Has Paizo never released errata on Throwing Shields?

[SangoProduction]

Don't get me wrong, free actions to throw a shield is nice and all, but the methods to return thrown weapons after attacking often are non-actions that happen immediately after the attack resolves.

So you could get an infinite loop of free action attacks without regard for the rest of your turn.

[The Random NPC]

You're still limited by BAB and the GM has carte blanche to limit it further. It hasn't gotten an errata because the rules are "clear enough".

[SangoProduction]

How does BAB affect free action attacks?
I mean, I know that full attack scales number of attacks based on BAB.

[Kurald Galain]

methods to return thrown weapons after attacking often are non-actions that happen immediately after the attack resolves.

They're not (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/magic-weapons/magic-weapon-special-abilities/returning).

[SangoProduction]

They're not (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/magic-weapons/magic-weapon-special-abilities/returning).

They do, with explicit mention of straps to unclasp. (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/a-b/belt-blink-back/)

But I actually didn't know the weapon ability was worse. than the cheaper option. I'm a little shocked, and at the same time not surprised at all.

But hey, at least Spheres of Might did it right, and made their returning (http://spheresofpower.wikidot.com/equipment-sphere#toc41)a nonaction.

[KillianHawkeye]

But I actually didn't know the weapon ability was worse. than the cheaper option. I'm a little shocked, and at the same time not surprised at all.

The Returning weapon ability is a leftover from 3e/3.5, which is why. And for all I know, inherited the limitation from even older editions.

[upho]

They do, with explicit mention of straps to unclasp. (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/a-b/belt-blink-back/)

But I actually didn't know the weapon ability was worse. than the cheaper option. I'm a little shocked, and at the same time not surprised at all.

But hey, at least Spheres of Might did it right, and made their returning (http://spheresofpower.wikidot.com/equipment-sphere#toc41)a nonaction.Strictly RAW, it is indeed correct that the throwing shield allows for free action attacks and the SoP returning or Blinkback + Quickdraw combos work. However, the consensus both here and on the Paizo boards has long been that the wording of throwing shield is simply poor, and the clear RAI is that only the unclasping (and clasping) part is a free action. You can find tons of old threads about this on the Paizo boards.

Here is the only relevant FAQ. (https://paizo.com/paizo/faq/v5748nruor1fm#v5748eaic9r85)

As a bit of an aside, AFAIK most GMs (myself included) don't limit free actions which are dependent on/triggered by limited actions - in the context of shields for example the free action(s) granted by Siegebreaker fighter, a Maelstrom Shield or Tempest Shield - but would definitely follow mentioned consensus on the throwing shield free action. And doing otherwise would either severely limit ranged full attacks with any weapon(s), be oddly inconsistent, or just plain stupid (in the case of allowing infinite free action throwing shield attacks).

[icefractal]

I feel like it's in a similar category to the Ghostwalk + Psionics ("manifest as a free action") trick. Amusing, but the general response if you actually tried it in a game would be "lol, no".

[Darg]

Throwing Shield (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/weapons/weapon-descriptions/throwing-shield/) says nothing about making a free action attack. So where is that coming from? Just because it says "throw?" It seems obvious to me that unstrapping and throwing is a free action so that you can make your normal attack routine.

[Drelua]

They do, with explicit mention of straps to unclasp. (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/a-b/belt-blink-back/)

But I actually didn't know the weapon ability was worse. than the cheaper option. I'm a little shocked, and at the same time not surprised at all.

But hey, at least Spheres of Might did it right, and made their returning (http://spheresofpower.wikidot.com/equipment-sphere#toc41)a nonaction.

The thing to remember about the blinkback belt is that you have throw it by the end of your next turn, so it doesn't really work with a throwing shield if you plan on actually using it as a shield. Plus there's the opportunity cost of not being able to get a str or dex belt. So yeah, it's cheaper than returning and brings the weapon back faster, but with added restrictions it should be cheaper.

[upho]

The thing to remember about the blinkback belt is that you have throw it by the end of your next turn, so it doesn't really work with a throwing shield if you plan on actually using it as a shield.The fact that you have to throw it before the end of your next turn is hardly a limit worth mentioning.

In detail, the action/event sequence of an attack is:

Free - Unclasp shield
Attack roll - Throw shield
Automatic - Shield returns to belt
Free - Quickdraw shield from belt
Free - Clasp shield (the shield can now be used for defense as normal, assuming you have Improved Shield Bash)

For a full attack, you simply repeat these steps until all attacks have been made. At any instance other than when an attack is actually made, the shield is properly clasped and will provide its AC bonus, just as when making melee shield bashes. If you're really nitpicky, in order to keep both the AC bonus and the blinkback function outside of combat, you'd have to repeat the free actions of step 4 and 5 once every 12 seconds (which doesn't impose any additional mechanical limitations beyond those imposed by simply wearing a shield normally).


Plus there's the opportunity cost of not being able to get a str or dex belt. So yeah, it's cheaper than returning and brings the weapon back faster, but with added restrictions it should be cheaper.Blinkback can be combined with any other belt according to the rules (increasing the cost of the cheapest belt by 50%), perhaps most notably the Belt of Mighty Hurling (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/a-b/belt-of-mighty-hurling/) for Str-based switch-hitting.

[Drelua]

The fact that you have to throw it before the end of your next turn is hardly a limit worth mentioning.

In detail, the action/event sequence of an attack is:

Free - Unclasp shield
Attack roll - Throw shield
Automatic - Shield returns to belt
Free - Quickdraw shield from belt
Free - Clasp shield (the shield can now be used for defense as normal, assuming you have Improved Shield Bash)

For a full attack, you simply repeat these steps until all attacks have been made. At any instance other than when an attack is actually made, the shield is properly clasped and will provide its AC bonus, just as when making melee shield bashes. If you're really nitpicky, in order to keep both the AC bonus and the blinkback function outside of combat, you'd have to repeat the free actions of step 4 and 5 once every 12 seconds (which doesn't impose any additional mechanical limitations beyond those imposed by simply wearing a shield normally).

Sure, if you're happy sinking a feat into quickdraw. Not necessarily a problem, but personally I'd consider a feat and 5k far more costly than a +1 on your shield. Of course it works better, so it should cost more.


Blinkback can be combined with any other belt according to the rules (increasing the cost of the cheapest belt by 50%), perhaps most notably the Belt of Mighty Hurling (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/a-b/belt-of-mighty-hurling/) for Str-based switch-hitting.

This is very GM dependent, yes those rules exist but they're in a section that's meant to be for GM use. I've played with GMs that allowed them, and I really like them, since it makes cool items have less of an opportunity cost. I'm not gonna take muleback cords if it means I can't get a cloak of resistance, but if I can combine them I'll happily pay the markup to be able to carry around a silly amount of stuff. Had a character with a light load of about 5000 pounds once, thanks to those rules. But a lot of GMs don't allow them, I'd say the default assumption is that they're off the table for most games. But yeah, if you have the right GM and a feat to spare it's a good idea. Still shouldn't let you make unlimited attacks, no GM that I've met is that permissive.

Any character I play in PFS that uses a shield pay the 50 gp for a throwing shield, but that's just in case I want to drop it.