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I think so too, although I've also seen people use only one action to draw and equip a shield. Presumably because table 6-2 (CRB p. 273) has a line for detaching a strapped-on shield, but no line for strapping it on. I don't really believe that's the correct interpretation, but I can see how they came to think so.
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Slightly tangential, but getting the Shield cantrip through ancestry feats or multiclassing might not be a bad idea for a character specializing in shields so that they have an "emergency" shield ready to conjure in case their primary shield breaks.
If the shield is broken, you could make the case that it cannot perform its function to strap on anymore. Thus, you should be able to drop it for free. Is there language that says otherwise?
Where are you storing this extra Shield? Unless it's a Buckler, it's not in a Belt Pouch, which means you are likely going to have to spend an Action to remove your Backpack, and then another Action to Retrieve the Shield from your Backpack.
Considering that you only have to hold the Shield in your Hand when you Raise Shield, it seems much safer to just keep a Shield strapped to each arm, and when your Shield breaks, simply change your Weapon over to the other Hand.
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Check out core book page 277. Specifically the descriptions of the various shields. The Buckler is the only shield that calls out being strapped to a character. I wonder if that is a rule specific the the buckler? Could be a way to offset being able to have a shield ready but also have a free hand when you need it without dropping something?
So if you take the view that only a buckler is “strapped” to the character, then wood, steel and tower shields would be a free action to drop.
I am avoiding any sort of “historically shields were used in thus and such fashion” because fantasy RPGs have always mixed up terminology and uses for these things. Specifically bucklers were a small hand held disc of metal and would be practically useless if strapped to a forearm. So clearly we are not arguing based on any of that.
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Check out core book page 277. Specifically the descriptions of the various shields. The Buckler is the only shield that calls out being strapped to a character. I wonder if that is a rule specific the the buckler? Could be a way to offset being able to have a shield ready but also have a free hand when you need it without dropping something?
So if you take the view that only a buckler is “strapped” to the character, then wood, steel and tower shields would be a free action to drop.
I am avoiding any sort of “historically shields were used in thus and such fashion” because fantasy RPGs have always mixed up terminology and uses for these things. Specifically bucklers were a small hand held disc of metal and would be practically useless if strapped to a forearm. So clearly we are not arguing based on any of that.
Since there's a lack of clarity in the rules, I decided that my players can choose to have their shields strapped or held. Held shields can be dropped as a free action, and strapped shields take an action to remove. The benefit of strapping is that you don't drop it when you fall unconscious or some other effect. I think it's pretty fair and decently realistic.
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WatersLethe, that's a pretty cool way to approach it!
Huh.
Been running around with a character who keeps a Shield "on their back" - one action to equip - sometimes using it and sometimes not.
Where are people getting it takes a second action?
It would take 1 Action to Unstrap it from your back, another to Retrieve it, and a 3rd to Strap it on your arm.
Yeah, I guess a Satchel would work, but a Sack requires 2 Hands to take anything out, so that would increase the Action cost even more, as you'd have to drop your Weapon and then pick it back up.
Agree with this. Buckler mentions strap in the description - no other shield mentions a strap. The strap has utility as well - it allows you to hold other items in your hand - you don’t have to grip the shield, because it’s strapped to you.Check out core book page 277. Specifically the descriptions of the various shields. The Buckler is the only shield that calls out being strapped to a character. I wonder if that is a rule specific the the buckler? Could be a way to offset being able to have a shield ready but also have a free hand when you need it without dropping something?
So if you take the view that only a buckler is “strapped” to the character, then wood, steel and tower shields would be a free action to drop.
That's true of all Shields, which is why they all have straps.
Raise a Shield is the action most commonly used with shields. Most shields must be held in one hand, so you can’t hold anything with that hand and Raise a Shield. A buckler, however, doesn’t take up your hand, so you can Raise a Shield with a buckler if the hand is free (or, at the GM’s discretion, if it’s holding a simple, lightweight object that’s not a weapon). You lose the benefits of Raise a Shield if that hand is no longer free.
The "so you can’t hold anything with that hand and Raise a Shield." bit would be redundant if you had to hold the Shield at all times. You only have to hold it when you Raise a Shield. This means that you can hold a Weapon in that hand until you need to Raise a Shield, then you can Drop the Weapon to Free the Hand, Change Grip to Grab the Shield, and then Raise Shield.
The only way that works is if the Shield is strapped to your arm at all times, and you have to hold it in order to brace when you Raise a Shield.
The Buckler just eliminates the need to Change Grip, as well as allowing you to do things like Raise a Shield and then Grapple or Trip. You need a Free Hand to Raise a Shield with a Buckler, so you'd still have to Drop whatever was in that Hand.
Also on page 273, "Detach a Shield" is listed as an Interact Action, so whether it's a strap, or connected to a gauntlet, or connected in some other way, Shields are attached.
If it only applied to Bucklers, it would say "detach a Buckler"
Gloves of Storing look like they can hold a non-Tower shield. So drop broken shield (free), free action interact to pop the other shield back into your hand. Personally I wouldn't require a regrip there, but some GMs would.
As shields can be used as weapons I've been pretty comfortable letting players use sheaths with them. Which would also only be a single interact action to draw. That as a standard doesn't seem any more unreasonable then the 2 handed maul hanging from the barbarian's back.
It would take 1 Action to Unstrap it from your back, another to Retrieve it, and a 3rd to Strap it on your arm.
Huh? If you unstrap it from your back, how is it not then in your hand?
It should be unstrap it from your back (1 action), equip it properly (1 action), raise shield (1 action) at the very worst.
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As shields can be used as weapons I've been pretty comfortable letting players use sheaths with them. Which would also only be a single interact action to draw. That as a standard doesn't seem any more unreasonable then the 2 handed maul hanging from the barbarian's back.
This at my table.
Also, although I appreciate a little "one action for this, one action for that" this is starting to cross a finely balanced threshold...