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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mustrum_Ridcully" data-source="post: 3175173" data-attributes="member: 710">In our Shackled City Campaign, I play a Sword and Board fighter. Keep in mind that I "cheated" at higher levels and picked up an Animated Shield, so I could use my main weapon two-handed. I did not pick up the Weapon Focus feat chain. Instead, I concentrated on getting basically all the other fighter bonus feats out there (with, naturally, a lot of exceptions). Combat Expertise, Improved Trip, Combat Reflexes, Improved Unarmed, Improved Grapple (very useful under the right circumstances), Defensive Throw* (Complete Warrior), Dodge, Mobility, Blind Fight, Quick Draw, Defensive Sweep (PHB II, very recent addition to the character) and some none-fighter bonus feats: Run, Iron Will (with 25 point buy, I had to sacrifice wisdom and charisma)The net result was that I was prepared for most types of enemies. I could run to catch enemy archers or wizards (without opening myself up to sneak attacks or other nasty effects). I can go into grapple against a lot of dangerous opponents (especially spellcasters). I can always draw the weapon I need for the job (Holy Cold Iron Longsword +2 is my primary weapons, but if required, I can pick up my Admantite Battleaxe of Construct Bane or my Silver Guisarme of Undead Bane). *For use of Defensive Throw, I suggest using a tripping weapon as primary weapon (Flail). Thanks to the Cheating, err Animated Shield, I can use my unarmed attack to trip missing opponents, but normally, you would (depending on your DM's interpretation) not allowed to make trip attack while wielding a weapon.At this level, I am actually considering if I should try to pick up Weaon Focus, but I decided against it - it is against the concept of the fighter and it would also take to long to get a significant benefit from it. I instead picked up a home brew PrC, Master of Martial Arts (<a href="http://www.gweb.de/ttt/news/news.php?exns=1&xnsmid=7" target="_blank">http://www.gweb.de/ttt/news/news.php?exns=1&xnsmid=7</a>), which grants some nice benefits along the theme of my Fighter (1-3/day a bonus feat for one encounter, improved unarmed damage and combat speed, AC Bonus when fighting lightly armed - everything to be prepared in situations where you aren't actually prepared...)So, my advice: If you want more than just hitting the hardest and instead want to experiment (and "win") with combat techniques available in D&D, ignore Weapon Focus and instead focus on all the nice Improved [Insert Combat Option here] feats. If you want to focus a bit more on your shield, the Shield Specialisation feat chain is certainly a good choice (and it can be combined with the combat technique feats, you just have to be a more picky)</blockquote>

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