Armor and Shields: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
* [[Shield Magic Properties]] | * [[Shield Magic Properties]] | ||
* [[Reforging]] | * [[Reforging]] | ||
== Shield Basic Rules == | |||
Shields are items which must be wielded in order to be used. This means that shields must be equipped into the [[Magic_Items#Wielded_Magic_Items | wielded slot]], almost always into the off-hand. A shield or any other item that is in any form of storage upon the body of a character (in a sheathe, a pack, strapped to a forearm, balanced on one shoulder, concealed upon your person, etc) provides no benefit to the owner of any sort until it is drawn and wielded. | |||
Only one item may be used in each hand's wielded slot. Given that weapons, shields, rods, staffs, wands, musical instruments, potions, and alchemical items all use one (or both) of the wielded slots, choosing what item a character is wielding in their hands is an important call. | |||
In many cases, it is possible for a character to have more than one item prepared for use in a wielded slot. One of the most common examples of this is a buckler shield, which is strapped to the arm, and the same hand can be holding a weapon or other item. However, even though two items are ready for use for that hand, only ONE of them may be wielded each round. If you have a buckler on your off-hand and are also using a dagger in that same hand, you can only gain the benefit from one of those items each round. If you use the dagger during the round, the AC bonus from the buckler (and any of its magic enchantments, properties, or dweomermetal effects) are not applied to your character during that round. Similarly, if you want to retain the bonuses from the buckler, you may not use the dagger, nor gain any benefit from its magical enchantments or qualities. | |||
Switching from one item to another in the same hand slot is a [[free action]] that can only be performed during your turn. Similarly, if you have a single item which uses two hands, you can release one hand from that item to do something else with that hand as a free action. Re-gripping a two-handed item is another free action that can only be performed during your turn. You can release your grip, use a different item, and re-grip, in the same round. | |||
Drawing a shield or any other item from storage upon a characters body requires either a [[move action]], or it may be performed as [[part of a move action]]. Putting a shield back into storage on a character's body is also a move action, or part of a move action. If a character takes a double move in a single round, they may switch shields (or other hand-slot items) during each those two move actions. Running (taking the [[Run]] maneuver) does NOT allow this. | |||
Dropping a held item into a square you occupy is a free action that can be performed at any time, including outside of your turn. You may drop an item and ready another with a free action and a move action (or as part of a move action) in the same round. If you move away from the square in which you dropped an item, you may wish to retrieve the dropped item from where you dropped it later. | |||
If you are holding an item in a shield hand, you can transfer that item to your other hand (assuming it is not already holding something else) as a free action. You may also move something into your shield hand as a free action (assuming it is empty, save for the shield) rather than dropping it, if you are wearing a shield that allows the hand to be used (light shields and bucklers). | |||
== Armor Basic Rules == | |||
Armor is a whole-body item which fills the armor slot. It takes a very long time to properly put on or take off Armor, to the point that it's almost impossible to do during a combat. As a result, many of the more heavily-plated characters out there should look keenly at the [[Endurance (Feat)]], because trying to sleep in Armor is not much fun. if you try to put on armor quickly, see the donning and doffing rules, laid out below. | |||
Once you have a suit of Armor on, it is surprisingly low maintenance. You wear it, and it grants it's benefits and difficulties for as long as you wear it. It's pretty simple, actually. | |||
===Armor and Shield Non-Proficiency=== | ===Armor and Shield Non-Proficiency=== | ||