Tower Shield + Take Cover - Bonus to Reflex Saves or 'just' to AC?

[adisander]

My interpretation of the text regarding the Tower Shield is that while having it raised you can Take Cover, granting the effects of both standard cover (as described by Take Cover) and the +4 circumstance bonus to AC. Importantly, to me, this would include the +2 circumstance bonus to Reflex Saves against area effects, potentially making it a rather useful tool against start-of-fight breath weapon attacks.

Another interpretation I've encountered now though is that the text in the Shield section overrides that bit, causing Take Cover to give the bonus to AC and nothing else (likewise interpreting using Take Cover while Prone to give only a bonus vs ranged attacks).

I haven't been able to find anything one way or the other while searching, therefore, is there a consensus regarding which of those two (or something else!) it is?

[Themetricsystem]

Tower Shield absolutely provides the bonus to Reflex Saves, and in fact, I think that's basically the only reason it hasn't been relegated to the pile of junk nobody would ever bother to use.

[breithauptclan]

In addition to the text of the Tower Shield itself, there is a paragraph specifically for them in the Shield rules.

Basically yes, when you raise your tower shield you get the benefits of a standard shield and provide standard cover to allies hiding behind you. You can also use the Take Cover action to gain the benefits of cover as well - including the bonus to Reflex saves. Your allies hiding behind you can also use the Take Cover action as well to further increase their bonuses from the protection you are providing.

[adisander]

Thanks! I thought as much, but wanted to be sure I wasn't making some weird misinterpretation. Especially with the new Sapling Shield I think it's going to come up a bit more often, at the very least in my group.