Class Acts: Fighter focusing on shields!

[mneme]

I was just very disappointed that the "attack" exploits were all basically "Whack 'Em With Shield". I think that a more interesting and thematic focus for sword & board wielders would have been on attacks which GUARD others, as you are choosing a guardian fighter build. I would like to have seen Encounter and Daily powers which, like some that are currently available, interrupted attacks on others, or moved you into the line of the fray, or let your allies get out of the fight.

I'm not sure you read the same powers I did.

Shield Riposte: When an enemy adjacent to you attacks someone, push them (away from your allies) and shift next to them, pinning them in place. Oh, and do some damage.

Shove and slap: push an enemy a long way away, and do some damage to them, shift, and daze another enemy. (so, basically, render two foes less able to reach your allies). Oh, and do some damage to the first foe and tiny damage to the second one.

Shielding Shove (utility): push your ally 3 squares (out of harm's way, or maybe next to the creature with a huge reach); mark an enemy and make it harder for them to get away.

Immediate Vengence: when an enemy adjacent to you hits someone, smack them and weaken them for a turn as an immediate interrupt (thus taking half their damage onto your shield).

Unexpected Shield Bash: 3d10+Str damage...and mark everything in 5. This is the first one (aside from the at-will) that's not super-defensive/controlly, and marking everything in 5 still helps defend your allies.

Intimidating Reminder: enemies adjacent to you get -2 to fort. This is mostly a utility to help your other shield attacks (which all attack Fort) hit.

Armored Assault: Knocks an enemy prone and slides it (away from your allies)

Shield and a Hard Place: Grab an enemy (stop them from running off to attack your allies). Does good damage too, and has a nice image.

Shield Deflection: ok, this is only a self-defense(sort of), though it's very much using a shield as a shield. Mind, this is a utility whose entire purpose is an Immediate Interrupt attack. Weird, huh?

Shield Bearer's Vendetta: Guilty as charged; this is really a solid II great weapon fighter-style attack for guardian fighters; revenge rather than prevention. It does daze and lock down a close burst of enemies, though.

Unstoppable Force: Knocks a whole bunch of guys prone. Pretty offensive other than that, thought.

Shield Clamor: Mark everything in a close burst 5, and if they attack your friends you can charge to the rescue as an immediate interrupt and knock them prone/with HBO/Tide of Iron (or the snapping testudo utility, shielded aggression), push them away from the target of the attack.

Mostly, this stuff seems to be building on Tide of Iron -- which is, after all, a mainstay for guardian fighters.

 

[Garthanos]

So let's see. You can fight with:

Unarmed
One-handed weapon and one hand empty
Dual-wielding one-handed weapons
Two-handed weapon
One-handed weapon and shield
Shield and shield

At this point I think we should just jump directly to wearing a Kukri and dual-wielding Plate armor.

How about Captain America style... one hand empty and the other with shield... are there any throwing shield abilities ;-)

 

[Akaiku]

One should be choosing the tempest build and going in with two spiked shields. That's the path to power.

Sadly, for some reason, it won't let you pick a spiked shield that you are dual wielding as your weapon for tide of iron in the character builder...

 

[Ferghis]

Anyone else notice that the level 1 daily is an encounter power. That has to be a typo. Right?