Article:
D&D 4th ed: The Flying Shield

So there is a Flying Carpet and a Throwing Shield, but what about a Flying Shield?

I admire the shield which can magically float on water (the Floating Shield, pg 117 of the Adventurer's Vault), but I think there needs to be a shield for Epic tier characters which allows them the versatility of a defensive item, one which they can attack with, and which allows them to fly.

Shields have always been the ultimate off hand item, so there will always be a need for them at every level of play. By the time a character has hit epic levels though, magic items need to be fairly versatile and desirable, something a player wants their character have because it fits that character's style.

Yes, throwing a shield at someone and having it return to your hand is very cool, but standing on the shield and swooping through the sky, while cleaving through your enemies?

Yes, that is epic.

By Epic tier the character should have overcome most forms of obstruction, so an additional means of travel through the air is no game breaker. The flying shield does have a greatly enhanced range of height though, unlike a flying carpet, with it's maximum altitude of 10 squares, the shield can soar up to 100 squares above the ground.

The shield also differs in that it has a smoother, less awkward flight, but it will not fly at all unless someone is in contact with it, unlike the carpet, which floats as soon as you unroll it.

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