Q: It is possible to stack the passive bonuses of a shield in each hand?
Only if you have Improved Shield Bash 5. You could fight with a shield in each hand using Two Weapon Fighting, but you would not get to stack the bonuses for the ‘weapon hand’ shield (and would lose the off hand bonuses if you attacked with your off hand and did not have Improved Shield Bash 1).
Q: If you have the Shield Mastery feats that grant you active defense while using a shield, is it possible to stack the active defense of a shield in each hand?
See the Shield Mastery link for details.
Shields and Armor Check Penalties
You suffer the armor check penalty for all shields you are currently using, regardless of whether you are using them for defense or for attack.
The only way you don't suffer ACP for a shield is if you are not using it (e.g. if you've slung it over your back so you can use a two-handed weapon). In that case, the shield is treated just like any other piece of equipment for encumbrance purposes.
Tower Shields
Q: Should we use the d20 FAQ rules for Tower Shields in Iron Heroes?
I would use the d20 FAQ rules, as they certainly appear to be an improvement on the SRD.
Remember that in Iron Heroes you can take a fast completion challenge (or two) to still use your move action for useful tasks.
As a non-attack standard action, the assume total cover action does attract an attack of opportunity, but not from people against whom you gain cover or total cover due to the action (since cover negates Attacks of Opportunity). If you have a guy to the left of you, one to the right of you, and one to the right/front diagonal, and you use the action against the guy to the right, the guy to the left is the only one who gets an Attack of Opportunity.
Q: Does a tower shield being used as total cover count as an obstacle that blocks movement for the purposes of a diagonal move?
Yes.
Q: Also: while using a tower shield as cover, do you still gain its passive defense bonus against other attacks?
No.
Bucklers
Bucklers have their own entry in the FAQ.
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