SRD:Tower Shield

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Tower Shield

Shield Bonus: +4 Maximum Dex Bonus: +2 Armor Check Penalty: −10 Arcane Spell Failure Chance: 50% Hardness: 5
Size	Cost	Weight	hp
Fine	15 gp	4-1/2 lb.	1
Diminuative	15 gp	4-1/2 lb.	2
Tiny	15 gp	4-1/2 lb.	5
Small	30 gp	22-1/2 lb.	10
Medium	30 gp	45 lb.	20
Large	60 gp	90 lb.	40
Huge	120 gp	225 lb.	80
Gargantuan	240 gp	360 lb.	160
Colossal	480 gp	540 lb.	320

Description

This massive wooden shield is nearly as tall as you are. In most situations, it provides the indicated shield bonus to your AC. However, you can instead use it as total cover, though you must give up your attacks to do so. The shield does not, however, provide cover against targeted spells; a spellcaster can cast a spell on you by targeting the shield you are holding. You cannot bash with a tower shield, nor can you use your shield hand for anything else.

When employing a tower shield in combat, you take a –2 penalty on attack rolls because of the shield’s encumbrance.

Enhancements

These are the prices for this item when made with specific materials or enhancements.

Tower Shield Material Enhancements

Material	Cost1	Hardness	Hit Points	Special
Masterwork Steel	180 gp	10	60	—
Dragonhide	360 gp	10	20	Non-metal armor
Mithral	1030 gp	15	60	Reduce armor check penalty by 3 (min 0), Reduced ASF by 10%, 1/2 weight
Adamantine	2030 gp	20	80	—
Deep Crystal	1030 gp	10	60	Does not rust
Mundane Crystal	180 gp	8	50	Does not rust
The given costs include the masterwork component. Unlike other weapons, shields do not gain an enhancement bonus on attack rolls from being masterwork quality. Instead their armor check penalties are lessened by 1.

Magical/Psionic Armor and Shield Enhancements

Bonus Value	Additional Cost	Hardness Increase1	Additional hp1
+1	+1,000 gp	+2	+10
+2	+4,000 gp	+4	+20
+3	+9,000 gp	+6	+30
+4	+16,000 gp	+8	+40
+5	+25,000 gp	+10	+50
+6	+36,000 gp2	+12	+60
+7	+49,000 gp2	+14	+70
+8	+64,000 gp2	+16	+80
+9	+81,000 gp2	+18	+90
+10	+100,000 gp2	+20	+100
+11 or more	+ bonus × bonus × 10,000 gp	+ enhancement bonus × 2	+ enhancement bonus × 10
Unlike the additional cost, the increase to the armor or shield's hardness and hit points are only gained from its enhancement bonus, not its special abilities. If the armor or shield has a magical bonus greater than +5 or a special ability worth more than +5, then it's epic. Multiply magic cost by 10.

See Also

• Armor Qualities
• Magic Armor
• Wikipedia: Shield
• Wikipedia: Clipeus
• Wikipedia: Pavise

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