Enchanted Shield

[Ferny]

A friend of mine has posed this one:

It is a piece of magical armour. It functions like a shield. In addition, it has a special rule granting +1AS. It doesn't state on the item description that this +1AS is tied to the functionality of the shield. As such, he's saying that even if you have a halberd/2HW etc, you still gain the +1AS benefit in combat. RAW I don't think I can argue with him - is this correct or am I missing something/FAQ/errata? I'd never noticed this 'loophole' before. If it is correct it's not a bad thing for some of our characters either!

[wisetiger7]

Ugh... I quit warhammer.

The same question then goes for the Spellshield. If a unit with a character with Spellshield is in b2b with an enemy unit with Shield of Thorns, and takes damage from Thorns, does the unit benefit from Spellshield's MR(1) and gain +1 to their ward save, even though the character has a weapon that Requires Two Hands and thus had his Spellshield slung across his back?

[Nicene]

Have had this question before, although normally pertaining to the Charmed Shield.

I think it basically boils down to common sense--though there is an errata involving similar effects for magic weapons, so you could take that as a pretty solid precedent. I don't think any TO would take your friend's claim seriously.

[Ferny]

Thing is, RAW, I think he is right. If we take RAW to ban Dragon Prince Star Lance then how can we argue against this (short of Errata)?

Or is it something which falls into the 'no-one but no-one plays it this way' category?

[Prince of Spires]

Nope, the friend is incorrect. Enchanted shield states that it is a shield, which means that you can only use it if you can use a shield. Otherwise its rules don't apply.

also, enchanted shield doesn't say that it is a shield with an extra +1 AS it states that it is a shield with +2 instead of +1 AS. Big difference.

Rod

[Asurion Whitestar]

Nope, the friend is incorrect. Enchanted shield states that it is a shield, which means that you can only use it if you can use a shield. Otherwise its rules don't apply.

also, enchanted shield doesn't say that it is a shield with an extra +1 AS it states that it is a shield with +2 instead of +1 AS. Big difference.

Rod

Correctamundo.

Also, the Spellshield does give MR to the unit despite being in combat, being carried by a model wielding a two handed weapon, as it doesn't state that the model needs to have the shield in use to benefit from its MR, and MR doesn't state anything to the contrary either.
The Charmed shield also gives it's 2+ Hit Discount in the same situation.

The same RAW goes for Shadow Armour being combined with Heavy or Dragon armour, and the Starlance not being able to be taken by a Drakemaster.