Surely we've all seen it, the character with the big-ol shield in one hand, the pistol in the other, popping off enemies from behind cover? If I'm not mistaken some recent FPS games have made it iconic, and personally I just like the aesthetic. There's only one problem: It takes two hands to reload, and you can't use a hand holding a Riot Shield to do anything. So I'm wondering, outside of the obvious (Play a Kasatha or Buy a Cybernetic Arm) does anyone know of ways to make this work?
And as an aside, I'd love to eventually be able to get Riot Shield and Shotgun/Rifle options too, using the Shield to brace the gun, though that will probably cost at least a feat if it ever becomes a thing. Kind of like the Shield Brace feat in PF1e.
Tactical Scaffold allows heavy armor types to wield two handed weapons with one hand.
Starfinder Design Lead
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Surely we've all seen it, the character with the big-ol shield in one hand, the pistol in the other, popping off enemies from behind cover? If I'm not mistaken some recent FPS games have made it iconic, and personally I just like the aesthetic. There's only one problem: It takes two hands to reload, and you can't use a hand holding a Riot Shield to do anything. So I'm wondering, outside of the obvious (Play a Kasatha or Buy a Cybernetic Arm) does anyone know of ways to make this work?
And as an aside, I'd love to eventually be able to get Riot Shield and Shotgun/Rifle options too, using the Shield to brace the gun, though that will probably cost at least a feat if it ever becomes a thing. Kind of like the Shield Brace feat in PF1e.
Those are both on my radar. But I want to make sure the basics of shields work before I start adding more advanced options.
Seeing interest in those options IS useful, though.
It takes two hands to reload
Is it actually stated anywhere in the rules that you need a free hand to reload a weapon you're wielding?
If so, that makes reloading a two-handed weapon suck if you only have two arms. You'd need to spend a swift action to shift from wielding the weapon in two hands to holding it in one hand, then a move action to reload with your free hand, then another swift action on your next turn to switch from holding it in one hand to wielding it in two hands.
(I hope this isn't off-topic. Discussing the rules regarding the handedness of reloading weapons seems to be appropriate for this thread.)
It takes two hands to reloadIs it actually stated anywhere in the rules that you need a free hand to reload a weapon you're wielding?
If so, that makes reloading a two-handed weapon suck if you only have two arms. You'd need to spend a swift action to shift from wielding the weapon in two hands to holding it in one hand, then a move action to reload with your free hand, then another swift action on your next turn to switch from holding it in one hand to wielding it in two hands.
(I hope this isn't off-topic. Discussing the rules regarding the handedness of reloading weapons seems to be appropriate for this thread.)
...Ya know, now that I review the rulebook there actually isn't anything mentioning how many hands it takes to reload. Logic would say it takes 2 hands, and I'm not confident any GM in my group would let me get away with one-handed reloads, but there's nothing in the rulebook that I can find.
If a character only had one hand, I wouldn't forbid them from reloading their own weapons. I figure that if they are proficient in the weapon (or even in ammo-containing weapons at all) then they could do it effectively enough with just the one hand.
As for reloading a two-handed weapon when you only have two hands, I would rule that the switching grips back and forth is part of the move action to do the reload.
Fits rules as written well enough and doesn't punish players who want to play something really non-standard.
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So I'm wondering, outside of the obvious (Play a Kasatha or Buy a Cybernetic Arm) does anyone know of ways to make this work?I'm excited to see Kasathas get some love from this option. This will give many a reason to try out the race!
Hmm
I suspect the Four-Armed Conspiracy.
Seriously, though, shields look really good for species with more than two hands. AC-focused kasathan solarian with Longarm Prof and solar armor plus a riot shield? Tough to hit for sure!
...Ya know, now that I review the rulebook there actually isn't anything mentioning how many hands it takes to reload. Logic would say it takes 2 hands, and I'm not confident any GM in my group would let me get away with one-handed reloads, but there's nothing in the rulebook that I can find.It takes two hands to reloadIs it actually stated anywhere in the rules that you need a free hand to reload a weapon you're wielding?
If so, that makes reloading a two-handed weapon suck if you only have two arms. You'd need to spend a swift action to shift from wielding the weapon in two hands to holding it in one hand, then a move action to reload with your free hand, then another swift action on your next turn to switch from holding it in one hand to wielding it in two hands.
(I hope this isn't off-topic. Discussing the rules regarding the handedness of reloading weapons seems to be appropriate for this thread.)
Careful, there. You're making sense, and if there's one thing I've noticed about the rules-lawyers here, they don't like it when you make sense if there are no rules for it.
The lack of extra attacks doesn't do this class any favor...
Basically, I have a player who's wanted to be a dwarf with an energy shield and techno-axe since he saw that beautiful art in the core rulebook. He'll buy this book if you guys can make that happen here.
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One option if you want to go really scary would be riot shield+power armor then you can have a built in weapon with a weapon reloader for your scary implacable armored dude build.
Other option is simply go pirate mode and have a backup pistol. You run out with your main one you holster it and draw the backup.
As a sidenote for shields + long arms.
They currently sell Riot Shieldsthat have a notch made for laying the rifle on it to use with one arm with the shield ala' a turret.
Additioanlly the shields have places for holding ammo.
Also easy enough to add in the future if people like shields something like a magnetic clamp so its fastens to your forearm but your hand would still be free to grab ammo/reload
There are lots of reload options in Armory, including an armor mounted battery that can recharge your held weapon. Also integrated weapons can be fired while your hand is full, so have a (weak) backup on the hand holding the shield.
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Or you could always stick a laser on your shoulder instead of holding it.
In my scouring of the book it doesn't say anywhere that spellcasting requires a free hand. So gaining access somehow to "transfer charge" makes the reload a move action if it's an energy pistol
In my scouring of the book it doesn't say anywhere that spellcasting requires a free hand. So gaining access somehow to "transfer charge" makes the reload a move action if it's an energy pistol
If you're talking about the Transfer Charge spell, it's a standard action to cast and requires touching both target items, even though the the casting itself doesn't require a free hand. You're already touching the weapon in your hand, but you still need to touch the battery you're transferring.
Yeah sorry, meant to say standard. And if the battery is on your person(displayed not stored) you could logically touch the weapon to the battery, or have it attached to your other hand(the one holding the shield)
Just an idea though
Or you could just use a pistol which holds 10 shots and not usually run out in a fight until high levels. There's even some which hold 20 or more - scorchguns, injector pistols, compliance rays at a glance at AoN.
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One option if you want to go really scary would be riot shield+power armor then you can have a built in weapon with a weapon reloader for your scary implacable armored dude build.
So basically a Space Marine Terminator from 40K...that's what you're describing ;)
I'm trying to build a Ysoki Vanguard to represent this ;)
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One option if you want to go really scary would be riot shield+power armor then you can have a built in weapon with a weapon reloader for your scary implacable armored dude build.So basically a Space Marine Terminator from 40K...that's what you're describing ;)
I'm trying to build a Ysoki Vanguard to represent this ;)
Bonus points for charging anything, while shouting pointless semi religious nonsense about primarchs, honor, and courage. Even more for painting it blue. :)
Bonus points for charging anything, while shouting pointless semi religious nonsense about primarchs, honor, and courage. Even more for painting it blue. :)One option if you want to go really scary would be riot shield+power armor then you can have a built in weapon with a weapon reloader for your scary implacable armored dude build.So basically a Space Marine Terminator from 40K...that's what you're describing ;)
I'm trying to build a Ysoki Vanguard to represent this ;)
Why would you paint it blue? Everyone knows it will go faster if you paint it red!