Stupid Shield Question

[Asaris]

Is there any reason other than flavor to prefer a metal shield over a wooden shield, or vice versa?

[Amiria]

Metal shields have more hardness and hitpoints (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/exploration.htm#breakingAndEntering) - so they are harder to sunder. They are also more fire-resistant.

And then there are some spells like Warp Wood or Heat Metal that can or cannot affect the shield depending on its material.

[kpenguin]

And druids can't use metal shields. Don't forget that.

[TheLogman]

Well, Ironwood only works on wood, and can give a magical bonus if casted under the right conditions, so in my opinion, Wood beats metal if:

1. You are a druid
and/or
2. Your DM likes the spells chill+heat metal

[ClericofPhwarrr]

And if you have any worry about weight restrictions...

[BardicDuelist]

Since I don't want to start a new thread for annother stupid shield question:

Why would somone use a light shield over a buckler? Even at first level it isn't that much more expensive.

[Galahad]

You can't shield bash with a buckler.

[Matthew]

Indeed, a Weapon and Buckler Character who is Disarmed (and doesn't have Improved Unarmed Strike) is considered Unarmed, whilst a Character with a Weapon and Light Shield who is disarmed is still considered Armed, as a Light Shield is also a Weapon.

[PlatinumJester]

Metal is fire resistance and hardier but wood is resistan to rust effects and weighs less and costs less.

[squishycube]

one word:
Mithral (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialMaterials.htm#mithral)

[ClericofPhwarrr]

Reply: +1000 gp.

[Amiria]

The lower cost of wooden shields is probably only an advantage at first level.

Mithral shields are mainly for gish builds ... or the unstylish munchkin wizard/sorcerer ... or if you want a sturdy shield but can't get adamantine yet.

Encumbrance shouldn't be a problem as soon as a character can afford a Handy Haversack or a Bag of Holding.

[TheOOB]

Well, a mithral buckler isn't just for a gish, a plain 'ol wizard can find plenty of use for one. At high levels a +5 mithral buckler of heavy fortification can be a great asset to a wizard.

However, until you can get a +3 buckler for cheep enough, you might as well stick with wands of shield

[Amiria]

As I said, as mechanical useful as it is, a wizard with a real shield - how small it may be - is just unstylish. Archetypical wizards like our avatars would never use such things.

Just my two cp.