Post by Andre on Feb 26, 2011 22:26:41 GMT -5
Za'era has a tower shield.. I'm pretty sure Madelaine already knows all this but will recap it here because, to be honest, I might forget it and would like to have it noted here in the forums for my own reference and easy look up 
see
www.giantitp.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-156556.html
I double checked the "FAQ" they speak of
www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/er/20030221a
Which confirms that it does indeed take a standard action (you give up your attack for that round though you can still take a move action) to set up a tower shield in such a way that it provides total cover if you give up your attacks in order to do so ... however once it's set up for total cover it's VERY handy, it makes it basically impossible for a foe to attack you with a melee weapon if he's coming from the wrong angle
As far as bonus to reflex saves.. this one was pretty tough to figure out so I have to make an ad hoc ruling here (unless someone can point out a specific reference to reflex saves and total cover mentioned somewhere in the official game rules)... the tower shield provides a +8 bonus to reflex saves and provides improved evasion as well (you take NO damage on a failed reflex save and only 1/2 damage on a successful save.. see "varying degrees of cover" page 152 player's handbook version 3.5. This is something to keep in mind when a dragon breathes fire or what not on you and you have to make a reflex save
..
Note also (though I'm sure Madelaine is already taking this into account with Za'era's attack rolls ) that if you're using a tower shield in combat to give yourself the +4 AC (instead of the "total cover" option) that it gives a -2 penalty on your attack rolls as well...
see
www.giantitp.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-156556.html
I double checked the "FAQ" they speak of
www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/er/20030221a
Which confirms that it does indeed take a standard action (you give up your attack for that round though you can still take a move action) to set up a tower shield in such a way that it provides total cover if you give up your attacks in order to do so ... however once it's set up for total cover it's VERY handy, it makes it basically impossible for a foe to attack you with a melee weapon if he's coming from the wrong angle
As far as bonus to reflex saves.. this one was pretty tough to figure out so I have to make an ad hoc ruling here (unless someone can point out a specific reference to reflex saves and total cover mentioned somewhere in the official game rules)... the tower shield provides a +8 bonus to reflex saves and provides improved evasion as well (you take NO damage on a failed reflex save and only 1/2 damage on a successful save.. see "varying degrees of cover" page 152 player's handbook version 3.5. This is something to keep in mind when a dragon breathes fire or what not on you and you have to make a reflex save
.. Note also (though I'm sure Madelaine is already taking this into account with Za'era's attack rolls
) that if you're using a tower shield in combat to give yourself the +4 AC (instead of the "total cover" option) that it gives a -2 penalty on your attack rolls as well...