Troll Lord Games

Okay, here's a question that has me stumped. I won't be online again until about 20 hours after this is posted, so I won't be able to take part in any convo that comes up, but I'll reply when I'm back on.

Here's my question:

Our Half-Orc Barbarian is being shot at by a goblin with a crossbow. He wants to pick up the Goblin he's currently in melee with and use him as a shield.

I like it, and want the action to succeed... but how much AC does a Goblin provide?

I want to reward clever, cinematic roleplaying, but I also don't want it to be so effective that the player is doing this same maneuver every time he gets the chance.

What other rules or stipulations would you put on it to make it successful?

Again, I'll probably just let it work the first time, because, well, it was a cool idea. But I'd like to see how other people would handle it, including how much AC bonus you'd give.

The answer is in the title. A goblin used as a shield provides a +1 bonus to AC, just like any other shield. The only real question is whether the goblin is heavy enough to have the bonus apply to all enemies facing the barbarian, as if the barbarian were using a pavis. That's a judgment call on your part.

I would also use the Grappling rules for even being able to grab the goblin and make it a living shield. This would also prevent the Barbarian from being able to do any other attacks while the Goblin is still alive, since all their effort will go into making and maintaining the grapple.

Two choices...

Use shield rules, so it gives a whole +1, or as cover which can give a lot more.

I would also suggest some means to determine, especially if the goblin is alive, which (it or the barbie) gets struck.... even on a "miss" to the barbarian.

And, of course, if the goblin is still alive, and has a weapon, it would get bonuses (and maybe even automatic hits) on the barbarian. That's why you don't pick up an enemy until its dead.

If you grab the goblin from the front and his back is to his CE fellows do they get + to hit "the shield" because its a back attack on a relatively prone and unaware creature?

I'd go with a grapple check and if it succeded, I'd use the cover rules giving the PC 1/4 cover.

R-

Rigon wrote:I'd go with a grapple check and if it succeded, I'd use the cover rules giving the PC 1/4 cover.

R-

That is how I would handle it, too.

The proverbial "meat shield"? Nice.

I would go with the grapple check, but the Goblin might get a bite attack or a chance to pull a dagger if he has one.

I have to admit I like the visual of the goblin struggling to get free while being shot by his mates.

I would also vote for the grapple check path. Makes more sense to me with the situation given.

I'm not sure if this line needs a new string or not, but should not shield size relative to body size give AC in line with the 1/4 and 1/2 and 3/4 cover rule? How is it the shield is so much less than cover? The damage gets through the shield? Seems these two should be more in line.. thoughts?

Captain_K wrote:I'm not sure if this line needs a new string or not, but should not shield size relative to body size give AC in line with the 1/4 and 1/2 and 3/4 cover rule? How is it the shield is so much less than cover? The damage gets through the shield? Seems these two should be more in line.. thoughts?

Too much crunch to keep track of if you do that.