A shield cannot have an effective bonus (enhancement plus special ability bonus equivalents) higher than +10. The bashing special ability, however, does grant a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls (see the special ability description).Ī shield could be built that also acted as a magic weapon, but the cost of the enhancement bonus on attack rolls would need to be added into the cost of the shield and its enhancement bonus to AC.Īs with armor, special abilities built into the shield add to the market value in the form of additions to the bonus of the shield, although they do not improve AC.

Shield enhancement bonuses do not act as attack or damage bonuses when the shield is used in a shield bash. Shields: Shield enhancement bonuses stack with armor enhancement bonuses. If an item has both an enhancement bonus and a special ability, the higher of the two caster level requirements must be met.

For an item with only an enhancement bonus, the caster level is three times the enhancement bonus. Special Materials: A suit of armor or a shield may be made of an unusual material.Īrmor is always created so that if the type of armor comes with a pair of boots, a helm, or a set of gauntlets, these pieces can be exchanged for other magic boots, helms, or gauntlets.Ĭaster Level for armor and shields: The caster level of a magic shield or magic armor with a special ability is given in the item description. A suit of armor with a special ability must also have at least a +1 enhancement bonus. A suit of armor cannot have an effective bonus (enhancement plus special ability bonus equivalents, including those from character abilities and spells) higher than +10. Special abilities usually count as additional bonuses for determining the market value of an item, but do not improve AC. In addition to an enhancement bonus, armor may have special abilities. All magic armor is also masterwork armor, reducing armor check penalties by 1. Magic Armor bonuses are enhancement bonuses, never rise above +5, and stack with regular armor bonuses (and with shield and magic shield enhancement bonuses).

In general, magic armor protects the wearer to a greater extent than non-magical armor.

Magic Armor and Shield Special AbilitiesĮnchanted armor is one of the most important things an adventurer can acquire-for what good is wealth and power when a dragon claw rips through your breastplate?.

Dragon age 2 armor upgrade