Need help getting 'effective' shield bash

[Herzog]

I've got a character with Improved Shield Bash, and I'd like to use it as part of a full attack. However, with the standard TWF rules I get hit with a far too large penalty for it to be interesting.

The problem:
1. I only have a DEX of 10, so taking the TWF feat is not an option
2. I'm restricted to PHB, DMG Complete Arcane, Complete Divine, Complete Warrior and Complete Adventurer, so the Agile Shield Fighter from PHII is not an option.

My only option currently is to go with TWF from ranger, but since that would imply only using light armor, and considering my low DEX, I'm not sure that's a good option, and abandoning the whole thing might be a better idea.

However, I'm hoping someone here has an inspired idea how to reduce the TWF penalties using the source material given (and repeated here):
-Player Handbook
-Dungeon Master Guide
-Complete Arcane
-Complete Divine
-Complete Warrior
-Complete Adventurer

My current build is (please don't ask why...):
Race: Dwarf
Expert 2/Fighter 2/Spellthief 1/Ranger 1
Stats:
STR 16,
DEX 10,
CON 18,
INT 8,
WIS 12,
CHA 13
Feats:Weapon Focus (throwing axe), Nimble Fingers, Improved Shield Bash, Skill Focus (Blacksmithing), Improved Initiative
Skillranks: Appraise 1, Craft (Armorsmithing) 1, Craft (Blacksmithing) 6,
Craft(Carpentry) 5, Craft (Locksmithing) 1,
Craft(Weaponsmithing) 2, Disable Device 5, Handle Animal 1, Knowledge
(Dungeoneering) 1, Open Lock 4, Speak Language 1
Knowledge(Arcana) 4, Spell Craft 3
Bab 4 Fort 5 Ref 2 Will 5


I am in the process of moving my 'Expert' levels to 'Master' levels (from the 'War of the Lance' sourcebook), probably (re)gaining some skillpoints and getting a bonus feat.

I'm building towards Occult Slayer, and also plan to take the Mage Slayer feat and maybe even Pierce Magical Protection.

The game will probably stop after level 12, but on the off chance it goes on any suggestions beyond that are welcome too.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

I suggest you drop something for Ranger 2 so you can actually TWF, as the only other options to do so with dex 10 are in other books (Gloves of the Balanced Hand and Agile Shield Fighter, maybe others).

 

[Herzog]

Since I was already considering taking Ranger 2 at my next level, that remains an option. However, that still leaves me with a pretty low AC when combing light armor with a DEX of 10.

Given that Ranger TWF would be the option to go, what suggestions do you have for optimizing AC?

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Well, certainly get Dex items when you can...

Other than that, AC boosts would be using the typical avenues: Mithral Breastplate, heavy shield (I'd get the bashing property instead of raising it to + when you have the money; bashing is worth much more than +1 AC), ring of protection, natural armor, dusty rose iuon stone... Always upgrading the cheapest things first, with preference to things that add to touch AC (iuon stone before raising RoP from +1 to +2; get RoP before getting natural armor +1, etc...).

With your dex, you'd be best off using spells like Blur to gain a miss chance instead of optimizing your AC, I think. Not sure where you're going with the build, but spellthief might help for that. Which reminds me...wouldn't the Mage Slayer feats completely override almost all of the benefits a spellthief has over a normal rogue? Seems like a bad idea to me.

Have you looked at the shield feats in C.Warrior? I think they're called Shield Charge and Shield Slam. Not nearly as useful as PH2 or other sources' shield feats, but you gotta make do with what you're allowed...

 

[Empirate]

I know that's not what you asked for, but may I suggest forgetting shield bash, even shields altogether, and simply go for the biggest two-handed weapon you can find? A Greataxe or Greatsword sound about ideal. That way, you can ignore all the hate WotC poured over the (historically optimal) sword-and-board fighting style...

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

WotC partly corrected the hate with later books, I've made decent shield users with that material open. But...in the OP's case he cannot do that. It is absolutely woefully suboptimal, no argument. We can try to help if that's what he wants to do, though.

 

[Herzog]

Well, certainly get Dex items when you can...

Well, yes, I figured that

Mithral Breastplate

Good one! I always forget mithral does that to medium/heavy armor.

Heavy shield (I'd get the bashing property instead of raising it to + when you have the money; bashing is worth much more than +1 AC),

I actually already have a magical heavy shield. Getting it improved with the 'Bashing' property might be a bit costly? I'd have to look that one up.

ring of protection, natural armor, dusty rose iuon stone... Always upgrading the cheapest things first, with preference to things that add to touch AC (iuon stone before raising RoP from +1 to +2; get RoP before getting natural armor +1, etc...).

Good advice. I'll see what I can get my hands on.

With your dex, you'd be best off using spells like Blur to gain a miss chance instead of optimizing your AC, I think. Not sure where you're going with the build, but spellthief might help for that. Which reminds me...wouldn't the Mage Slayer feats completely override almost all of the benefits a spellthief has over a normal rogue? Seems like a bad idea to me.

As I said, I'm going for Occult Slayer. I actually took the spellthief dip to get Knowledge (Arcana) and Spellcraft as class skills because of the OS requirements.
I don't have any spellcasting from that single level (apart from stolen 0 or 1st lvl spells) so I'm not really going to get penalized by the Mage Slayer CL penalties.

Have you looked at the shield feats in C.Warrior? I think they're called Shield Charge and Shield Slam. Not nearly as useful as PH2 or other sources' shield feats, but you gotta make do with what you're allowed...

I'll take another look at them, but I think I'll stay with the Mage Slayer feats...

 

[Dandu]

Have you considered committing seppuku and starting over?

 

[Herzog]

'Death is not an option'

I must admit I was not entirely happy with the build of the character as it was given to me. In case anyone cares: It's Flint Fireforge, and he was a Expert 2/Fighter 2 NPC before I joined the campaign, which is THE dragonlance campaign. I've managed to convice the DM of some slight changes (removed Power Attack because Flint's main weapon is light and unusable for power attacking, changed some skills around) and have now convinced him of rebuilding the two Expert levels into Master levels (which is still not optimal for a melee class but a significant improvement when compared to Expert).

I've played with this DM before, and this time I was more prepared for the 'restrictions' he has put into play. Don't think I'm the most penalized character: Tasslehof is a Rogue/Bard/Handler, who can't get good ranged Sneak Attacks because the DM has prohibited Raistlin from taking Improved Invisibility....

Anyway, I'm really not complaining. Just trying to get the most out of what I consider, if nothing else, an interesting build....

 

[Dandu]

The epic heroes of the Lance are not so epic.

Exactly how much freedom do you have with these characters? Can you retool their skills?