Shield feat specialist? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Shield feat specialist? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
OgreMonk
04-09-07, 10:57 AM I am contemplating making a shield-focused fighter npc for my players to deal with. Do any of the nifty non-core shield feats we have gotten lately really stand out? Any good feat progressions would be helpful too.

Thanks a lot.
Sajek
04-09-07, 01:54 PM Shield Specialization increases your shield's AC bonus by +1 every time you take it. Shield Sling lets you throw the shield as a ranged weapon. Shield Ward lets you have your shield bonus to touch attacks. If he works with other people who use shields a lot, Phalanx Fighting gives you +1 AC, and extra +1 for every other ally withing five feet who has a shield (all from Complete Warrior).
wizarddog
04-09-07, 02:28 PM And in PB II Agile Shiled Fighter bestows only a -2 for wpn and shield bash attacks-negating the need for 2 H fighting. (though some on this board believe it may be overpowered). :eek:
Tony Vargas
04-09-07, 03:36 PM Shield Ward and Agile Shield Fighter (and thier preqs) are good choices, both in the PHII. Also in the PHII are Combat Focus and it's related feats. A fighter with Shield Ward, Iron Will, and Combat Focus, should stand up pretty well to same-level party's initial screw-the-armored-warrior tactics (touch attacks and Will saves), providing a reasonably interesting challenge - not an unreasonable one, his offense shouldn't be that nasty. Give him some unexpected mobility, or a deadlier offense (like a poisoned weapon), or a tactical advantage, to ratchet it up another notch (remember to boost EL accordingly).
jadehawk
04-09-07, 06:04 PM Yes, I built an NPC Cleric/Fighter/Entropomancer who specialized in two-weapon fighting with rapier and shield. His major disadvantage was that in melee he couldn't deal a lot of damage, but his entropic shield (wounding) created havoc with the number of hits he landed, and his (touch) AC was nearly out of reach. Add on that when things start looking bad in melee the character is just 1 spell away from keeping out of arms reach, and the next round he unleashes his entropic ball of negative energy touch attacking opponents to death and you've got a significant threat with few holes to punch through.

In brief, focusing on shield feats can help balance a character both with AC and attacks, though damage may become an issue.
Knucklehead
04-09-07, 06:38 PM I'm not a big fan of the shield feats in PHB2 because of the Shield Specialization requirement. Take Block Arrow from Heroes of Battle and Parrying Shield from Lords of Madness.

How is Agile Shield Fighter better than TWF? I would rather take TWF and Oversized TWF instead of Shield Specialization and Agile Shield Fighter.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
OgreMonk 04-09-07, 10:57 AM	I am contemplating making a shield-focused fighter npc for my players to deal with. Do any of the nifty non-core shield feats we have gotten lately really stand out? Any good feat progressions would be helpful too. Thanks a lot.
Sajek 04-09-07, 01:54 PM	Shield Specialization increases your shield's AC bonus by +1 every time you take it. Shield Sling lets you throw the shield as a ranged weapon. Shield Ward lets you have your shield bonus to touch attacks. If he works with other people who use shields a lot, Phalanx Fighting gives you +1 AC, and extra +1 for every other ally withing five feet who has a shield (all from Complete Warrior).
wizarddog 04-09-07, 02:28 PM	And in PB II Agile Shiled Fighter bestows only a -2 for wpn and shield bash attacks-negating the need for 2 H fighting. (though some on this board believe it may be overpowered). :eek:
Tony Vargas 04-09-07, 03:36 PM	Shield Ward and Agile Shield Fighter (and thier preqs) are good choices, both in the PHII. Also in the PHII are Combat Focus and it's related feats. A fighter with Shield Ward, Iron Will, and Combat Focus, should stand up pretty well to same-level party's initial screw-the-armored-warrior tactics (touch attacks and Will saves), providing a reasonably interesting challenge - not an unreasonable one, his offense shouldn't be that nasty. Give him some unexpected mobility, or a deadlier offense (like a poisoned weapon), or a tactical advantage, to ratchet it up another notch (remember to boost EL accordingly).
jadehawk 04-09-07, 06:04 PM	Yes, I built an NPC Cleric/Fighter/Entropomancer who specialized in two-weapon fighting with rapier and shield. His major disadvantage was that in melee he couldn't deal a lot of damage, but his entropic shield (wounding) created havoc with the number of hits he landed, and his (touch) AC was nearly out of reach. Add on that when things start looking bad in melee the character is just 1 spell away from keeping out of arms reach, and the next round he unleashes his entropic ball of negative energy touch attacking opponents to death and you've got a significant threat with few holes to punch through. In brief, focusing on shield feats can help balance a character both with AC and attacks, though damage may become an issue.
Knucklehead 04-09-07, 06:38 PM	I'm not a big fan of the shield feats in PHB2 because of the Shield Specialization requirement. Take Block Arrow from Heroes of Battle and Parrying Shield from Lords of Madness. How is Agile Shield Fighter better than TWF? I would rather take TWF and Oversized TWF instead of Shield Specialization and Agile Shield Fighter.