Chainshields

Hephaestus crafted these marvelous weapons for the warriors of Argolis after they demonstrated extreme valor in battle in his name.

Chainshields strap to the forearm and are gripped with one hand. A chainshield is so heavy that the shield hand can’t be used for anything else. All chainshields are rimmed by a series of vicious blades around the edge of the shield.

Connected to the shield’s grip is a length of magical chain that winds and unwinds at the will of the chainshield wielder. A typical chainshield bestows a +2 bonus to AC (not including magical bonuses) and weighs 15 lbs.

Chainshields can be used both offensively and defensively. Defensive use of a chainshield means the wielder receives the shield’s full AC bonus. Offensively, the wielder can choose to throw the shield or bash with it.

Chainshield Bash Attacks. You can bash an opponent with a chainshield, using it as an off-hand weapon for 1d4 points of bludgeoning damage. Used this way, a chainshield is a martial bludgeoning weapon. For the purpose of penalties on attack rolls, treat a chainshield as a one-handed weapon. If you use your shield as a weapon, you lose its AC bonus until your next action (usually until the next round). A chainshield’s magic bonus does not improve the effectiveness of a shield bash made with it.

Chainshield Throw Attacks. The chainshield wielder can throw the chainshield at an opponent. The chainshield, connected by the chain, unspools to its maximum length and then respools as it returns to the wielder. The wielder cannot be hit by the returning chainshield.

Unlike most other weapons with reach, the wielder can use it against foes anywhere within his reach (including adjacent foes). Using a chainshield does not provoke an opportunity attack.

The wielder can make trip attacks with a chainshield. If he is tripped during his own trip attempt, he can drop the chainshield to avoid being tripped.