Monk Bonuses and Animated Shields

[Diarmuid]

Would a Monk lose the various "no armor/shield" bonuses they get if they were to use an Animated Shield?

[tyckspoon]

A character with an animated shield still takes any penalties associated with shield use, such as armor check penalty, arcane spell failure chance, and nonproficiency.


Yes. The only difference between using a shield normally and using an Animated one is the Animated one doesn't take up your hand. You're still considered to be wearing it for most purposes.

[Sian]

A character with an animated shield still takes any penalties associated with shield use, such as armor check penalty, arcane spell failure chance, and nonproficiency.

Looking at this I'd say yes... A Monk would loose his bonuses

[Diarmuid]

Ok, so the AC bonus would definitely go away as that lists "She loses these bonuses when she is immobilized or helpless, when she wears any armor, when she carries a shield, or when she carries a medium or heavy load." as a limiting factor on it.

Evasion lists it can be used even in light armor and doesnt say anything about shields.

Fast Movement only lists that problems with armor or a medium/heavy load. Nothing about shields.

So is the AC Bonus the only thing a monk would actually lose?

[Zharradan Marr]

When wearing armor, using a shield, or carrying a medium or heavy load, a monk loses her AC bonus, as well as her fast movement and flurry of blows abilities.The class description in the PHB/SRD is clear enough.

[Diarmuid]

Interesting. There's nothing in the Flurry of Blows description discussing any limitation so the line from the Armor Proficiency section would apply, but the the section for Fast Movement contradicts what's listed under the Armor prod section with regards to the limitations as it only notes "A monk in armor or carrying a medium or heavy load loses this extra speed.".

Under such a circumstance, does the specific of the Fast Movement overrride the general of the proficiency wording?

[TuggyNE]

Interesting. There's nothing in the Flurry of Blows description discussing any limitation so the line from the Armor Proficiency section would apply, but the the section for Fast Movement contradicts what's listed under the Armor prod section with regards to the limitations as it only notes "A monk in armor or carrying a medium or heavy load loses this extra speed.".

Under such a circumstance, does the specific of the Fast Movement overrride the general of the proficiency wording?

There's no contradiction; they are simply combined, since Fast Movement does not say that those are the only conditions that cause the loss, only that those conditions are sufficient to cause the loss.