check penalty question

[juggalotis]

ok just curious here as im making a dwarf fighter. he has a heave shield with a -2 check penalty. does this just drop the str mod by 2 for the attack roll, or is it for the damage roll as well?

[Douglas]

Neither, that penalty only applies to skill checks, and even then only to certain skills. Unless you're not proficient with the shield, of course, in which case it applies to attack rolls but not damage, but fighters are proficient with all shields so that doesn't matter.

[Chronos]

Neither. Ordinarily, an armor check penalty only applies to a specific list of skills (and not to anything other than a skill check). If you're not proficient with a piece of armor that you're using, then you also apply the penalty to a bunch of other things (including attack rolls), but fighters are proficient with shields, so that's not an issue. And an armor check penalty never gets applied to damage rolls, even if you're not proficient.

[Eldariel]

You have proficiency in the shield, which means all it affects are your skills that say they're affected by armor check penalty. Your attack and damage are both unaffected. Same with all Strength-checks like Trip, Grapple and company. If you were not proficient with the shield you're using, you'd get a lot more penalties, but Fighters are automatically proficient with all shields. Same applies to armor - since you're proficient with the armor, the Armor Check Penalty only applies to skills marked being affected by it.

Tower Shield is an exception - it gives you -2 to attack rolls (not damage). That's specifically mentioned in the shield entry though.

[Tsotha-lanti]

RTFM, it's all there.

Armor Check Penalty: Any armor heavier than leather hurts a character’s ability to use some skills. An armor check penalty number is the penalty that applies to Balance, Climb, Escape Artist, Hide, Jump, Move Silently, Sleight of Hand, and Tumble checks by a character wearing a certain kind of armor. Double the normal armor check penalty is applied to Swim checks. A character’s encumbrance (the amount of gear carried, including armor) may also apply an armor check penalty.

[juggalotis]

thanks guys. i think i have the char sheet working now. i appreciate it. switched to 4e still adjusting to it.

[Douglas]

switched to 4e still adjusting to it.

You really should have specified that in the original post. Since this is 4e, the relevant rules quote is:

Check: You take this penalty to all Strength-, Dexterity-, and Constitution-based skill checks when you wear the armor. You don’t take the penalty to ability checks (such as a Strength check to break down a door or a Dexterity check to determine initiative in combat).

Still only affects skill checks, just a slightly different set of skills.

[Tsotha-lanti]

Yarg, edition-ninja'd.