Martyr's Shield

[Flungus]

So one of my players's had a question about this that I wasn't entirely certain how to rule on: Does a Martyr's Shield use it's own reaction when shield blocking an ally or is it using the player's reaction?

[Deadmanwalking]

It very specifically uses it's own. Though it also very specifically only does so if you've done a Raise Shield action in the proceeding round.

[Siro]

Page 88, from the Gamemaster Guide
"As a default, intelligent items have control over all their own magic, meaning an intelligent magic weapon could deny the effects of its fundamental and property runes if it so chose, and intelligent items perform their own activations when they wish. Intelligent items can typically use 3 actions per turn, acting on their partner’s turn. These actions don’t count toward their partner’s 3 actions. They have a reaction if any of their activations requires one."

Marty's Shield
"In addition to good-naturedly attempting to convert you to its religion, the martyr’s shield can use 1 reaction each round that, when raised, it uses to Shield Block to protect an ally adjacent to you, with the effects of the Shield Warden feat. The martyr’s shield uses this reaction whether you would prefer it did so or not."

It has its own reaction, which it will use automatically if the conditions are met {at least that's how I interpret it.}

[beowulf99]

Really it is up to the GM whether the shield uses it's reaction for the shield block. They could easily justify not doing so if the character it would be defending was particularly rude to the shield, or actively hostile to the shields religion for example.

Some GM's may permit the bearer of the shield to declare it's actions, and that is fine on a table to table basis, but according to the rules themselves the GM should be the one keeping track of it's actions, and using it's reactions when they see fit.

[Deadmanwalking]

beowulf99 wrote:

Really it is up to the GM whether the shield uses it's reaction for the shield block. They could easily justify not doing so if the character it would be defending was particularly rude to the shield, or actively hostile to the shields religion for example.

I mean, technically yes it's the GM's call whether it does so, but there are two things wrong with this paragraph:

#1: That wasn't the question. Flungus was asking whether the PC needed to use their own Reaction. They do not.
#2: The shield is LG and explicitly defends people even if its owner would prefer it to not. Assuming it would refuse to help save someone's life because they're rude is deeply anti-thematic and anti-LG and I have no idea why you'd even suggest it.

beowulf99 wrote:

Some GM's may permit the bearer of the shield to declare it's actions, and that is fine on a table to table basis, but according to the rules themselves the GM should be the one keeping track of it's actions, and using it's reactions when they see fit.

This, however, is correct.

[beowulf99]

Deadmanwalking wrote:

beowulf99 wrote:

Really it is up to the GM whether the shield uses it's reaction for the shield block. They could easily justify not doing so if the character it would be defending was particularly rude to the shield, or actively hostile to the shields religion for example.

I mean, technically yes it's the GM's call whether it does so, but there are two things wrong with this paragraph:

#1: That wasn't the question. Flungus was asking whether the PC needed to use their own Reaction. They do not.
#2: The shield is LG and explicitly defends people even if its owner would prefer it to not. Assuming it would refuse to help save someone's life because they're rude is deeply anti-thematic and anti-LG and I have no idea why you'd even suggest it.

beowulf99 wrote:

Some GM's may permit the bearer of the shield to declare it's actions, and that is fine on a table to table basis, but according to the rules themselves the GM should be the one keeping track of it's actions, and using it's reactions when they see fit.

This, however, is correct.

That depends on the shield. It is an intelligent magical item after all. It may not throw itself in the way of a person that it doesn't like, if their life isn't in danger. All I'm saying, is that it is up to the GM whether or not the shield would use it's reaction, and under what circumstances.

Think of it like a Pathfinder version of the Trolly Problem. If the shield uses it's reaction against the first attack thrown at a nearby ally, it could leave open a far more vulnerable, and more well liked ally instead.

Instead it should realistically pick and choose it's reactions when it sees them doing the most "good". This could mean that it ignores attacks against other party members in anticipation of having to defend a vulnerable member. Or it could also just be lawful-dickish and decide that Jim the Ranger doesn't need to be saved at this time.

That is an option of the GM.