Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
Shield Block Feat - Your Thoughts?
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="the_bruiser" data-source="post: 1357858" data-attributes="member: 6126"><p>Greetings all. I've gotten such great feedback from you guys in the past that I thought I'd run a new house rule by you. </p><p></p><p><strong>The Situation:</strong></p><p>I have two fighters in the party I'm DMing, with roughly equivalent BAB and strength bonuses. One of them uses a greatsword (we'll call him GS), one a longsword & shield (we'll call him LSS). Now, LSS does significantly less damage than GS, with approximatetly the same likelihood of hitting. In theory, this is offset by the armor class bonuses the LSS gets from his shield. In practice, the trade-off doesn't seem to be even, especially with the new 3.5 2x power attack rules for GS.</p><p></p><p>For the record, LSS has never once complained about this. His likes LSS for character reasons. So it's not a case of a player complaining that "I'm not powerful enough!" So no need for anti-min-maxing responses <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />. I'm just looking for a longer-term way to make the LSS style more balanced vs. GS.</p><p></p><p><strong>The Concept:</strong></p><p>Shields do not provide merely passive defense (via armor class) but can provide active defense as well, in the form of Blocks. In concept, this active defense should be more beneficial in situations more like single combat, where the number of attacks is fewer - active blocking should be much less effective, for instance, when surrounded by many foes. Further, a large shield should be better at blocking larger weapons, while a small shield should be more effective at blocking smaller weapons. </p><p></p><p>In my opinion, the feat should meet these criteria in order to effectively implement my concept. </p><p></p><p><strong>The Feat:</strong></p><p>Shield Block: When not flat footed, characters with Shield Block may make one block attempt per round against an attack that would otherwise hit them. When a hit has been scored against the character, but before damage is rolled, the character must announce his block attempt. The block attempt is an opposed attack roll vs. the attack roll made by the opponent. If the block roll meets or exceeds the opponent's attack roll, that attack is blocked. The block roll bonus consists of BAB, Strength, and Shield Enhancement Bonus, modified by a -4 penalty for any size difference between the shield and the weapon being blocked (in either direction). The character does not suffer penalties for attacking with two weapons, nor does he lose his shield bonus to armor class. </p><p></p><p><strong>An Example:</strong></p><p>Someone with a greatsword (GS) attacks the character, who uses a longsword and shield (LSS). He hits, with a 25. LSS has a block bonus of +14, from +9 BAB, +3 STR, and +2 shield. LSS needs a block roll of 11 to successfully block the attempt. </p><p></p><p><strong>Other Comments:</strong></p><p>I've done some extensive analysis of this in excel which I will be happy to provide for anyone interested. Functionally, this turns a single combat between GS and LSS from GS' favor into LSS' favor, so in that manner some might think the advantage from this feat is TOO great. To mitigate this argument, I must point out that (i) it does cost a feat, and (ii) this superiority is only true in single combat, or when the character is subject to a small number of attacks. In more general terms, when fighting against a larger number of foes, GS will still be the superior mechanical choice. So, what this feat does is create *some* circumstance in which the LSS is superior. </p><p></p><p>What are your thoughts? I've provided a poll (or at least I intend to, if I can figure out how) so that those of you who do not feel like commenting specifically can still make a quick declaration of opinion. </p><p></p><p>Thanks for any feedback you can provide!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="the_bruiser, post: 1357858, member: 6126"] Greetings all. I've gotten such great feedback from you guys in the past that I thought I'd run a new house rule by you. [B]The Situation:[/B] I have two fighters in the party I'm DMing, with roughly equivalent BAB and strength bonuses. One of them uses a greatsword (we'll call him GS), one a longsword & shield (we'll call him LSS). Now, LSS does significantly less damage than GS, with approximatetly the same likelihood of hitting. In theory, this is offset by the armor class bonuses the LSS gets from his shield. In practice, the trade-off doesn't seem to be even, especially with the new 3.5 2x power attack rules for GS. For the record, LSS has never once complained about this. His likes LSS for character reasons. So it's not a case of a player complaining that "I'm not powerful enough!" So no need for anti-min-maxing responses :). I'm just looking for a longer-term way to make the LSS style more balanced vs. GS. [B]The Concept:[/B] Shields do not provide merely passive defense (via armor class) but can provide active defense as well, in the form of Blocks. In concept, this active defense should be more beneficial in situations more like single combat, where the number of attacks is fewer - active blocking should be much less effective, for instance, when surrounded by many foes. Further, a large shield should be better at blocking larger weapons, while a small shield should be more effective at blocking smaller weapons. In my opinion, the feat should meet these criteria in order to effectively implement my concept. [B]The Feat:[/B] Shield Block: When not flat footed, characters with Shield Block may make one block attempt per round against an attack that would otherwise hit them. When a hit has been scored against the character, but before damage is rolled, the character must announce his block attempt. The block attempt is an opposed attack roll vs. the attack roll made by the opponent. If the block roll meets or exceeds the opponent's attack roll, that attack is blocked. The block roll bonus consists of BAB, Strength, and Shield Enhancement Bonus, modified by a -4 penalty for any size difference between the shield and the weapon being blocked (in either direction). The character does not suffer penalties for attacking with two weapons, nor does he lose his shield bonus to armor class. [B]An Example:[/B] Someone with a greatsword (GS) attacks the character, who uses a longsword and shield (LSS). He hits, with a 25. LSS has a block bonus of +14, from +9 BAB, +3 STR, and +2 shield. LSS needs a block roll of 11 to successfully block the attempt. [B]Other Comments:[/B] I've done some extensive analysis of this in excel which I will be happy to provide for anyone interested. Functionally, this turns a single combat between GS and LSS from GS' favor into LSS' favor, so in that manner some might think the advantage from this feat is TOO great. To mitigate this argument, I must point out that (i) it does cost a feat, and (ii) this superiority is only true in single combat, or when the character is subject to a small number of attacks. In more general terms, when fighting against a larger number of foes, GS will still be the superior mechanical choice. So, what this feat does is create *some* circumstance in which the LSS is superior. What are your thoughts? I've provided a poll (or at least I intend to, if I can figure out how) so that those of you who do not feel like commenting specifically can still make a quick declaration of opinion. Thanks for any feedback you can provide! [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
Shield Block Feat - Your Thoughts?
Top