buffing the SHIELD rules

One of the enWorld threads that I had bookmarked before the crash was all about houserules that others are using for buffing the shield rules. I'm very interested in resurrecting that discussion.

As I recall:

(a) one houserule adds a +1 enhancement to all shields larger than a buckler;
(b) another added +1 across the board;
(c) still another proposed doubling all shield bonuses.

Please weigh in.

Note: edited a few for clarity and name changes

In reality sword and board is much better than two weapon fighting if properly trained (in this case by having the right feats). Two weapon fighting is also pretty subpar without feats, so I definitely think adding feats for shields is the way to go.

Ideas:

Shield Focus: add +1 to defending with shield.

Shield Block: after successful shield bash, opponent must make Reflex save DC 10 + damage dealt, or you may make an AoO against them as you force them to create an opening.

Improved Shield Block: (prereq Shield Block) if someone makes an AoO on you and misses, you use your shield to create an opening in their defenses, granting you an AoO.

Greater Shield Bash: (prereq Improved Shield Bash) on successful shield bash, opponent cannot make full attack on their next turn if they fail Ref save DC 10 + damage dealt

Shield Disarm: (prereq Improved Disarm) if you use the total defense action while using a shield, you may make a free disarm attempt against any opponent that attacks and misses you. He may not make a disarm attempt against you if you fail.

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Modifications to existing feats

Combat Expertise: you gain twice the bonus to AC when using a shield.

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Other feats that shield users could make great use out of

Draw Attackers: All opponents wielding melee weapons for whom you are within reach, must make a Will save DC 10 + 1/2 your level + Cha mod or be drawn to either make at least one melee attack against you on their next turn or not make melee attacks at all.

Just a few ideas

reanjr I agree that a feat tree would be the way to go, but I am not sure about the 'create an AoO' twist...
Of course, I don't have much to add in that regard either

One HR I banter about, and forgot to save the out of the shield improvement thread was a relatively simple change. It went something like:

You can spend an AoO or an Action point to block an attack with your shield *. The attack must first overcome the shields hardness and hit points before damaging you. The shield loses 1 point of AC protection and 2 points of hardness for each 10 points of damage done to it. If the shields hps are exceeded, it is completely destroyed.
Keep in mind that each plus of a magical shield adds +2 to the hardness and +10 hit points.

* You must annouce this after the attack succeeds but before damage is rolled
* this means an object striking and dealing damage, not area effect spells, rays, etc..

{added}
Feat: Shield Expert
You have learned to better utilized your shield to defend yourself. You gain a dodge bonus equal to the number of attacks you may take in a full attack action.

Feat: Improved Shield Block [General/Fighter]
Prereq: BAB +4, Shield Expert
You excell at protecting your weak spots. When blocking an attack with your shield, the attacks critical multiplier is reduced by 1 and the shield gains +5 hardness against the attack.

Feat: Greater Improved Shield Block [General/Fighter]
Prereq: BAB +8, Improved Shield Block
You have mastered the defensive art of the shield. When blocking an attack with your shield, the attacks critical multiplier is further reduced by 1 {total of 2} and the shield gains +5 hardness against the attack {total of +10}

Feat: Deflecting Shield [General/Fighter]
Prereq: 5 ranks in Spellcraft, Shield Expert
You have learned to deflect energy attacks. You can perform a shield block against elemental energy attacks that offer a REF save, like draconic breath weapons, area affect spells, and rays. Additionally, you gain a +5 bonus to the REF save against the attack.

Feat: Improved Deflecting Shield [General/Fighter]
Prereq: Deflecting Shield
You have mastered the deflection of energy attacks. When blocking an energy attack with your shield, the shield gains +10 hardness and you gain a +5 bonus to the REF save against the attack. {total of +10}


This adds a bit of chicken scratch on the side of the character sheet.
Last time through, the idea was picked apart and improved on.. wish I had saved it!

I've been toying with giving all shields a bit of coverage. Maybe 10% for bucklers, on up to the tower shield's 50%.

RustyHalo said:

One of the enWorld threads that I had bookmarked before the crash was all about houserules that others are using for buffing the shield rules. I'm very interested in resurrecting that discussion.

As I recall:

(a) one houserule adds a +1 enhancement to all shields larger than a buckler;
(b) another added +1 across the board;
(c) still another proposed doubling all shield bonuses.

Please weigh in.

Click to expand...

Well as it's a tool, (being active in it's use, instead of just passive armour) I thiink it should be treated as are weapons and give each shield type it's own dice value, small = 1d4 (or 1d2, 1d3), med = 1d6 (or 1d4, 1d5), etc

maybe,

I dont use shields often, too much of a liability, but when I do, I go all out....tower shields with protrusions and blades.

Primitive Screwhead said:

reanjr I agree that a feat tree would be the way to go, but I am not sure about the 'create an AoO' twist...
Of course, I don't have much to add in that regard either

Click to expand...

Well, my reasoning is that when you watch someone fight with a sword and shield, they are oftentimes trying to use the shield aggressively to push aside the opponent's sword and/or shield to create an opening for attack. Just seemed like a reasonable ability for shields to do, even though in D&D shields and AoOs seem miles apart.

librarius_arcana said:

Well as it's a tool, (being active in it's use, instead of just passive armour) I thiink it should be treated as are weapons and give each shield type it's own dice value, small = 1d4 (or 1d2, 1d3), med = 1d6 (or 1d4, 1d5), etc

maybe,

Click to expand...

On the note of treating it as a weapon, one could allow the offhand shield attack to be used as the DC for a single attack if it exceeds the user's normal AC. The attack would be chosen by the use before the attack is made. If you gain more than one attack per round with the shield, you could use any of the attacks in this same manner. Would be more beneficial to fighters and paladins, too, which seems right.

I think the 2 shield feats in PHBII are good feats to use.

In addition:

Shields grant an additional +1 shield bonus for every 4 BAB of the weilder. This only applies to shield worn, animated shields do not recieve this bonus.

You can tweak the BAB to whatever you want, 4, 3,7, whatever.

reanjr said:

Well, my reasoning is that when you watch someone fight with a sword and shield, they are oftentimes trying to use the shield aggressively to push aside the opponent's sword and/or shield to create an opening for attack. Just seemed like a reasonable ability for shields to do, even though in D&D shields and AoOs seem miles apart.

Click to expand...

That makes sense... and I think this option could go alongside what I am scritching at...
The only thing I don't like is that IMO, AoO's should be things drawn, not created.


speaking of, I added a couple thoughts that wandered into my brain the other night.. what do you think of the concept?