Shield Charge damage?

[Legildur]

Okay, my dwarven Bbr4/Rgr4 (18 Str) is looking at taking the Shield Charge feat.

He already has Power Attack, Improved Shield Bash, Shield Expert, Track, and the Ranger virtual feats of Ambidexterity and Two-Weapon Fighting.

The combination of feats seems useful at times, having a +1 shield of bashing that both acts as a weapon (1d8/x2) and still keeping the +3 armor bonus is neat. However, the Improved Shield Bash hasn't really proven to be a big success (the chance to bull rush 5' on a successul hit), but given it is a prerequisite for Shield Charge it may prove of use in the end.

My question is, how much damage would my dwarf do on a successful charge attack with the shield?

Does the damage bonus from Str get halved for it being the off-hand attack?

I think it is halved (which is how he has been attacking with it as a second weapon), but want to be sure before I reach 9th level and get a rare feat choice. Does the situation change when attacking with only weapon for the round?

I think it would be 2d8+6 damage on a successful shield charge (let's not complicate with the Rage at this point). But of course I'd like it to be 2d8+10

 

[LokiDR]

Ambidex allows you to use either hand just as effectively as the other, which means if you are only using one weapon, the shield, you get your full strength.

On a succesful charge, your should deal 1d8 base damage, +1 for the shield being considered a +1 weapon, and your full str modifier of 4 all times 2. In other words, 2d8+10.

For the true munchkin, add rino hide armor to make the damage triple instead of double.

 

[Legildur]

Thanks for that LokiDR, that really helps. Shield Charge at 9th level it is

But the Rhino Hide is a medium armor and would preclude the virtual feats from the Ranger. So, no joy there. Currently using +2 mithral chain shirt to maintain mobility (dwarf with fast movement and infravision and good search skill combined with stone cunning makes him a pretty good lead scout as well).

 

[DantesFury]

Where does it list the damage from shields?? Book & Page??

 

[reapersaurus]

But the Rhino Hide is a medium armor and would preclude the virtual feats from the Ranger. So, no joy there.

Ya, that sucks about that - you just gotta get a suit of armor made that does the same thing, but is Light Armor.
Shoul;d cost the same.

 

[LokiDR]

Where does it list the damage from shields?? Book & Page??

Shield of Bashing, magic enhancement. See DMG or SRD

 

[Rel]

Where does it list the damage from shields?? Book & Page??

Or if you are looking for the info on non-magical shields, check the PHB in the equipment section under "Shield" and "Shield Spikes" - Page 106.

 

[Legildur]

I've gone back and had a look at the SRD (I know it isn't a perfect source of info). While I like LokiDR's answer, I still have my doubts.

From the SRD:

Off-Hand Weapon

When a combatant deals damage with a weapon in the combatant's off hand, a combatant add only one-half of the combatant's Strength bonus.

Ambidexterity [General]

Prerequisite: Dex 15+.

Benefit: The character ignores all penalties for using an off hand. The character is neither left-handed nor right-handed.

Normal: Without this feat, a character who uses his or her off hand suffers a -4 penalty to attack rolls, ability checks, and skill checks. For example, a right-handed character wielding a weapon with her left hand suffers a -4 penalty to attack rolls with that weapon.

Special: This feat helps offset the penalty for fighting with two weapons.

Ambidexterity makes no mention of reducing the damage from an off-hand weapon attack - only the attack penalties.

The off-hand damage is a reduction in a bonus while Ambidexterity "ignores penalties". Unfortunately this means that my dwarf Bbr/Rgr will only do 2d8+6 on a successful Shield Charge. :-( [unless he puts the shield on his main hand!!]

Does anyone have any evidence to say otherwise?

 

[melonneko]

Well, it does say the character is neither right or left handed, and if you dont have a dominate hand, you cant have an off hand.

 

[LokiDR]

Well, it does say the character is neither right or left handed, and if you dont have a dominate hand, you cant have an off hand.

Yes you can have an off hand, if you use two weapons. Abidex lets you choose which hand it is.