Animated tower shield?

[Ungruush]

is this a possibility?

and can you still use it for total cover?

and if so, what is the deal with the max dex, and for that matter, the dmg only covers check penalties, so how do you deal with this, considering if something isn't really touching you, your dexterity shouldn't be affected at all, should it?


and another thing completely off topic...

in the campaign im about to take place in, permanency doesn't exist...so can you even create magic items? and if you can, is it a possibility to magically upgrade a weapon after it has been crafted?

not too sure about the mechanics of the permanency thing....

help would be much appreciated...

thanks

 

[Hypersmurf]

is this a possibility?

Yes.

and can you still use it for total cover?

Yes.

and if so, what is the deal with the max dex, and for that matter, the dmg only covers check penalties, so how do you deal with this, considering if something isn't really touching you, your dexterity shouldn't be affected at all, should it?

"A character with an animated shield still takes any penalties associated with shield use, such as armor check penalty, arcane spell failure chance, and nonproficiency."

Given that arcane spell failure is not a penalty in the glossary sense of the term (a negative modifier to a die roll), it is apparent that "any associated penalties" refers to all adverse consequences of shield use (save the single exception of having both hands free).

So an animated tower shield still imposes a -2 penalty on attack rolls, a Max Dex of +2, an ACP of -10, and an ASF of 50%; it still precludes monk abilities if the monk uses it; etc.

in the campaign im about to take place in, permanency doesn't exist...so can you even create magic items? and if you can, is it a possibility to magically upgrade a weapon after it has been crafted?

Item creation doesn't use the Permanency spell; it uses the item creation feats (for example, Craft Magic Arms and Armor for a tower shield). And yes, you can add enhancement bonuses to a weapon, as long as it is of masterwork quality; and you can add special abilities to a weapon, as long as it has an enhancement bonus.

-Hyp.

 

[Ungruush]

so, all that being said (and i thank you much for the answers and help), can you use a tower shield without it..and for a lack of a better word...being "equipped"? i mean, you have the thing on your back, can you just will it into action? and of this is the case, do you still deal with an armor check penalty? and if none of this is valid, what are the dimensions for a tower shield? what bag of holding would i need to be able to carry it without it being in the way?

 

[mvincent]

can you use a tower shield without it..and for a lack of a better word...being "equipped"?

It requires a command to become equipped.

For almost all purposes, treat an animated shield as effectively simply giving you a third arm. However, equipping is one area that is technically different:
- A regular shield requires the "Ready a shield" action (a move action) to become equipped.
- An animated shield requires a command (a standard action) to become equipped.

i mean, you have the thing on your back, can you just will it into action?

It requires a command (a standard action).

do you still deal with an armor check penalty?

Yup

what are the dimensions for a tower shield?

About 4' tall by 2' wide (can vary a lot though).

what bag of holding would i need to be able to carry it without it being in the way?

It should fit fine in any of them.