Exotic Shield Proficiency [General, Fighter]

Choose an exotic shield, such as a gauntlet shield or battle cloak. You are proficient with that type of exotic shield.

Prerequisites: Shield Proficiency, base attack bonus +1.

Benefit: You are proficient with a specific type of exotic shield and take no shield nonproficiency penalties when you wear it. (See the Armor and Shields table.)

Normal: A character who is using a shield with which she is not proficient applies its armor check penalty on attack rolls and on all Strength- and Dexterity-based ability checks and skill checks.

Special: As a variant rule, the DM can allow fighters to choose one free Exotic Shield Proficiency feat instead of the Tower Shield Proficiency feat they receive at 1st level.

A fighter may select Exotic Shield Proficiency as one of his fighter bonus feats.

Source: Races of Stone, page 139.