Please Rate Improved Shield Bash

[smetzger]

Improved Shield Bash [General]
You can push opponents back by bashing them with your shield.
Prerequisites: Power Attack.
Benefit: Any shield bash you make with a small or large shield also affects your opponent as if you had performed a bull rush. You don't actually move into your opponent's square or incur attacks of opportunity for the bash. You also can't move your opponent back more than 5 feet, nor can you move along with the
defender. You can't use this feat with a buckler.

 

[Gaiden]

My god, this feat makes improved bull rush practically obsolete.
Not only do you get your damage, but you also get to get a free bull rush in w/o provoking an AoO that is automatically successful!!! The only reason anyone would ever select bull rush over this feat is if they wanted to move the person more than 5' which if you have had any experience with this feat usually does not amount to anything more than an additional 5' - and even that rarely happens.

Finally, it is a prereq for an even more powerful feat - shield charge.

I rate it as a 9 (and am absolutely shocked someone gave this feat a 1).

 

[JoeBlank]

smetzger, I like your polls and they often open my eyes to a feat I had looked at in depth. However, my feeble mind thinks "Wow, Improved Shield Bash is a cool feat," and then a month later I don't remember it at all.

Are the results of your extensive polling compiled somewhere?

 

[Kraedin]

The person who gave it a 1 was probably a sheild bash fighter. This feat makes it really hard (impossible) to make a full attack action with your shield.

On the other hand, it's very good for knocking people off of cliffs and into pools of lava, so I give a 6.

 

[CRGreathouse]

This one's kind of hard. On its own, Shield Bash isn't that great -- perhaps a 4 or 5. Combined with other DotF feats, though, this turns out to be awesomely powerful.

 

[Gaiden]

Kraedin The person who gave it a 1 was probably a sheild bash fighter. This feat makes it really hard (impossible) to make a full attack action with your shield.

Not sure if you are talking about shield charge or improved shield bash. There is nothing stopping someone from making a full attack against the person they improved shield bashed. First, the don't have to use the feat. Second, until you get more than two attacks, the issue is moot as you can take a 5' step (notice yours doesn't provoke an AoO) and get in the second attack. Moreover, a shield bash does not prevent you from attacking others within your threat range. Finally, there is always monkey grip for use with a reach weapon so that you can still threaten the opponent.

In fact, the very sheild bashing PC I made had EWP - spiked chain, PA, ambidexterity, TWF, MG - spiked chain, ISB, SC with spiked shield and spiked armor going for shield expert, improved trip, knockdown, and a few other feats. He was named Spike.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

I gave it a '6'.

It opens up some weird new tactics without much downside (except you have to attack with your shield).

5' movement isn't a big deal tactically unless it creates AoOs on the target. Hmm... I just reread the section on bull rush and it does look like the target provokes AoOs for being moved.

The potential for synergies with other feats and good teamwork to exploit AoOs is huge.

I should have given it an '8'.

 

[Kraedin]

First, the don't have to use the feat.

Any shield bash you make with a small or large shield also affects your opponent as if you had performed a bull rush.

Yes, you do.

 

[maddman75]

I gained a new respect for all forms of bull rush when my players developed the tactic of the cleric dropping a Blade Barrier into a mess of bad guys, then the fighters pushing those who made their save back inside....

 

[Rel]

I gave it a 7. It isn't for everybody, but my Ranger/Cleric who used two spiked shields was a hell of a lot of fun to play. You can develop some neat tactics with this feat and the fact that it is a stepping stone to Shield Charge is just gravy.