Shield, Broad (3.5e Equipment)

Shield, Broad

Exotic One-Handed Melee Critical: ×2 Range Increment: — Type: Bludgeoning Shield Bonus: +3 Maximum Dex Bonus: +6 Armor Check Penalty: −4 Arcane Spell Failure Chance: 30% Hardness (Steel): 10 Hardness (Wood): 5
Size	Cost		Damage	Weight		hp
	Steel	Wood		Steel	Wood	Steel	Wood
Fine	17 gp 5 sp	8 gp	1	3 lb.	2 lb.	1	1
Diminutive	17 gp 5 sp	8 gp	1d2	3 lb.	2 lb.	3	2
Tiny	17 gp 5 sp	8 gp	1d3	3 lb.	2 lb.	6	4
Small	35 gp	16 gp	1d4	15 lb.	10 lb.	12	8
Medium	35 gp	16 gp	1d6	30 lb.	20 lb.	25	17
Large	70 gp	32 gp	1d8	60 lb.	40 lb.	50	34
Huge	140 gp	64 gp	2d6	150 lb.	100 lb.	100	68
Gargantuan	280 gp	128 gp	3d6	240 lb.	160 lb.	200	136
Collossal	560 gp	256 gp	4d6	360 lb.	240 lb.	400	272

Description

This shield is the biggest before the tower shield. In most situations, it provides the indicated shield bonus to your AC. However, you can instead use it as soft 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 can't use your shield hand for anything else.

When employing a broad shield in combat, you take a −1 penalty on attack rolls because of the shield’s encumbrance.

The Shield Proficiency feat does not grant proficiency with a broad shield, but the Tower Shield Proficiency feat does.

Wooden or Steel: Wooden and steel shields offer the same basic protection, though they respond differently to special attacks.

Shield Bash Attacks: You can bash an opponent with a broad shield, using it as a two-handed martial bludgeoning weapon. A broad shield is too large to bash in one hand without special training (the appropriate Exotic Weapon Proficiency feat). If you use your shield as a weapon, you lose its AC bonus until your next action (usually until the next round). An enhancement bonus on a shield does not improve the effectiveness of a shield bash made with it, but the shield can be made into a magic weapon in its own right. Note: Having proficiency with a broad shield as a shield does not grant proficiency with it as a weapon and vice versa.

Enhancements

Shield Spikes: When added to your shield, these spikes turn it into a exotic piercing weapon that increases the damage dealt by a shield bash as if the shield were designed for a creature one size category larger than you. Otherwise, attacking with a spiked shield is like making a shield bash attack.

Table: Heavy Spiked Shield Damage

Fine	Diminutive	Tiny	Small	Medium	Large	Huge	Gargantuan	Colossal
1d2	1d3	1d4	1d6	1d8	2d6	3d6	4d6	6d6

An enhancement bonus on a spiked shield does not improve the effectiveness of a shield bash made with it, but a spiked shield can be made into a magic weapon in its own right.

Compared to a regular broad shield, a spiked broad shield costs 10 gp more and is 5 lb. heavier.

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