2 weapon fighting

[Jdvn1]

And there is another option. Buy +1 Animated Shield (or something better). Now you don't need a feat to get a shield bonus.

True, but I'm often hurting for money, and Animated is +2. So you're dropping at least 9k on a shield. The feat is also a little more flexible because you can also get a new buckler.

 

[Shellman]

Look for the new feats out of Complete Adventurer or Complete Warrior to up your AC:

Improved Two Weapon Defense and

Greater Two Weapon Defense

I use the Two weapon defense feats to up my AC, because they apply against all attacks against me while I fight with two weapons, whereas dodge only applies against attacks from one designated foe.

 

[Caeleddin]

There is a reason why Improved Shield Bash is a great substitute. Sure, it only gives you 1d6 instead of 1d8 or higher as base damage with a heavy spiked shield, but at higher levels, that is the last of your worries. With that single feat, you get the benefit of two feats AND an extra equipment slot (shield and spikes are considered separate items). Last, but not least, no one said that you have to wear the shield on your off-hand to gain the shield AC. Wear it on your primary hand and wield your shortsword in the off-hand. No extra penalties.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Last, but not least, no one said that you have to wear the shield on your off-hand to gain the shield AC. Wear it on your primary hand and wield your shortsword in the off-hand. No extra penalties.

Well, yeah, there are. You only deal half Str bonus to damage with the shield, whichever hand you use.

Shield Bash Attacks: You can bash an opponent with a shield, using it as an off-hand weapon.

-Hyp.

 

[Caeleddin]

Hyp - I read that as "LIKE an off-hand weapon in addition to your normal attack", not "it must be used as an off-hand weapon". The difference is that you can designate the shield as the primary hand with the former, but not with the latter. Is that the wrong interpretation?

 

[Infiniti2000]

Hyp - I read that as "LIKE an off-hand weapon in addition to your normal attack", not "it must be used as an off-hand weapon". The difference is that you can designate the shield as the primary hand with the former, but not with the latter. Is that the wrong interpretation?

Even if you wear the shield on your primary hand, as Hyp's quote clearly shows, it's used as an off-hand weapon. It doesn't state the obvious that if held in an off-hand, it's an off-hand weapon, it merely states that a shield bash attack is an off-hand weapon, period.

 

[PrinceZane]

Hmmm, interesting material.

How much damage does the spiked armor do? Assuming d6.

If your using TWF defense, and a buckler, do the 2 bonuses stack? Offhand I'm thinking they're both shield bonuses but I could be wrong...

 

[Caeleddin]

Infiniti - OK, then. Back to the spiked armour combo, then That one is still legal.


PrinceZane - d6. TWD is a shield effect (ie., gives shield AC bonus), so it doesn't stack.

 

[Shellman]

No, TWD and a buckler shield bonuses do not stack. However, you can gain Imp TWD and Greater TWD to increase the shield bonus and if you make one of the weapons a defending weapon, you could apply the weapons enhancement bonus to AC as well.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

No, TWD and a buckler shield bonuses do not stack. However, you can gain Imp TWD and Greater TWD to increase the shield bonus and if you make one of the weapons a defending weapon, you could apply the weapons enhancement bonus to AC as well.

Also, note that Improved Buckler Defense doesn't get rid of that nasty -1 to hit. OTOH, the TWD feat chain requires three feats to get a +3 shield bonus, which you could get for 4000 gp with a +2 buckler.

If you were to use a double weapon, one of the Exotic Weapon Master abilities gives you a +1 shield bonus when using a double weapon, but that costs a class level.

Brad