Sword & Board PrC?

[The Souljourner]

Are there any PrCs out there that make sword and board worthwhile? I'd love to see something that gives fighters a reason to use a shield. Anything out there? There's a bunch of feats that try to help the sword & board guy, but it ends up being hugely feat intensive, which means you're just using up resources to make it up to average and the non-sword and board guys are using those feats to get better than average.

-Nate

 

[Darklone]

Pure fighter plus perhaps some TWF prclasses like Tempest.

Get all the shield feats in PHB2 and you're a very strong TWF fighter with thousands of attacks, dual strike for standard actions, high hitpoints, touch AC and normal AC (since you don't lose it while fighting).

 

[The Souljourner]

I love the concept of shield bashing, but TWF is SO feat heavy all by itself... and requiring the shield feats on top of it... bleh. It's like combining the worst of both worlds - the beginning low power of S&B and the heavy feat dependencies of TWF.

What I was hoping for was a S&B PrC that would let me do cool and interesting things with a shield rather than just hitting someone with it repeatedly. Although it's a little cliche and a little under powered, the Captain America shield enchantment (Throwing?) in the Magic Item Compendium is a good start of neat and interesting things to add to a S&B character. The "shield bonus applies to your touch AC" is a good feat (don't remember name or where it comes from)... more stuff like that would be great.

-Nate

 

[castro3nw]

it's not a PrC... but i you have ToB:Bo9S available, pretty much all three of those classes can work decently well sword/board. I especially like warblade and/or crusader.

 

[blargney the second]

Just use maneuvers from the Book of 9 Swords. They give you the same oomph whether you're using a one- or two-hander. My axe & board crusader has a great AC and nails things pretty hard. Shield Block rules.

 

[mikebr99]

I love the concept of shield bashing, but TWF is SO feat heavy all by itself... and requiring the shield feats on top of it... bleh. It's like combining the worst of both worlds - the beginning low power of S&B and the heavy feat dependencies of TWF.

What I was hoping for was a S&B PrC that would let me do cool and interesting things with a shield rather than just hitting someone with it repeatedly. Although it's a little cliche and a little under powered, the Captain America shield enchantment (Throwing?) in the Magic Item Compendium is a good start of neat and interesting things to add to a S&B character. The "shield bonus applies to your touch AC" is a good feat (don't remember name or where it comes from)... more stuff like that would be great.

-Nate

Hey... then what about a TWF Dwarven Ranger w/dwarven war axe and spiked shield. Add phb II shield feats for extra goodness. The shield throw feat is in phb II IIRC. YMMV

Mike

 

[dagger]

You can even fight with sword and shield withOUT Two Weapon Fighting at -2/-2 with a single feat out of PHB II.

No DEX needed.

 

[wildstarsreach]

Are there any PrCs out there that make sword and board worthwhile? I'd love to see something that gives fighters a reason to use a shield. Anything out there? There's a bunch of feats that try to help the sword & board guy, but it ends up being hugely feat intensive, which means you're just using up resources to make it up to average and the non-sword and board guys are using those feats to get better than average.

-Nate

I'm currently playing a duskblade that has Mithril Plate and shield. I just recently took shield spec for the better ac and plan to take shield ward for it's benefits with other combat options. I can always take a penalty to attack to get additional damage and use the characters sword 2 handed.

 

[The Souljourner]

Just use maneuvers from the Book of 9 Swords. They give you the same oomph whether you're using a one- or two-hander. My axe & board crusader has a great AC and nails things pretty hard. Shield Block rules.

Very good suggestion. I've been wanting to play a Crusader or Warblade ever since the book came out, and I have a special soft spot for sword & board, it just needs a little help. I think the Bo9S might be just the ticket.

You can even fight with sword and shiled withOUT Two Weapon Fighting at -2/-2 with a single feat out of PHB II.

No DEX needed.

Awesome. Didn't realize they had a feat like that in there. I guess it's something I should check out when I get home

Thanks!

Still hoping for a PrC, but a Bo9S guy is new and interesting enough that I probably wouldn't need one (might not even want one) anyway.

-Nate

 

[Old Gumphrey]

I love the concept of shield bashing, but TWF is SO feat heavy all by itself... and requiring the shield feats on top of it... bleh. It's like combining the worst of both worlds - the beginning low power of S&B and the heavy feat dependencies of TWF.

Yeh...cause single class human fighters are real short on feats...

I mean what:

H Improved Shield Bash
1st TWF
F1 Weapon Focus
F2 Shield Spec
3rd Shield Ward
F4 Weapon Spec
6th Improved TWF

Fighters are made out of feats...it's what you play when you need lots of feats.