• The VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX is coming! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!

Help me build a trippin' shield-bashing dwarf fighter

For my next character, I'd like to make a dawrf fighter that specializes in tripping and shield bashing (for when he's disarmed).
Can you help me build someone like that with WotC-only feats?
My basic plan is this:
He'll have a flail in one hand and a spiked heavy shield in the other.
So, what I expect to need, feat-wise, is this:
Weapon Focus -- Flail
Weapon Focus -- Spiked heavy shield
Combat Expertise
Two-Weapon Fighting
Improved Trip
Improved Shield Bash
Weapon Specialization -- Flail
Weapon Specialization -- Spiked heavy shield

Can you help me map this out as I progress in levels? What's the most important early on?
And are there any additional WotC feats I should be looking into?
 

log in or register to remove this ad



VonRichthofen

First Post
Oversized Two-Weapon Fighting to reduce your rediculous TWF penalty to -2.

I personally wouldn't invest in double Weapon Specialization. Your feats are already taken care for until fighter 8 - better to go for Weapon Specialization (flail) and Melee Weapon Mastery (piercing) - will give you +2 to hit/damage with the shield & +3/+4 with the flail.

What are your stats? You already need a 13 Int & 15 Dex for the build, and tripping calls for high Strength scores.
 
Last edited:



Mighty Halfling said:
Weapon Focus -- Flail
Weapon Focus -- Spiked heavy shield
Combat Expertise
Two-Weapon Fighting
Improved Trip
Improved Shield Bash
Weapon Specialization -- Flail
Weapon Specialization -- Spiked heavy shield

I would change it around, like so...

Fighter 1 Power Attack, Shield Specialization
Fighter 2 Improved Shield Bash
Fighter 3 Weapon Focus [main weapon]
Fighter 4 Weapon Specialization [main weapon]
Fighter 6 Shield Charge, Agile Shield Fighter

I would also consider Shield Ward, Shield Slam, etc.

Shield Specialization will give you +1 shield bonus to AC.
Shield Charge will let trip an opponent on a successful charge w/ a shield.
Agile Shield Fighter will lower your "TWF" penalties to -2 for all attacks.
Shield Ward allows you to use the shield bonus for touch attack defense, etc.
Shield Slam gives you a chance to daze your opponent.
 

VonRichthofen

First Post
Agile Shield Fighter does not synergize with the Two-Weapon Fighting tree, as far as I know.
Thus, if you ever want to make more than one bash/round, you shouldn't take this.
It's basically a one-feat crutch for characters that have a Dex that won't allow for TWF & OTWF.
 



Remove ads

Top