Shield Feats

[Joker]

I made a feat for the Tower Shield and would like to know what you guys think. It's pretty straightforward.

Improved Tower Shield Proficiency

Prereq's: Strength 15, Bab+6, Tower Shield Prof

Benefits: When using a Tower Shield in combat you ignore the -2 penalty to attack normally associated with it's use.


I was thinking of a Greater Tower Shield Prof but I don't know which route to take.

Either a feat allowing you to make make a single attack at a -2 or -5 penalty while using it as cover. This would have as prereq's Str 17, Bab +11 and Dex 13. You can also make AoO while using it for cover.

Or the Greater feat would grant some kind defense against magic. I don't know what exactly but as prereq's I think it would be Spellcraft 5 ranks, Int 13 and also Bab +11. I was thinking it could either (limited amount of times per day, either once or equal to INT mod) deflect a targeted spell in a random direction when it is employed as cover or maybe when used as cover grant the AC bonus to a save against targeted and area-effect spells.

But those seem kinda potent.

What do you think? Go ahead, rip me a new one .


(Ooh, I thought of something deliciously kinky. For the magical protection version it would also have as prereq the Magebane feat. But not the one from Complete Arc but the one I made which adds your Bab to the Casting Defensively DC. Well, now that that's writting, I actually think it's rather unkinky. Oh well.)

 

[Xath]

I like the Improved Tower Shield idea, and your first Greater idea. But for the Greater, I'd make having Improved Tower Shield another prereq.

For the magic one, I think for it to make any sense, you'd have to stipulate the use of a magic (or at least masterwork) shield.

 

[CRGreathouse]

I have similar feats. The first adds +1 to AC with a tower shield and reduced the penalty by 1, and the second removes the penalty. The second feat, as I recall, requires Str 17 and base attack +10.

 

[Joker]

Two variants for the Greater version

Greater Tower Shield Proficiency

Prereq's: Tower Shield Proficiency, Improved Tower Shield Proficiency, Strength 17, Dex 13, Bab +11.
Benefit: When employing a tower shield as cover you can still make a single attack at a -5 penalty. In addition, you still threaten (though make AoO's at a -5 penalty) while enemies can't make AoO's against you because of cover.


Greater Tower Shield Proficiency

Prereq's: Tower Shield Proficiency, Improved Tower Shield Proficiency, Magebane, Strength 17, Int 13, Bab +11, Spellcraft 4 ranks.
Benefit: Once a day, when using a magic tower shield of at least +1 enhancement and using it as cover you can deflect a targeted spell aimed at you in a random direction. Also, you gain a bonus equal to the AC bonus provided by the shield on saves vs Area effect spells when using the shield as cover.




A couple of things.

1.) For the magic version, should there be some kind of check involved to deflect a spell or should it be automatic once/day just like the Wild Mage ability?

2.) What's the best way to determine in which direction it goes?

3.) This has nothing to with the feats per se but when using a tower shield as cover do you still get to take actions other than attack or does it cost a standard action (like total defense, the way I've been playing it.)?

4.) CRGreathhouse, what type of bonus to AC is that?

 

[CRGreathouse]

1.) For the magic version, should there be some kind of check involved to deflect a spell or should it be automatic once/day just like the Wild Mage ability?

2.) What's the best way to determine in which direction it goes?

3.) This has nothing to with the feats per se but when using a tower shield as cover do you still get to take actions other than attack or does it cost a standard action (like total defense, the way I've been playing it.)?

4.) CRGreathhouse, what type of bonus to AC is that?

1. Once per day automatic would be my vote, just for simplicity. Otherwise, Int bonus (min one) per day with an opposed check.
2. d8?
4. It's not a bonus to AC per se; it's an increase to the shield bonus of wielded tower shields. You get a base +5 instead of +4. Copied from my site:

Tower Shield Expert [Fighter]
You are especially skilled with tower shields.
Prerequisites: Str 11, Shield Proficiency, Tower Shield Proficiency, base attack +2.
Benefit: Tower shields grant you a +5 shield bonus to Armor Class, and incur only a -1 penalty on attack rolls.
Normal: Tower shields grant a +4 shield bonus to Armor Class, and incur a -2 penalty on attack rolls.

Tower Shield Mastery [Fighter]
You have mastered the use of tower shields.
Prerequisites: Str 15, Shield Proficiency, Tower Shield Expert, Tower Shield Proficiency, base attack +10.
Benefit: Tower shields incur no attack penalty.
Normal: Tower shields incur a -2 penalty on attack rolls, or a -1 penalty with Tower Shield Expert.

 

[Machiavelli]

I particularly like the feats for use weapons while using a shield. If a well-trained Hoplite can carry around a Heavy shield equivalent while wielding and even manipulating a 14-foot spear, why can't a D&D character with the proper training (a la feats) do the same?

Alright, admittedly that is more in regards to heavy shield and polearm use, rather than tower shields. Still, there are some good shield ideas bouncing around in here. I think with "Tower Shield Expert", "Tower Shield Mastery", and Joker's second "Greater Tower Shield Proficiency", a player begins to gain definite motivation for using such a shield. The hit to mobility is quite a turn-off otherwise.

 

[Joker]

Bumped. Keep the praise coming .