Non-shield shield bonus to AC [3.5]

[Karlton]

I am playing a THFing paladin in a mid-level game, and in order to keep my AC up I need to have all bonus types covered. However, being a cha-dependant character, style trumphs everything else, and I cannot picture my heroic character having a stupid floating shield in front of him while he smites evil. Therefore, I need a non-shield source of shield bonus to AC.

A Ring of Force Shield is not an option, as my DM limits my free actions per round, meaning that I cannot rely on the opportunity to let go of my weapon with one hand whenever I need my shield bonus, so I need some that works as a passive item.

Does such an item exist?

[ketaro]

Just get an animated shield. It's better than filling a body slot with something that could be used for something better.

Then Awaken Construct the shield. Then have Leadership to take your Shield-companion as a Cohort. Then give your Shield-Cohort Paladin levels. Then have your Shield-Cohort smite evil while you smite evil. Benefit from two pools of Lay on Hands and at how your shield is so badass, it has a celestial companion just to carry it around in style.

SWORD BASH!
SHIELD TO THE FACE!

[faeryn]

It won't give you a large bonus... but you can take the Two-Weapon Defense set of feats for a small shield bonus to AC when wielding two weapons

If i recall correctly its Two-Weapon Defense +1; Improved: +2; & Greater: +3

and if you must get it as an item... see about getting a custom magic item to provide the feats, or find yourself a ring of three wishes and spend them on the three feats...

[Jackinthegreen]

TWF paladin is a non-option.  The feats are an opportunity cost that's not worthwhile for a paladin, it causes more MAD than they already have, and it's anti-synergistic for the class due to how Smite Evil works only on a single attack instead of all attacks during a round for example.

THF = Two-handed fighting.

[Ice9]

Animated shield, then make it permanently invisible?

Took a quick search, and it actually seems rather difficult to get a non-shield Shield bonus.  If you want to spend a feat, you could take Improved Buckler Defense and use a buckler; don't know if that's worth it.

[CaptRory]

Max out Use Magic Device and use a Wand of Shield?

[kitep]

There's a feat called Sword of the Arcane Order that will let you cast wizard spells (ie, shield) using your Paladin spell slots.
There's another feat called Battle Blessing that will let Paladins cast their spells as a swift action.

Combine the two, and you can cast shield as a swift action going into battle.

However, it is questionable whether Battle Blessing will apply to spells prepared through Sword of the Arcane Order.  I'd ask your DM for a ruling before you try it.

[CaptRory]

I just re-read Shield and it's even better than I remembered. I think we may have a winner. XD

[faeryn]

TWF paladin is a non-option.  The feats are an opportunity cost that's not worthwhile for a paladin, it causes more MAD than they already have, and it's anti-synergistic for the class due to how Smite Evil works only on a single attack instead of all attacks during a round for example.

THF = Two-handed fighting.

oops, I had misread the OP >.< this happens a lot...

[nijineko]

somebody with shield other? (didn't bother looking it up so maybe not a shield bonus.) =P

[Jackinthegreen]

somebody with shield other? (didn't bother looking it up so maybe not a shield bonus.) =P

Shield Other is a Deflection bonus to AC.

[Captnq]

Uh... just go with shield spell?

You really should check out the EVD Combat Equipment Section.
EVD/Combat Equipment/Weapon-Shield Charts.xls (Go to the LAST tab)

There are so many variants. For example:

The Half-Elf Archer type in the party also hated the idea of a flying shield near him. So, instead he bought a gnome battlecloak and bought animate shield for it. The special effect is that the cloak animates to block incoming attacks without the silly shield floating in front of him. Then he bought a weighted cloak and gave it the WSA Flying, so it's an extra weapon (with a number of WSA protective buffs). THEN he wears his cloak of... something. I forget. Spider, maybe?

So you have this half-elf with green eyebrows (Hence his name Mossbrow) with no less then three swirling cloaks (two float near him at all times). Then he found a way to use Iron Scarf over and over so he kills people by decapitaing them with his clothing. Eventually he designed his own custom Scarf (basically a whip) for entangling people and taking them alive and when he's not shooting arrows, he's a mass of shifting green clothing with a Hide/Move Silent off the charts that appears on roof tops and does the whole growling batman thing.

... Wait a sec... he... He's a Green Arrow/Helsing Combo, his two fav TV shows. I never noticed it before.

I will admit, his builds suck, but if style was a combat bonus, he'd be unbeatable.

[Baad Speeler]

Strap a buckler to your arm, then take Divine Shield as a feat. Then spend a turn attempt to add your CHA to your AC as a shield bonus.

[Captnq]

Beetle Buckler! have a bug that flies around protecting you!

Any magic item can be made into a "slotless" magic item by doubling the cost. Therefore you can make a Ring of Shielding into an Ioun stone. Then, as a shield, you can add shield ASAs and even a Shield Crystal on it. THEN add Ioun blade to your current weapon and just put the ioun ston in the hilt of your sword!

Oh! Then the SWORD OF THE DIPLOMAT extrapolated WSA to give your Sword a Bracers of Armor in your blade that you can stack WSAs and an Armor crystal on!

[nijineko]

shield guardian, animated ring of shield, that ACF for turning spell slots into reduced damage... there's lots of mechanics, just pick one that works, add a fluff description for style and coolness, maybe pay some extra so that it's never in your way, and game on.