Help on a shield character

[ThoughtBubble]

You folks are scary. How do you come up with all this stuff? I don't think I'd be able to keep track of most of it. But, if I pulled half this stuff, my DM would freak, and half the players in the game would start pouting. Nothing worse than pouting team-mates; except, occasionally, live ones. Yeah, we're none too effective (elven monk, human bard, fighter/rouge that hasn't flanked yet, gnomish barbarian, and a druid who is our goodberry dispenser), and being that good would break things.

As far as my DM's concerns go, he'd prefer me to stay core though he is willing to look at outside sources. However, each ability is on a case by case basis. He also strongly dissaproves of multiclassing to snag an ability or two, then switching classes. I'm also not too likely to get anything more specific than a +1 or +2 shield with some elemental resisitance. Did I mention that he's wary of me becase I'm willing to work a bit extra to try to gain additional measures of efficency?

So, that's looking grim.

However, as a DM..... I think a good shield based character could make a neat NPC. Now, how much of this could make into a mounted Blackguard? Or should I just buy the books allready?

 

[Darklone]

He means that with feats like Shield Charge, Improved Shield Bash, and Divine Shield, the shield is actually a more powerful weapon than most weapons... and that one of the mechanically-scariest TWF builds out there is a dual-shield basher.

-Hyp.

Right. Hyp, I love you.

I'd just like to see a nice distribution of game mechanical advantages between the

• one handed weapon fencer
• sword&shield twink (perhaps spear&shield, something like that)
• twohanded weapon twink
• polearm twink
• two weapons twink
• several ranged combat combinations are not mentioned (but the bow vs. crossbow has been solved nicely!)

Kudos to the D&D designers though, 3rd edition brought a definite improvement to earlier versions of the game in that regard.

You folks are scary.

Thanks. We worked hard on coming up with all sorts of crazy stuff. Just look around for our revered and adored smackdown god Jeremy.

 

[Arc]

I'd just like to see a nice distribution of game mechanical advantages between the

• one handed weapon fencer
• sword&shield twink (perhaps spear&shield, something like that)
• twohanded weapon twink
• polearm twink
• two weapons twink
• several ranged combat combinations are not mentioned (but the bow vs. crossbow has been solved nicely!)

Hmm... I've heard of all of these, except the polearm twink. How in the heck does that one work (setting against a charge, perhaps?)

 

[Hypersmurf]

Hmm... I've heard of all of these, except the polearm twink. How in the heck does that one work (setting against a charge, perhaps?)

Combat Reflexes, Improved Trip/Knockdown, Hold The Line, Movement Check...

Kick 'Em When They're Down from Dragon Magazine, if it's allowed.

A level of Monk and the Training Dummy from A&EG.

Lots of ranks in Tumble.

-Hyp.

 

[ThoughtBubble]

Sorry to drag this one back up from the pits again, but I came up with another question. Could someone explain some workable ways (or books I should look at) for making a good shield cleric. The idea that's sticking in my head is that of a guardian and protector sort. The shield would fit that motif perfectly.


Thanks again.

 

[Darklone]

Devoted Defender is a nice PrClass for bodyguards. Guardian is a KoK PG feat that let's you shield a guy next to you. Work with cover.

Otherwise... check the list above, forget the paladin levels and use cleric. Best with the mentioned domains...

 

[Kae'Yoss]

He also strongly dissaproves of multiclassing to snag an ability or two, then switching classes.

In 3.5, they force you to take at least two levels of ranger or paladin to get the good stuff (ranger - two-weapon fighting, paladin - divine grace), and the duelist PrC won't get more than the class level as defense, no matter how high the INT score is (they have looked into class poaching, obviously)

Did I mention that he's wary of me becase I'm willing to work a bit extra to try to gain additional measures of efficency?

How much efficiency? The kind like "I use a smaller weapon in the off-hand to avoid that additional -2 penalty", or "I take one level monk, one duelist, and one mystic wanderer so I get dex, int, wis, and cha to my AC"?

 

[ThoughtBubble]

Pretty much any level of efficiency beyond using a small weapon in the off hand comes under scruteny. Trying to purchase a mighty composite longbow was looked at with a bit of suspicion. I know for sure he's against the idea of me picking up a wand of cure light wounds (which I've been looking for). Multiclassing into ranger to get TWF or paladin to get divine grace? That'd tweak him fairly badly, but he wouldn't say no, just mutter about it.

I think that just to maintain his level of sanity (and the group's general tolarance of me) that any class I would take I should put a few levels into, or make my choices seem somewhat arbitrary and organic.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Trying to purchase a mighty composite longbow was looked at with a bit of suspicion.

!?

-Hyp.

 

[ThoughtBubble]

"Ok, what's this 'mighty' thing do?"

"It lets me add my strength bonus to my arrow damage."

"You can't do that."

"Sure I can, let me look it up... See, it's right there."

"Hmm... I'm going to have to think about that."

The final answer was an OK. But given events this far, he's a little reluctant to let me try much. At least, he's reluctant without making me well aware of the fact that he's letting me "get away with something".