Magic Shields: Difference between revisions

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==Allowed Enchantments==
Magic shields have three types of improvements that may be applied to them:
Magic shields have three types of improvements that may be applied to them:


;: Enhancements
 
===Shield Enhancement Bonus===
* [[Magic Item Enchant - Shield Enhancement Bonus|Shield Enhancement Bonus]]
 
Magical enhancements range from +1 to +9.  As a firm rule, the maximum enhancement a shield may have is equal to one quarter of the campaign level, round up.  This maximum Enhancement Bonus cap must not be exceeded at normal play levels to maintain balance.  Any attempt to wield a shield more magically enchanted than this results in the character taking a non-proficiency penalty, with the possibility of even more dire consequences (such as insanity, or becoming dominated by the shield's will). At level 36 and higher all restrictions are lifted, and shields may be enchanted in any way the characters can afford and the referee will allow.
Magical enhancements range from +1 to +9.  As a firm rule, the maximum enhancement a shield may have is equal to one quarter of the campaign level, round up.  This maximum Enhancement Bonus cap must not be exceeded at normal play levels to maintain balance.  Any attempt to wield a shield more magically enchanted than this results in the character taking a non-proficiency penalty, with the possibility of even more dire consequences (such as insanity, or becoming dominated by the shield's will). At level 36 and higher all restrictions are lifted, and shields may be enchanted in any way the characters can afford and the referee will allow.


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;: Properties
===Magic Shield Properties===
[[Magic Item Properties]] are additional traits, bonuses or effects that magic shields grant or perform on top of the normal functionality of that shield.  Shields must have at least a +1 enhancement bonus before any magic shield properties may be added to them. The limit to the total value of all shield properties that may be added to a magical shield is one quarter of the campaign level, rounded up. This maximum Magical Properties cap must not be exceeded at normal play levels to maintain balance.  No item may ever have the same property twice.  At level 36 and higher all restrictions are lifted, and shields may be enchanted in any way the characters can afford and the referee will allow.
* [[Magic Properties - Shields]]
* [[Magic Properties - Epic Armor and Shields]]


Magic Shield Properties are additional traits, bonuses or effects that magic shields grant or perform on top of the normal functionality of that shield.  Shields must have at least a +1 enhancement bonus before any magic shield properties may be added to them. The limit to the total value of all shield properties that may be added to a magical shield is one quarter of the campaign level, rounded up. This maximum Magical Properties cap must not be exceeded at normal play levels to maintain balance.  No item may ever have the same property twice.  At level 36 and higher all restrictions are lifted, and shields may be enchanted in any way the characters can afford and the referee will allow.


;: Absolute Bonus
 
===Dweomermetals and Special Materials===
* [[Dweomermetals And Other Special Materials]]
 
Mundane shields are assumed to be made of forged iron. Fragile shields are usually made of crude iron, bronze, or bone. Masterwork shields are assumed to be made of good quality steel, similar to historical Damascus or Wootz (forging good steel was often a happy accident before the chemistry was fully understood). Shields made from fantastic materials are possible as well, such as the classic mithril and adamantine.
 
In all cases, only ONE material may be used in the construction of a single shield, even after the Apotheosis at level 36. Unless the referee allows it, of course.
 
 
====Special Rule: Absolute Bonus====
By adding together the plus values of the Enhancement Bonus and Magical Properties of a magical shield, you determine the shield's Absolute Bonus. For example, a +2 Energy(10/Sonic) Resistance Warshield has a +4 Absolute Bonus, since the Energy Resistance property has a +2 cost associated with it. The Absolute Bonus plus the special material costs (if any) determine the total magic item cost of the item. The maximum possible Absolute Bonus of any magic weapon, armor or shield is +18, though the maximum allowed in a given campaign varies by the campaign's current player level (See the tables below for details). At level 36, all restrictions are lifted, and weapons, armors and shields may be enchanted in any way the characters can afford and the referee will allow.
By adding together the plus values of the Enhancement Bonus and Magical Properties of a magical shield, you determine the shield's Absolute Bonus. For example, a +2 Energy(10/Sonic) Resistance Warshield has a +4 Absolute Bonus, since the Energy Resistance property has a +2 cost associated with it. The Absolute Bonus plus the special material costs (if any) determine the total magic item cost of the item. The maximum possible Absolute Bonus of any magic weapon, armor or shield is +18, though the maximum allowed in a given campaign varies by the campaign's current player level (See the tables below for details). At level 36, all restrictions are lifted, and weapons, armors and shields may be enchanted in any way the characters can afford and the referee will allow.
==Restricted Enchantments==
Shields cannot have any other magical enchantments placed on them besides the three listed above: shield enhancement bonus, magic shield properties and dweomermetals/special materials.  For the sake of heading off questions, a list of what is NOT allowed is provided below.  Note that there are magic shield properties and dweomermetals which can provide some of the effects below.  However, except by using those properties or materials, these effects cannot be directly enchanted into a shield.
* Ability Damage
* [[Magic Item Enchant - Ability Scores|Ability Scores]]
* [[Magic Item Enchant - Alternate Movement Types|Alternate Movement Types]]
* [[Magic Item Enchant - Alternate Senses|Alternate Senses]]
* [[Magic Item Enchant - Armor Enhancement Bonus|Armor Enhancement Bonus]]
* Base Attack Bonus (BAB)
* Caster Level Checks
* Circumstance Bonuses (except skills)
* Class-Specific Abilities (e.g. Combat Edge, Quarry, Formation, Ki, Rogue Talents, etc.)
* [[Magic Item Enchant - Combat Maneuver Bonus|Combat Maneuver Bonus (CMB)]]
* [[Magic Item Enchant - Combat Maneuver Defense|Combat Maneuver Defense (CMD)]]
* [[Magic Item Enchant - Damage Resistance|Damage Resistance (DR)]]
* [[Magic Item Enchant - Deflection AC|Deflection AC]]
* Dodge AC
* Elemental Damage
* [[Magic Item Enchant - Energy Resistance|Energy Resistance (ER)]]
* Feats
* Hit Points
* [[Magic Item Enchant - Increased Movement|Increased Movement]]
* Initiative
* [[Magic Item Properties|Magic Armor Properties]]
* [[Magic Item Properties|Magic Weapon Properties]]
* [[Magic Item Enchant - Natural AC|Natural AC]]
* Other Classes’ Class Features
* Racial Abilities (neither improving your own, or getting abilities from other races)
* Ranged Damage
* Reach
* [[Magic Item Enchant - Saving Throws|Saving Throws]]
* [[Magic Item Enchant - Skill Bonuses|Skill Bonuses]]
* Skill Ranks
* [[Magic Item Enchant - Spell Effects|Spell Effects]]
* [[Magic Item Enchant - Spell Resistance|Spell Resistance]]
* Spell Save DC
* Status Conditions
* Temporary Hit Points
* Touch Attacks
* Traits
* [[Magic Item Enchant - Weapon Enhancement Bonus|Weapon Enhancement Bonus]]
==Other Magic Armor Considerations==




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;: Materials
Mundane shields are assumed to be made of forged iron or crude leathers and wood.  Fragile shields are usually made of crude iron, untreated hides, or bone. Masterwork shields are assumed to be made of exotic woods and leathers, or high quality steel, similar to historical Damascus or Wootz (forging good steel was often a happy accident before the chemistry was fully understood).  Shields made from fantastic materials are possible as well, such as the classic mithril and adamantine.  A list of special materials and their properties can be found on the [[Dweomermetals And Other Special Materials]] page.  In all cases, only ONE material may be used in the construction of a single shield, even after the Apotheosis.  Unless the referee allows it, of course.


; Hardness and Hit Points:
===Hardness and Hit Points===
Each +1 of a magic weapon’s enhancement bonus adds +2 to its hardness and +10 to its hit points. See also Table: Weapon, Armor, and Shield Hardness and Hit Points.  Weapon properties usually have no effect on hardness or hit points, but some do, so refer to these specific rules for the effects of each property.  Special materials almost always have an effect on a weapon's hardness and hit points.  See the tables below and on the Dweomermetals page for details.
Each +1 of a magic weapon’s enhancement bonus adds +2 to its hardness and +10 to its hit points. See also Table: Weapon, Armor, and Shield Hardness and Hit Points.  Weapon properties usually have no effect on hardness or hit points, but some do, so refer to these specific rules for the effects of each property.  Special materials almost always have an effect on a weapon's hardness and hit points.  See the tables below and on the Dweomermetals page for details.




=== Table: Weapon, Armor and Shield Hardness and Hit Points ===
====Table: Weapon, Armor and Shield Hardness and Hit Points====
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" style="text-align:center"
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" style="text-align:center"
! Weapon or Shield || Hardness <sup>1</sup> <sup>4</sup> || Hit Points <sup>2</sup> <sup>3</sup>
! Weapon or Shield || Hardness <sup>1</sup> <sup>4</sup> || Hit Points <sup>2</sup> <sup>3</sup>
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=== Table: Substance Hardness and Hit Points ===
====Table: Substance Hardness and Hit Points====
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" style="text-align:center"
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" style="text-align:center"
! Substance || Hardness || Hit Points
! Substance || Hardness || Hit Points
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===Caster Level for shields===
 
 
; Caster Level for shields
The caster level of a magic shield with a special ability is given in the item description. For an item with only an enhancement bonus, the caster level is three times the enhancement bonus. If an item has both an enhancement bonus and a special ability, the higher of the two caster level requirements must be met.  As always, caster level can either be a character's 'native' caster if they actually cast spells, or their Effective Caster Level they gain from having the Creator feat and ranks in either Divinity, Naturalism, Reason, Spellcraft, Spycraft or Warcraft.  Note that even spell casters must have the Creator feat to make magic items.
The caster level of a magic shield with a special ability is given in the item description. For an item with only an enhancement bonus, the caster level is three times the enhancement bonus. If an item has both an enhancement bonus and a special ability, the higher of the two caster level requirements must be met.  As always, caster level can either be a character's 'native' caster if they actually cast spells, or their Effective Caster Level they gain from having the Creator feat and ranks in either Divinity, Naturalism, Reason, Spellcraft, Spycraft or Warcraft.  Note that even spell casters must have the Creator feat to make magic items.




; Interaction between Shields and Armor
===Interaction between Shields and Armor===
Shield enhancement bonuses stack with armor enhancement bonuses. Shield enhancement bonuses do not act as attack or damage bonuses when the shield is used in a shield bash. The bashing special ability, however, does grant a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls (see the special ability description).
Shield enhancement bonuses stack with armor enhancement bonuses. Shield enhancement bonuses do not act as attack or damage bonuses when the shield is used in a shield bash. The bashing special ability, however, does grant a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls (see the special ability description).


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; Activation of Armor and Shields
===Activation of Armor and Shields===
Usually a character benefits from magic armor and shields in exactly the way a character benefits from non-magical armor and shields: by wearing them. If armor or a shield has a special ability that the user needs to activate, then the user usually needs to utter the command word (a standard action).
Usually a character benefits from magic armor and shields in exactly the way a character benefits from non-magical armor and shields: by wearing them. If armor or a shield has a special ability that the user needs to activate, then the user usually needs to utter the command word (a standard action).




; Shields for Unusual Creatures
===Shields for Unusual Creatures===
The cost of a shield for non-humanoid creatures, as well as for creatures who are neither Small nor Medium, varies.  The cost of the masterwork quality is also affected to the same degree.  IE, if armor costs four times as much because it is size large, it costs 4 times as much to make it masterwork.  The cost to enchant a size large shield is unchanged, however, nor does the shield's size increase the time required for enchantment.
The cost of a shield for non-humanoid creatures, as well as for creatures who are neither Small nor Medium, varies.  The cost of the masterwork quality is also affected to the same degree.  IE, if armor costs four times as much because it is size large, it costs 4 times as much to make it masterwork.  The cost to enchant a size large shield is unchanged, however, nor does the shield's size increase the time required for enchantment.

Revision as of 17:57, 11 October 2014


Creating Magic Shields

To create a magic shield, a character needs a good heavy workshop. There must be a powerful heat source such as a blown forge or magical fire. There must be a strong anvil and high-quality tools of many, many kinds. There must be adequate room to work, with benches and tables. Finally, there should be a supply of materials, the most obvious being the shield or the pieces of the shield to be assembled. A good forge can be a cozy affair, or a massive workshop that sprawls and rambles through many rooms of a castle. In no case is any workspace ever portable.

A shield that is to be made magical must be a masterwork shield, and the masterwork cost is added to the base price to determine final market value. Additional magic supply costs for the materials are subsumed in the cost for creating the magic shield—half the base price of the item. If the character has a Craft:Shield skill they can roll to make their own masterwork shield, although it is usually fastest to purchase a masterwork item from a less-skilled NPC smith.

Creating a magic shield has a special prerequisite: The creator's effective caster level must be at least three times the enhancement bonus of the shield. If an item has both an enhancement bonus and a special ability, the higher of the two caster level requirements must be met. A magic shield must have at least a +1 enhancement bonus to have any armor or shield special abilities.

If spells are involved in the prerequisites for making the shield, the creator must have either 1) prepared the spells to be cast (or must know the spells, in the case of a sorcerer or bard), 2) Purchased scrolls of the spells, 3) Have the spells otherwise available such as in a wand, or 4) have worked out with the GM in advance any allowed substitutions (a jug of white dragon saliva from a dragon of the proper challenge rating to substitute for a polar ray spell, for example) and must provide any material components or focuses the spells require. The act of working on the shield triggers the prepared spells, or integrates any allowed substitutes. The spells are not available to cast, and the substitutes are consumed in making the item. (Those spell slots are expended from the caster's currently prepared spells, just as if they had been cast.)

Creating some shields may entail other prerequisites beyond or other than spellcasting or substituted materials. See the individual descriptions for details.


  • Time Required: Crafting magic shields requires one day for each CL of the item, minimum of seven days.
  • Feat(s) Required: Creator.
  • Skill(s) Required: Divinity, Naturalism, Reason, Spellcraft, Spycraft or Warcraft


Allowed Enchantments

Magic shields have three types of improvements that may be applied to them:


Shield Enhancement Bonus

Magical enhancements range from +1 to +9. As a firm rule, the maximum enhancement a shield may have is equal to one quarter of the campaign level, round up. This maximum Enhancement Bonus cap must not be exceeded at normal play levels to maintain balance. Any attempt to wield a shield more magically enchanted than this results in the character taking a non-proficiency penalty, with the possibility of even more dire consequences (such as insanity, or becoming dominated by the shield's will). At level 36 and higher all restrictions are lifted, and shields may be enchanted in any way the characters can afford and the referee will allow.

While shield enhancement bonuses are nearly always used to increase the AC bonus, some shields contain innate properties from special materials, which may also be increased via the enhancement bonus. An example of this is a bloodsilver shield's -3 Bleed property. Players may dedicate enhancement bonuses to increasing these innate properties instead of the shield's AC bonus. However, the shield's total enhancement bonus is always the sum of any of these, and no shield may ever have an enhancement bonus greater than +9 before the Apotheosis. For details on special material innate properties, and the effects of using enhancement bonuses to increase them, see the Dweomermetals And Other Special Materials page. Enhancement bonuses may never be used to apply a property that the shield does not already have innately from its special materials.


Magic Shield Properties

Magic Shield Properties are additional traits, bonuses or effects that magic shields grant or perform on top of the normal functionality of that shield. Shields must have at least a +1 enhancement bonus before any magic shield properties may be added to them. The limit to the total value of all shield properties that may be added to a magical shield is one quarter of the campaign level, rounded up. This maximum Magical Properties cap must not be exceeded at normal play levels to maintain balance. No item may ever have the same property twice. At level 36 and higher all restrictions are lifted, and shields may be enchanted in any way the characters can afford and the referee will allow.


Dweomermetals and Special Materials

Mundane shields are assumed to be made of forged iron. Fragile shields are usually made of crude iron, bronze, or bone. Masterwork shields are assumed to be made of good quality steel, similar to historical Damascus or Wootz (forging good steel was often a happy accident before the chemistry was fully understood). Shields made from fantastic materials are possible as well, such as the classic mithril and adamantine.

In all cases, only ONE material may be used in the construction of a single shield, even after the Apotheosis at level 36. Unless the referee allows it, of course.


Special Rule: Absolute Bonus

By adding together the plus values of the Enhancement Bonus and Magical Properties of a magical shield, you determine the shield's Absolute Bonus. For example, a +2 Energy(10/Sonic) Resistance Warshield has a +4 Absolute Bonus, since the Energy Resistance property has a +2 cost associated with it. The Absolute Bonus plus the special material costs (if any) determine the total magic item cost of the item. The maximum possible Absolute Bonus of any magic weapon, armor or shield is +18, though the maximum allowed in a given campaign varies by the campaign's current player level (See the tables below for details). At level 36, all restrictions are lifted, and weapons, armors and shields may be enchanted in any way the characters can afford and the referee will allow.


Restricted Enchantments

Shields cannot have any other magical enchantments placed on them besides the three listed above: shield enhancement bonus, magic shield properties and dweomermetals/special materials. For the sake of heading off questions, a list of what is NOT allowed is provided below. Note that there are magic shield properties and dweomermetals which can provide some of the effects below. However, except by using those properties or materials, these effects cannot be directly enchanted into a shield.



Other Magic Armor Considerations

Table: Magical Shield Enhancement Limitations

Campaign Level Max Enhancement Bonus Max Magic Properties Absolute Bonus Cost
1 - 4 +1 no properties +1 1,000
+1 worth of properties +2 4,000
5 - 8 +2 no properties +2 4,000
+1 worth of properties +3 9,000
+2 worth of properties +4 16,000
9 - 12 +3 no properties +3 9,000
+1 worth of properties +4 16,000
+2 worth of properties +5 25,000
+3 worth of properties +6 36,000
13 - 16 +4 no properties +4 16,000
+1 worth of properties +5 25,000
+2 worth of properties +6 36,000
+3 worth of properties +7 49,000
+4 worth of properties +8 64,000
17 - 20 +5 no properties +5 25,000
+1 worth of properties +6 36,000
+2 worth of properties +7 49,000
+3 worth of properties +8 64,000
+4 worth of properties +9 81,000
+5 worth of properties +10 100,000


Table: Epic Magical Shield Enhancement Limitations

Campaign Level Max Enhancement Bonus Max Magic Properties (Note: +5 is the minimum allowed for Epic) Absolute Bonus Cost
21 - 24 +6 +5 worth of properties +11 200,000
+6 worth of properties +12 400,000
25 - 28 +7 +5 worth of properties +12 400,000
+6 worth of properties +13 800,000
+7 worth of properties +14 1,500,000
29 - 32 +8 +5 worth of properties +13 800,000
+6 worth of properties +14 1,500,000
+7 worth of properties +15 2,500,000
+8 worth of properties +16 4,500,000
33 - 35 +9 +5 worth of properties +14 1,500,000
+6 worth of properties +15 2,500,000
+7 worth of properties +16 4,500,000
+8 worth of properties +17 7,500,000
+9 worth of properties +18 11,500,000
Apotheosis! unlimited unlimited unlimited impossibly expensive



Hardness and Hit Points

Each +1 of a magic weapon’s enhancement bonus adds +2 to its hardness and +10 to its hit points. See also Table: Weapon, Armor, and Shield Hardness and Hit Points. Weapon properties usually have no effect on hardness or hit points, but some do, so refer to these specific rules for the effects of each property. Special materials almost always have an effect on a weapon's hardness and hit points. See the tables below and on the Dweomermetals page for details.


Table: Weapon, Armor and Shield Hardness and Hit Points

Weapon or Shield Hardness 1 4 Hit Points 2 3
Light blade 10 2
One-handed blade 10 5
Two-handed blade 10 10
Light metal-hafted weapon 10 10
One-handed metal-hafted weapon 10 20
Light hafted weapon 5 2
One-handed hafted weapon 5 5
Two-handed hafted weapon 5 10
Projectile weapon 5 5
Armor special4 armor bonus × 5
Buckler 10 5
Light wooden shield 5 7
Heavy wooden shield 5 15
Light steel shield 10 10
Heavy steel shield 10 20
Tower shield 5 20
  • 1 Add +2 for each +1 enhancement bonus of magic items.
  • 2 Divide by 2 for each size category of the item smaller than Medium, or multiply it by 2 for each size category larger than Medium.
  • 3 Add 10 hp for each +1 enhancement bonus of magic items
  • 4 Varies by material. See below and Dweomermetals for details.


Table: Substance Hardness and Hit Points

Substance Hardness Hit Points
Glass 1 1/in. of thickness
Paper or cloth 0 2/in. of thickness
Rope 0 2/in. of thickness
Ice 0 3/in. of thickness
Leather or hide 2 5/in. of thickness
Wood 5 10/in. of thickness
Stone 8 15/in. of thickness
Iron or steel 10 30/in. of thickness
Argent 15 40/in. of thickness
Ambergold 18 30/in. of thickness
Bloodgold 5 25/in. of thickness
Bloodsilver 20 40/in. of thickness
Cuprium adds +3 to base adds +9 to base
Mithral 15 30/in. of thickness
Peacemetal 15 35/in. of thickness
Puremetal 12 30/in. of thickness
Adamantine 20 40/in. of thickness
Dolemetal 25 50/in. of thickness
Truemetal 30 50/in. of thickness
Paramount 40 60/in. of thickness
Glassteel 10 30/in. of thickness


Caster Level for shields

The caster level of a magic shield with a special ability is given in the item description. For an item with only an enhancement bonus, the caster level is three times the enhancement bonus. If an item has both an enhancement bonus and a special ability, the higher of the two caster level requirements must be met. As always, caster level can either be a character's 'native' caster if they actually cast spells, or their Effective Caster Level they gain from having the Creator feat and ranks in either Divinity, Naturalism, Reason, Spellcraft, Spycraft or Warcraft. Note that even spell casters must have the Creator feat to make magic items.


Interaction between Shields and Armor

Shield enhancement bonuses stack with armor enhancement bonuses. Shield enhancement bonuses do not act as attack or damage bonuses when the shield is used in a shield bash. The bashing special ability, however, does grant a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls (see the special ability description).

A shield can be built such that it also acts as a magic weapon. This requires the shield to be equipped with shield spikes, and is handled as if the shield was a double weapon, namely, two sets of enhancements are applied to the shield and the costs are tracked as though they were two separate items, even though they aren't. Because shield spikes on a shield are really only one item, it is important to remember that like bonuses do not stack on the same item. For example, a property which grants an armor bonus to AC from the shield spikes would not stack with the armor bonus provided by the shield itself. Also, as a note, some magic weapon properties, such as the Defending magic item property, require you to use your shield or armor as a weapon to gain its benefit of the property. The GM may rule that when using the shield or armor spikes as a weapon means you lose the actual shield or armor bonuses until the start of your next turn, just as if you used your shield for a shield bash.

Magic properties built into a shield add to the market value in the form of additions to the bonus of the shield, although they do not improve AC. A shield cannot have an absolute bonus (enhancement plus special ability bonus equivalents) higher than +18. A shield with a special ability must also have at least a +1 enhancement bonus.


Activation of Armor and Shields

Usually a character benefits from magic armor and shields in exactly the way a character benefits from non-magical armor and shields: by wearing them. If armor or a shield has a special ability that the user needs to activate, then the user usually needs to utter the command word (a standard action).


Shields for Unusual Creatures

The cost of a shield for non-humanoid creatures, as well as for creatures who are neither Small nor Medium, varies. The cost of the masterwork quality is also affected to the same degree. IE, if armor costs four times as much because it is size large, it costs 4 times as much to make it masterwork. The cost to enchant a size large shield is unchanged, however, nor does the shield's size increase the time required for enchantment.