, not wearing it. I'd still only take it on a dwarf, personally, but in a non-PFS capacity, it is an option.
It's a good non-magic option to get more AC, if only against critical hits.