Sword and Board...of DEATH!

[Lord Pendragon]

There sure is. However, the argument that the shield can't be used as a weapon "in the primary hand" depends upon the notion of handedness. I don't see how it would apply if you simply told your DM: "My character is right handed and wields the heavy shield on his right hand and the shortsword in his left."

Well, I certainly don't want to turn this thread into a copy of that one, arguing about shield usage, so I'll leave it alone.

 

[Shadeus]

Shadeus: I knew about the shields, was just wondering why you used a heavy one instead of the light one...

Heirlooms are always a good reason though, is your weapon a heirloom as well or what about using a shortsword?

Yes, I could. But I foolishly sunk one of my precious feats into weapon focus (longsword).

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Yes, I could. But I foolishly sunk one of my precious feats into weapon focus (longsword).

I don't know how foolish that one is. I considered it too, really. It was back when I was considering abandoning mounted combat entirely. The main reason I didn't go with it is because I'm still secretly hoping to find a Sun Blade at some point.

I did end up taking Mounted Combat, and I can say that so far, I definitely would have gotten more use out of Weapon Focus (longsword). I haven't used Mounted Combat even once, and probably won't use it at all until level 8, when I pick up my special mount. So that's 8 levels of use you got out of your feat, that I'll never get from mine.

So, taking the advice garnered from this thread so far, I'm looking at a progression like this:

6th-level: Divine Shield.
9th-level: Ride-By Attack. (Hopefully a Battle Bridle that will grant Spirited Charge.)
12th-level: ?

Not sure at this level. Guess we'll have to wait and see what seems useful at the time. Perhaps Improved Crit. or that feat from CW that allows you to make an attack and add it to your grapple check to avoid being grappled...