Shields and actions

[HumbleGamer]

Hi there,

I was looking at the Viking Archetype, and found out that it seems to be a lot contradictory if compared to the CRB.

Let us compare page 273

Quote:

Detach a shield or item strapped to you |1 hand| 1 Interact action

with the Viking Second Shield archetype feat

Quote:

Trigger: Your Shield Block causes your shield to break or be destroyed.

You're used to your shield breaking in the middle of battle, and you're prepared to use a backup or any convenient nearby object to defend yourself. You can Interact to draw a shield on your person or an unattended shield within your reach. If there is an object within your reach that could serve as an improvised shield—for example, a table or chair— you can Interact to draw it with this feat. The GM determines if something can be used as an improvised shield. Your new shield isn't raised until you use the Raise a Shield action, as normal.

Let's do this by steps

1) The character has its shield raised
2) The character performs a shield block with its raised shield
3) The shield becomes Broken or Destroyed ( it's the same for the feat )

4) The Character interact for free to take another shield or grab an object which will be used as a shield

Quote:

Now the point 4 is the issue, since

- Detach a shield requires 1 free hand and 1 interact action.
- In order to "wield" a shield, you are supposed to Attach it ( or else, you won't be able to detach it ).

But the archetype suggests different stuff

- You are able to benefit from the shield without needing to attach it.
- You are able to drop your shield without needing to detach it.

Let's continue with the feat

5) The character has a shield ( or a chair, for example ) in its hand. However, it has to raise the shield ( or chair ) in order to benefit from the Armor Class bonus. It is neither mentioned nor alluded to anything like Strap/Unstrap.

6) The character might then be able to use the "reactive shield" reaction to raise its shield, which we have to remember is not strapped at all.

...

Fun fact is that it's not something meant to only work with the Viking dedication, but with any character which uses a shield.

[Plane]

Nowhere in the CRB does it say you are required to strap a shield on to use it.

277: "Most shields must be held in one hand"

The only reference to "strap" and shields in the CRB are 277 buckler, "typically made of steel and strapped to the forearm," which does not explicitly read that it is required to be strapped, only that it typically is, and the description of the Floating Shield magic item which says Usage: Strapped to your hand.

I've seen several discussions where people house rule this. Personally, I don't care to hinder shield users more by inserting they must strap. Strapping is elsewhere referenced as "strapping on your weapons" during preparation, so you could read the "1 action to drop a strapped shield or item" as only when it's strapped to your pack, your back, or wherever it's stowed.

Btw, if it's a trigger to use the Viking feat, you're not going to have a trigger left for 6) Reactive Shield.

[HumbleGamer]

Plane wrote:

Nowhere in the CRB does it say you are required to strap a shield on to use it.

277: "Most shields must be held in one hand"

The only reference to "strap" and shields in the CRB are 277 buckler, "typically made of steel and strapped to the forearm," which does not explicitly read that it is required to be strapped, only that it typically is, and the description of the Floating Shield magic item which says Usage: Strapped to your hand.

Held in one hand doesn't necessarily mean that they don't have to be strapped. Strapped to the arm, gripped with the hand = held in one hand.

Or if we want to see in another way, what would be the trade off in strapping a shield or not?

That you wouldn't drop if you go down?
This would not change anything, since it will always require 1 action to grip it again.

Plane wrote:

Btw, if it's a trigger to use the Viking feat, you're not going to have a trigger left for 6) Reactive Shield.

You might have used a lvl 8 quick block or quick shield block to use the shieldblock action. Which leaves you your reaction to perform the reactive shield.

But that's not really part of the discussion, and I just mentioned it to point out the possibility. What Interested me is that a shield doesn't need to be strapped, while at page 272 it mentions that you have to strap/unstrap shields.

[Plane]

272 mentions that and introduces the confusion for sure. Not everything is perfectly written and referenced.

Held in one hand doesn't mean they don't have to be strapped as you said, right. However, what "strapped" means for a shield is where the other threads have delved into house ruling. You're already onto their points and dilemmas.

Going back to the Viking feat though, I think the benefit they're trying to give you is a free action to get a shield drawn and back into use which is cool for a shield user.

On L8 Quick Block, I thought of that, but since it says it gives you an extra reaction which can only be used for shield blocking, I assumed all this time your 2nd reaction could only be a shield block. Challenging that, I don't think it holds up, and I agree with you there, too. Thanks for expanding my point of view.

[mrspaghetti]

If you guys are referring to table 6-2 (which is actually on p. 273), I think what that is referring to is a shield strapped to your back.