I'm trying to create a large shield that was mainly used by archers as mobile cover. The shield has a spike to stick into the ground making it immobile. Ideally giving +1 to ac while worn on the back, +3 to ac while equipped (two-handed), and be deployed (using an action) as half cover for a medium creature/three-quarters cover to a small creature. The shield would give disadvantage to stealth checks and slow the user while equipped (two-handed).
Currently I'm using a Wondrous item (shield preset was too restrictive), with 5 modifiers
Disadvantage - Stealth
Bonus - Armor Class 2
Weapon Property - Two-Handed
Weapon Property - Heavy :"Due to the size and bulk, a Small creature cannot use this item effectively."
Bonus - Speed (Walking) -20 =this is currently high because STR score is suppose to even it out
Problems I'm having is that +1 on the back/+3 while equipped might be to complicated for a homebrew item, not sure, but ultimately I can live with a basic +2. The "speed" modifier isn't as adaptive as I want. I want the speed decrease to be less impactful for stronger characters, something like (-20 + STR score) but I dont know how to convey this in modifiers. The "Heavy" modifier just seems to be flavor text for now and I'd want something to make it harder for small creature to wield such a large shield even with high strength scores. Any help with achieving these things using modifiers would be appreciated.
Description: This large rectangular shield is made of several layers of Mithral metal hinged together with an iron spike along its bottom. As an action, the holder of the shield can thrust the bottom spike into the ground where it will hold the shield standing erect providing half cover to one creature standing directly behind it. While thrust into the ground the shield is considered an inanimate object. Using a bonus action, the extra layers can be unfolded to either side to provide 3/4 cover from 3 directions to one creature standing directly behind it. Moving the unfolded shield or removing the shield from where it has been thrust into the ground requires an action and both hands.
I'm trying to create a large shield that was mainly used by archers as mobile cover. The shield has a spike to stick into the ground making it immobile. Ideally giving +1 to ac while worn on the back, +3 to ac while equipped (two-handed), and be deployed (using an action) as half cover for a medium creature/three-quarters cover to a small creature. The shield would give disadvantage to stealth checks and slow the user while equipped (two-handed).
Currently I'm using a Wondrous item (shield preset was too restrictive), with 5 modifiers
Disadvantage - Stealth
Bonus - Armor Class 2
Weapon Property - Two-Handed
Weapon Property - Heavy :"Due to the size and bulk, a Small creature cannot use this item effectively."
Bonus - Speed (Walking) -20 =this is currently high because STR score is suppose to even it out
Problems I'm having is that +1 on the back/+3 while equipped might be to complicated for a homebrew item, not sure, but ultimately I can live with a basic +2. The "speed" modifier isn't as adaptive as I want. I want the speed decrease to be less impactful for stronger characters, something like (-20 + STR score) but I dont know how to convey this in modifiers. The "Heavy" modifier just seems to be flavor text for now and I'd want something to make it harder for small creature to wield such a large shield even with high strength scores. Any help with achieving these things using modifiers would be appreciated.
Homebrew items can only reflect static modifiers, either the stats when enabled or not. You could make a few versions of this shield:
Medium creature, wearing on their back
Medium create, deployed
Small creature, wearing on their back
Small creature deployed
You can use the modifier Speed Reduction instead of Bonus for the speed reduction, but even then you can't compute the creature's STR into a final number to use for the reduction.
Description: This large rectangular shield is made of several layers of Mithral metal hinged together with an iron spike along its bottom. As an action, the holder of the shield can thrust the bottom spike into the ground where it will hold the shield standing erect providing half cover to one creature standing directly behind it. While thrust into the ground the shield is considered an inanimate object. Using a bonus action, the extra layers can be unfolded to either side to provide 3/4 cover from 3 directions to one creature standing directly behind it. Moving the unfolded shield or removing the shield from where it has been thrust into the ground requires an action and both hands.
Ill consider this for a more rare version, maybe fixes the disadvantage to stealth with this one
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I'm trying to create a large shield that was mainly used by archers as mobile cover. The shield has a spike to stick into the ground making it immobile. Ideally giving +1 to ac while worn on the back, +3 to ac while equipped (two-handed), and be deployed (using an action) as half cover for a medium creature/three-quarters cover to a small creature. The shield would give disadvantage to stealth checks and slow the user while equipped (two-handed).
Currently I'm using a Wondrous item (shield preset was too restrictive), with 5 modifiers
Problems I'm having is that +1 on the back/+3 while equipped might be to complicated for a homebrew item, not sure, but ultimately I can live with a basic +2. The "speed" modifier isn't as adaptive as I want. I want the speed decrease to be less impactful for stronger characters, something like (-20 + STR score) but I dont know how to convey this in modifiers. The "Heavy" modifier just seems to be flavor text for now and I'd want something to make it harder for small creature to wield such a large shield even with high strength scores. Any help with achieving these things using modifiers would be appreciated.
I made something like this a while ago:
Name: The Collapsible Mithral Mantlet Shield
Rarity: Uncommon
Type: Shield
Attunement: No
Base Item: Shield
Value: 500 GP
Weight: 15 lbs
Description: This large rectangular shield is made of several layers of Mithral metal hinged together with an iron spike along its bottom. As an action, the holder of the shield can thrust the bottom spike into the ground where it will hold the shield standing erect providing half cover to one creature standing directly behind it. While thrust into the ground the shield is considered an inanimate object. Using a bonus action, the extra layers can be unfolded to either side to provide 3/4 cover from 3 directions to one creature standing directly behind it. Moving the unfolded shield or removing the shield from where it has been thrust into the ground requires an action and both hands.
Here I think this is the closest you can get: https://www.dndbeyond.com/magic-items/6503749-pavise-shield
Homebrew items can only reflect static modifiers, either the stats when enabled or not. You could make a few versions of this shield:
You can use the modifier Speed Reduction instead of Bonus for the speed reduction, but even then you can't compute the creature's STR into a final number to use for the reduction.
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Ok, I thought it would be too complicated. Maybe ill just make 2 versions and put the small creature rule in the description.
oh yeah this covers most oh what I want, thanks
Ill consider this for a more rare version, maybe fixes the disadvantage to stealth with this one