Sword & Board PrC?

[Arkhandus]

Don't forget the other 6th-level feat you'd get as a Fighter. Could be another shield feat from PH II, or Power Attack, or Combat Expertise.


Fighters are feat-tastic.

 

[blargney the second]

Fighters are made out of feats...

Feat golems!

 

[Darklone]

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.

Agile Shield defense is the one from PHB2. Yet I'd rather take TWF (if you don't believe that Agile Shield defense and TWF stack).

For the shield: Throwing and returning enhancements are nice but that shield throwing thing in PHB2 might be better or different.

 

[Machiavelli]

Feet golems, you say?

 

[The Souljourner]

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.

It's not necessarily that the fighter doesn't have enough feats (which may or may not be the case), it's that TWF requires him to *waste* feats. I don't want to get into the age old argument, but TWF requires high dex and a bunch of feats just to be equal (not including a -2 to hit on all attacks) to someone wielding a two handed sword with no feats. And that sucks.

But as I said earlier, the main thing I'm looking for is neat abilities for a S&B fighter, not necessarily just hitting someone with the shield repeatedly. Shield ward and whatever that shield toss feat is are good examples (even if the shield toss is a little silly). They let you do something that you otherwise wouldn't be able to do. I'd like to see more along those lines, like a deflect arrows feat, a tactical feat, maybe something that gives your shield's AC bonus to reflex saves (maybe instead of your dex bonus to try to keep it balanced?)

-Nate

 

[Legildur]

One of the best house rules for shields I've seen floated on these boards (to make S&B more attractive) is to give the 2-1 AC per point of BAB (max +10 AC for 5 points of BAB) for use of the Combat Expertise feat. Suddenly shields are looking pretty good.

 

[Darklone]

One of the best house rules for shields I've seen floated on these boards (to make S&B more attractive) is to give the 2-1 AC per point of BAB (max +10 AC for 5 points of BAB) for use of the Combat Expertise feat. Suddenly shields are looking pretty good.

Woah. Do shields really need this boost? Most sword&boarders I've seen in action rocked enough.

 

[Ender_rpm]

Don't forget the tower shield. Its closer in spirit to what a Roman Legionairre would carry, vice the Kite/ Normans at hasting design of the heavy shield, or the targe design of the light and buckler. You can use it for cover, which IMC means you can use it like your mount to avoid taking hits in combat. It also negates AoOs when used in this fashion, a the expense of attacks, but if you need to get close to a spiked chain wielder, or move through a giants threatened zone, its great. Its heavy, unwieldy, etc, but has many tangible benefits for the imaginative player. And then, you can animate it....

 

[The Souljourner]

(about 2 for 1 Combat Expertise when you are using a shield)

Woah. Do shields really need this boost? Most sword&boarders I've seen in action rocked enough.

I do like the idea, though I think I'd restrict it to light and heavy shields, bucklers being too small to use effectively, likewise, tower shields being too clumsy to use this way.

I think it would be nice, because I think combat expertise is under-used except in cases where you're totally getting your ass handed to you.

Also, I've never seen sword and boarders "rocking" as you say. They stump around and hit stuff, and get hit somewhat less than the two handers, but the two handers are doing way, way more damage, and as we all know, a good offense is a good defense.

-Nate

 

[Bagpuss]

It's not necessarily that the fighter doesn't have enough feats (which may or may not be the case), it's that TWF requires him to *waste* feats. I don't want to get into the age old argument, but TWF requires high dex and a bunch of feats just to be equal (not including a -2 to hit on all attacks) to someone wielding a two handed sword with no feats. And that sucks.

No it doesn't you just get a +1 Heavy Spiked Shield of Bashing and use that as your primary weapon, then you are doing the same base damage as a two handed greatsword in you primary hand, and the feats you spend on TWF are all extra damage on top.