Shield Warrior feat

[S'mon]

Shield Warrior:
Prereq: BAB +3, STR 11+
The character is skilled at using their shield to deflect enemy attacks. On their action, as a free action, the character designates a single opponent. The character receives a Cover bonus to their AC against all attacks from that opponent, equal to +1 per 3 points of BAB. They can change the designated opponent as a free action on their action.

What do you think of this feat as a way to keep shield use balanced against 2-handed power attack at higher levels (3+)? Assume a fairly low magic campaign - shields with magic plusses available, but limited wealth and probably no dancing +5 vorpal tower shields of etcetera.

 

[Jdvn1]

... It might balance out a two-handed power attack, but it seems way too powerful anyway. An AC bonus that scales up? I wouldn't go for it. There's already a feat that negates power attacks anyway.

 

[S'mon]

_Negates_ PA? But I want something to balance 2-h fighters w sword & board. I reckon I'll cap the AC bonus at +5, but I don't understand why scaling AC is bad - BAB scales, after all.

 

[Nifft]

If you want to negate 2-handed power attack, adapt the "block" mechanism presented in other games. To move it to d20, I suggest the following:


Shield Focus [General, Fighter]
You use your shield to good effect.
Prereqs: BAB 1+, Dodge, Shield Proficency
Benefits: You gain an additional +1 Dodge bonus to AC vs. your designated Dodge opponent when you are equipt with a shield.


Melee Shield Block [General, Fighter]
You can block the blows of your opponent.
Prereqs: BAB 4+, Dodge, Combat Expertise, Shield Proficency
Benefits: You always attempt to block the first melee attack of your designated Dodge opponent. This gives you the benefit of added AC in the form of a Dodge bonus to AC equal to one-half of your BAB on top of the bonus granted by the Dodge feat and Combat Expertise.
Special: Use of this feat is not automatic -- it requires an Immediate action and eats one of your AoOs for the round.


Uncanny Shield Block* [General, Fighter]
You have eyes in the back of your head, and a shield covering your behind. This makes you hard to flank.
Prereqs: BAB 6+, Uncanny Dodge class ability, Shield Proficency
Benefits: Designate one opponent on your action. This opponent is not considered to be flanking you. You may designate a new opponent as a free action on your initiative.


Melee Shield Block, Improved [General, Fighter]
You are really good at blocking blows.
Prereqs: BAB 8+, Melee Shield Block, Mobility, Combat Reflexes
Benefits: You can sacrifice your secondary iterative attacks to block additional attacks of your designated Dodge opponent, on a one for one basis. You must sacrifice iterative attacks before you gain the benefits of this feat -- in other words, you only gain benefits for the round after you could have made a full attack.


-- N

* Unofficial feat name: Talk to the Sheild

 

[Jdvn1]

_Negates_ PA? But I want something to balance 2-h fighters w sword & board. I reckon I'll cap the AC bonus at +5, but I don't understand why scaling AC is bad - BAB scales, after all.

Capping the AC bonus is a good idea -- and yes, there's a Tactical feat in CW negates PA.

 

[S'mon]

4 Feats for this is way too much Nifft - I want top tweak the balance a bit to make sword & board more viable than currently, so that it becomes a legitimate choice for PCs. IME at high level most Fighters use 5 pt PA since above that iterative attacks begin missing, so capping shield AC bonus at +5 may make 1-h PA w shield equivalent to 2-h PA at high level... I think.

 

[Sigurd]

But are the base rules left behind ?

I can see the thinking that is going on to balance your campaign but I can't help but think is this a balance issue.

The character is skilled at using their shield to deflect enemy attacks. On their action, as a free action, the character designates a single opponent. The character receives a Cover bonus to their AC against all attacks from that opponent, equal to +1 per 3 points of BAB. They can change the designated opponent as a free action on their action.

What are the generic yobbos supposed to say about their skills with the shield? Does this have to be a feat? Would you be better to dissalow the feat you are trying to counter?


S

 

[S'mon]

I can see the thinking that is going on to balance your campaign but I can't help but think is this a balance issue.

What are the generic yobbos supposed to say about their skills with the shield? Does this have to be a feat? Would you be better to dissalow the feat you are trying to counter?

S

This is a balance issue - in that 3.5 undervalues sword & shield I think. NB the generic yobbos get the shield armour bonus, but not being skilled at positioning it, don't get the extra Cover bonus.

 

[S'mon]

I don't think disallowing POwer Attack would work - it's a major balancer of melee fighters vs spellcasters & archers.

 

[Nifft]

4 Feats for this is way too much Nifft

Well, each one of them is against a specific tactic / situation / feat.

The only one you'd need is Melee Shield Block to "negate" Power Attack.

The others are for other "shield" use situations. Uncanny Shield Block is for Ftr/Rogues or Barbarians who are habitually fighting Rogues. Shield Focus compensates for Weapon Focus, and Improved Melee Shield Block is for Fighters who fight monsters (like Dragons) with multiple potent attacks.

Anyway, I hope you find a solution -- I agree that Sword & Board is underrated by D&D, but I think that's due to the exclusion of a Block / Parry mechanism.

-- N