Deflect on a Shield

[JMason]

Originally Posted by Stripe

What? Defending shield does stack with Deflect? But, the quoted RAW literally said, "such bonuses don't 'stack.'"

That's how I know I'm reading something wildly wrong here, or I'm not catching something.

Defending Shield grants a bonus to Block, Deflect gives a bonus to DB. While these have the same effect when blocking, they are not the same thing and thus can stack.

Originally Posted by Stripe

1. Joe has a small shield (DB 1) enchanted with Deflect +2 and Defending +1. Sam attacks him. Joe chooses block as his active defense. What is Joe's DB?

His DB is 3 (shield DB 1 +2 for Deflect). His Block is 3 + Shield skill / 2 + 1 (shield DB) + 1 (Defending Shield) + 2 (Deflect), and if he has Combat Reflexes +1

Originally Posted by Stripe

2. Sam has a breastplate with Deflect +1 and a small shield (DB 1) with Defending +1. Ron attacks his torso. Sam chooses to block. What is Sam's DB?

His DB is Shield DB 1 + Deflect 1 = 2.
His Block is 3 + shield skill / 2 + 1 (shield DB) + 1 (breastplate Deflect) ( + 1 if Combat Reflexes)

Edit: fixed up and clarified.

[Kromm]

Originally Posted by JMason

Defending Shield grants a bonus to Block, Deflect gives a bonus to DB. While these have the same effect when blocking, they are not the same thing and thus can stack.

Correct. Defense Bonus has nothing to do with Block. It's a bonus to all active defenses, including any weird new ones the GM opts to make up. Block bonuses are effectively increases to Shield skill for defense only. If you really hate Defending Shield as written, have each level include +1 to all rolls with your shield: +1 when you make a shield bash, feint, or rush; +1 to Block; and +1 to anything else that seems to be all about your shield (Captain America . . .).