Armor and Shield Focus Feats

[Creamsteak]

I'm not saying that I use these, but a player brought up the subject with me, and I figured these boards would be as good a place as any to find out what everyone's opinions are of these.

Here is what my player stated to me:

"I want to be able to focus on a particular type of armor and get a better armor class because I train in that armor more, can't I?"

I then went over the fact that I havn't seen such a feat or skill published that works quite like that. I did point out that I would agree that characters could be developed that way... but he would have to be more exact. After an hour of me explaining stacking and stuff, he told me that he wanted to add a dodge bonus.

"What if I take a feat that gives me a +1 dodge bonus for wearing a particular suit of armor."

I told him that although you could get better at dodging in a suit of armor... it doesn't make sense for you to miss that dodge bonus for wearing no armor at all.

"What about an increased armor bonus?"

I told him that it wasn't very realistic that your armor bonus would go up. I offered him an Armor Focus Feat that did the following: Lowers Armor check Penalty by 1 point (even masterwork). I told him that it would be for a category, such as light, medium, or heavy. I also told him he could take the same feat for shields.

The only issue that has come up is that he can equip shields (except tower) now without any armor check penalty. In-play it hasn't had any real affect on combat except for the one time he jumped over a table to attack some kobolds with crossbows behind them.

The feat seems like a bad feat: because it is weak... but he really likes them. Seems to be fine to me.

Looks like 4 adequate feats were created out of the simplest thing. Now he is asking me if he can take Armor Specialization. This catches me more off guard, so I told him he needs 4 levels in fighter first.

He is already a 2nd level fighter and working his way up. What kind of feat should I develop for him to improve his focus further without making it pointless?

 

[Knight Otu]

Hi, creamsteak!

I can't say anything from the top of my head, but the Rokugan sourcebook has a feat called armor focus - basically, it gives a +2 dodge bonus when wearing the chosen type of armor. It would seem that a dodge bonus might not be that much out of place?

 

[the Jester]

These are the ones I have in my campaign, both for armor and shield:

Armor Optimization [General, Fighter]
You can move more freely in armor.
Prerequisite: Proficiency in armor.
Benefit: Choose light, medium or heavy armor.l When wearing that type of armor its maximum dex bonus is increased by one.
Special: You can take this feat three times (once each for heavy, medium and light armor).

Armor Master [General, Fighter]
You know how to use your armor for maximum protection.
Prerequisite: Armor optimization
Benefit: When in optimized armor (not a shield) its armor bonus is considered one higher than normal due to your skill with it.

Improved Shield Use [General, Fighter]
You are especially adept with your shield.
Prerequisite: Proficiency
Benefit: When you use a small or large shield in combat the armor bonus it provides increases by one.

Lock Shields [General, Fighter]
You can lock your shield with those of your companions on either side of you to provide cover.
Prerequisites: Base attack +3, Dual Strike, Improved Shield Use
Benefit: To use this feat all allies locking shields must have it. You and your allies stand in a straight line and form a shield wall. You must be using large shields to perform this maneuver (bucklers and small shields are too small and tower shields already provide cover). All members of the shield wall have 50% cover (+4 AC) in lieu of their normal shield bonus. You and your allies also receive a +4 circumstance bonus on opposed checks against effects that would break the wall (including bull rushes, grapples, trips, etc.) While locking shields you and your allies can move together at a speed no greater than a normal move for the slowest member of the group.

Shield Mastery [General, Fighter]
You can use your shield better than most and are adept at blocking blows with it.
Prerequisites: Base attack +8, Improved Shield Use, Shield Expert
Benefit: When using a shield in combat, you may sacrifice one attack to ready a shield-block against one attack made by any enemy in melee with you later in the round. You may only do this as part of a full attack action, giving up one of your attacks of your choice. The shield-block is made at the base attack of the attack you gave up. This shield-block takes the place of your regular shield bonus against that attack, and any enhancement bonus on the shield counts as a bonus to your opposed roll.

Shield Wall [General, Fighter]
You are trained to use your shield to control movement on the field of battle.
Prerequisites: Improved Shield Use, Shield Expert
Benefit: When you are wielding a shield and hit someone with it with an attack of opportunity caused by their movement you may halt their movement in the square in which you hit them.

I hope those help some, I think I originally found one of them here a long time ago (back in the Eric Noah days...)