Adamantine Shields

[Bront]

Do they grant DR like normal armor? If so, how much? 1/Adamantine for light, 2/A for Heavy, and 3/A for tower?

Should they grant DR if they don't per RAW? Has it been FAQed/Erattaed?

 

[MarkB]

Do they grant DR like normal armor? If so, how much? 1/Adamantine for light, 2/A for Heavy, and 3/A for tower?

No, the only advantage of an adamantine shield is its superior hardness and hitpoints.

Should they grant DR if they don't per RAW? Has it been FAQed/Erattaed?

No, they shouldn't. Either a blow hits your shield and is deflected, or it bypasses your shield. The shield can't absorb part of the blow as armour can.

 

[Dracandross]

No, they shouldn't. Either a blow hits your shield and is deflected, or it bypasses your shield. The shield can't absorb part of the blow as armour can.

Thats not consistent as argument though. If Armour gives AC 5 you should have AC 15 without any other prots. Which would mean any hit over AC 15 will pass armour altogether
-> no DR from armour either.

Technically adamantium shield could block hit totally causing just glancing blow because of deviation (allowing DR) and wooden shield might splinter when hit allowing hit with full force (no DR).

But back to original question, shield shouldn't give DR purely balancewise.

-Dracandross

 

[Bront]

Yeah, given the cost is flat, that makes more sense.

 

[MarkB]

One more thing to keep in mind is that if you use your adamantine shield to make a shield bash, you will still benefit from its ability to bypass hardness.

 

[Infiniti2000]

No, they shouldn't. Either a blow hits your shield and is deflected, or it bypasses your shield. The shield can't absorb part of the blow as armour can.

I don't agree with this at all. It's purely descriptive. For example, a blow on your shield arm could be described as injuring the arm of the defender. Also, a blow could slide of the shield and into your body, illustrating an example where the first couple of points are ignored.

Nevertheless, your answer is correct that a shield does not grant DR.

The the OP, the rule is "Armor made from adamantine grants its wearer damage reduction of 1/- if it’s light armor, 2/- if it’s medium armor, and 3/- if it’s heavy armor. " Note that shields are not mentioned, only armor. This also means that shields made from adamantine are not masterwork: "Adamantine is so costly that weapons and armor made from it are always of masterwork quality; the masterwork cost is included in the prices given below."

 

[MarkB]

I don't agree with this at all. It's purely descriptive. For example, a blow on your shield arm could be described as injuring the arm of the defender. Also, a blow could slide of the shield and into your body, illustrating an example where the first couple of points are ignored.

You're right, it's ambiguous enough that I shouldn't have tried to justify the RAW answer with real-world examples. I was just trying to emphasise that I don't think there's any real reason to consider changing that rule.

 

[Infiniti2000]

You're right, it's ambiguous enough that I shouldn't have tried to justify the RAW answer with real-world examples. I was just trying to emphasise that I don't think there's any real reason to consider changing that rule.

I agree with that. I think the justification is in the price. +2000 to any shield is not comparable to +5000 with light armor. If a shield granted DR, there would never be a reason to get adamantine armor.

 

[ValhallaGH]

I agree with that. I think the justification is in the price. +2000 to any shield is not comparable to +5000 with light armor. If a shield granted DR, there would never be a reason to get adamantine armor.

Unless your DM said that they stacked.

 

[jeffman]

Two-handed Rules!

Unless your DM said that they stacked.

Or that two-handed weapon power attack is just sooooo sweeeet

Screw adamantine, if your raw damage potential is high enough, you'll bypass any DR

*half way sarcastic post*