Author Topic: Gong ho for shields: Battle Gong  (Read 2208 times)

Offline Garryl

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Gong ho for shields: Battle Gong
« on: December 13, 2011, 01:46:36 AM »
Battle Gong
Price: 43470g
Body Slot: Held (shield)
Caster Level: 8th
Aura: Moderate Evocation
Activation: Use-activated
Weight: 15 lb.

From the front, this shield appears to be a circular steel plate. In the back, a metal lattice allows it to be wielded like a shield. Leather straps attach the lattice to the plate, allowing it to swing slightly. The plate vibrates slightly with its wielder's movements. Gravity does not seem to pull the plate down relative to the lattice, allowing it to shake even when held parallel to the ground.

A Battle Gong functions as a +1 Bashing heavy steel shield (causing it to deal a base damage of 1d8 for a Medium character). It also grants its wielder 20 points of sonic resistance. Whenever the Battle Gong is used for a shield bash that hits, the Battle Gong reverberates, dealing additional sonic damage equal to 1d6 plus the attacked subject's armor bonus to its Armor Class. The subject must make a Fort save (DC 10 + the Battle Gong's enhancement bonus as a shield + the Battle Gong's enhancement bonus as a weapon + its wielder's Charisma modifier) or be deafened for 1 minute. All other creatures within a 30' radius burst of the attacked subject (including the wielder's allies, but not the wielder himself) take a like amount of sonic damage, although a successful Fort save negates the damage. These other creatures are not at risk of deafness.

Battle Gongs are slightly more unwieldy than normal shields and have a tendency to make more noise than usual when moved. The armor check penalty for a Battle Gong is -1 worse than normal (negating the 1 point reduction of a masterwork item, leaving the armor check penalty at -2). In addition, the Battle Gong imposes an additional -5 penalty on all Move Silently checks made by anyone holding it, even if it is not wielded. Properly securing and stowing a Battle Gong negates its penalty to Move Silently checks.

Prerequisites:Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Bull's Strength, Resist Energy, Sound Burst
Cost to create: 21970g, 860 xp, 22 days (470g mundane, 21500g magic)
Further improvement: A Battle Gong can be improved as though it was a +1 Bashing heavy steel shield with the Improved Sonic Resistance quality. Additionally, it can be improved as though it had a masterwork steel shield spike attached to it, enchanted with a +1 enhancement bonus and the miscellaneous enchantments that cause the Battle Gong's other effects (equivalent to an additional +2 enhancement bonus for pricing). A Battle Gong can never have actual shield spikes attached to it, although any changes to the material of the shield must be applied to the virtual shield spikes as well.

Construction breakdown:
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Offline Noliar

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Re: Gong ho for shields: Battle Gong
« Reply #1 on: December 13, 2011, 10:59:26 AM »
Nice. I'm put in mind of 40K noise marines. Or a battle marching band - quick, write up combat trombones and tubas!