Shields and druids

[vegavin23]

While looking at potential gear for druid characters I noticed that you don't need a special proficiency for tower shields in 2E anymore and it could be fun to use one at least for a while.

There are some uncertainties about tower shields, though.

The description says "tower shields are typically made of wood reinforced with metal". Does that make the typical tower shield unsuitable for a druid? Is it possible to obtain less typical build of tower shield that is suitable?

How about darkwood shields?

Are dragonhide tower shields omitted intentionally or accidentally?

Also as has been pointed out in another exhaustive thread about shields shield spikes are a weapon and the metal-free limitation does not apply to weapons. Does that make a wooden shield with metal spikes ok?

I suppose claiming metal shield with spikes is ok because it is a weapon would be over the line but you need to get a feat to use it anyway.

This is not much of an issue for private campaigns where you can negotiate with the GM what is OK and extrapolate the rules as far as the group feels comfortable.

For organized play a specific detailed rule clarification would be welcome.

[Salamileg]

This is mainly a result of the system being less than a year old. I doubt nonmetallic tower shields and the like were intentionally left out, moreso that they didn't have room in the CRB and none of the other books that have come out were the kind of books that would have that sort of thing.

[beowulf99]

In the same way as a druid can wear armor that in all likelyhood has metal bits in it, I would allow it. Just don't try to pick up a steel shield and everything is fine.

I've even considered making a custom "wood" material that costs exactly as much as steel and works exactly like it, but is uncommon just so that a druid could get some late game use of Shield Block. They have the ability after all. It should be an option late game imho.

[Dragonchess Player]

At the moment, druids seem to be limited to wooden shields. However, because they don't have an anathema about using metal weapons, a shield boss or shield spikes are probably OK.

Unfortunately, the lack of hardness, HP, and BT (compared to steel shields) make wooden shields unattractive past the first couple levels. Since shields can't be etched with runes, there don't seem to many options at the moment for shield-using druids. This may change as more rule books become available.

Then again, by about 3rd-4th level a druid should probably be looking to go two-handed staff + shillelagh, wild shape, or (especially elf or half-elf with Elven Weapon Familiarity) archery + Crafting + Magical Crafting + spellstrike ammunition, instead of weapon/shield.

[Nefreet]

I pointed out in the other thread that Darkwood Tower Shields (level 8 and 16) don't have any language about containing metal reinforcements. That's reserved for the basic Tower Shield. So a Darkwood Tower Shield should be fine for a Druid.

Even if you encounter a GM who disagrees, reinforcements aren't going to shift a predominantly wooden shield's category to metal anymore than studded leather armor would be considered a "metal" armor.

[MaxAstro]

IIRC real world "tower" shields were predominantly made of wood for obvious reasons, so I don't think there should be any issue with getting a solid wooden tower shield.

[beowulf99]

MaxAstro wrote:

IIRC real world "tower" shields were predominantly made of wood for obvious reasons, so I don't think there should be any issue with getting a solid wooden tower shield.

Yeah, it would be far weirder for a tower shield to be made entirely of metal. Imagine carting that thing around.