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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Talislan" data-source="post: 3951615" data-attributes="member: 56858">No, I think maybe you missed my point. I do see what you mean with regards to your personal prefence although you've kind of just emphasised what I was saying. It's not easy to attack effectively while you're busy hiding behind the shield instead of using it to deflect and counter. So Yes, defensively stronger as I tried to make out, but at the price of the, possible, attacking advantages of twf.And right they are too, hence the focus on defence in my discussion. But it doesn't make them easier too attack with compared to someone who isn't encumbered as much.Again valid points. However trained armies used sword and shield in a very specific way. The spartans tailor made defending in one direction and attacking in another and this is why their phalanx was so effective. But what you are describing is unit combat, the creation of a shield wall etc. TWF in unit combat is only useful in skirmish units and situations where the combat breaks down into lots of mini solo battles.In one-on-one encounters there is no distinct combat advantage on the different styles one over another though, as they are used in different ways. One is more defensive in the combat and the other more attacking in the combat. To say that it is harder to defend with two 'weapons' than with a shield is fair. To say that it is also easier to hide behind a sturdy shield is also fair. But to say it is harder to attack with two weapons than with a sword and shield is not. To say that a twf would not have a distinctive counter attack advantage due to speed/unrestricted movement, is sheer folly (IMHO).The fact is the styles balance out in their nature though, and hence it is the experience of the user that defines its usefulness. This is the fact that any combat mechanic needs to get across. Skill tricks, feats and trained abilities in style use need to be balanced to the experience of the wielder not the style.I would point out that I don't think twf should grant automatic extra attacks. The advantage comes in counter and attacks of opportunity, which would be more in abundance than in the fighting style of the man hiding behind the  shield, not in general melee. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> T.</blockquote>

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