Post/Author/DateTime	Post
servingwench 03-25-08, 08:05 PM	thinking of making a human fighter, utilizing weapon and sheild for defense and attacking, what feat in order of leveling up to level 8? not thinking focus/specielization right of the bat improved shield bash, twf, power attack? or combat expertice, improved shield bash, twf? to start with. I only have complete books, PHB, PHBII. thinking spiked sheild, sword/axe, or dagger whip with combat reflexes
navar100 03-25-08, 08:38 PM	Power Attack, while not useless with sword and shield, is less optimal for its use. If you are not going to use a weapon two-handed, Power Attack is almost not worth it. However, Power Attack is a prerequisite for other feats such as Cleave. If you know you will definitely take feats that have Power Attack as a prerequisite, then Power Attack away and don't worry about using it at less than its full potential. If not, Power Attack is not worth it. Personal mileage: I'm not fond of Improved Shield Bash. The purpose of using a shield is for the AC, not using it as a weapon. You can take a feat to keep the AC when doing a shield bash, but I'd rather spend the feat on something more useful. Shield bash damage is not worth the extra attack at a -2 penalty to all attacks from two-weapon fighting. You will want Shield Specialization and Shield Ward.
Nathreet 03-25-08, 08:45 PM	Let's see, 5+3+1= 9 feats. Crazy. Ok, in order of priority: 1. Weapon focus 2. Weapon specialization. 3. Greater weapon focus. 4. Combat expertise. Always use +5 unless baddies ignore you or they already need a 16+ to hit you. 5. Improved Critical 6. Dodge. Unless you commonly have multiple opponents attacking you at once. 7. Improved Initiative. If you have a lot of short combats, bump this up to #5. Yes, the fighter tree is absolutely critical. +2 AB, +2 damage. It's almost like having endless rage. Ya, barbs also get a con bonus but the AC penalty offsets part of that and regardless the fighter tree is still powerful. You can't get both improved crit and greater weapon focus, so you'll have to wait until level 9 for improved crit. As for feats 8 & 9, I'm stuck. Depends what you want to do. For stats go str, con, w/e. For gear you get 27k gold. Get a MW weapon, magic armor, magic shield, ring of protection, amulet of health and gauntlets of ogre power. EDIT: Oh, you wanted to fight with the shield. With the -2 AB and low damage on the extra attack, it's not as strong as you might think. But it helps low levels. At higher levels it won't be worth the gold to enchant your shield as a weapon. You'll be better of focusing on your sword and keeping your AB to hit more with the weapon that matters. Well, then take improved shield bash and TWF. Don't bother with ITWF, a 2nd weak attack at a -5 penalty really isn't worth it. As mentioned, I wouldn't get shield bash at all, but I think it'll help until about level 11.
defender_of_odintyr 03-25-08, 09:01 PM	thinking of making a human fighter, utilizing weapon and sheild for defense and attacking, what feat in order of leveling up to level 8? not thinking focus/specielization right of the bat improved shield bash, twf, power attack? or combat expertice, improved shield bash, twf? to start with. I only have complete books, PHB, PHBII. thinking spiked sheild, sword/axe, or dagger whip with combat reflexes I would go with combat expertise, shield specialization (form the PHB 2) and Shield Ward (also from PHB2). These three feats won't make you master killer but no wil be able to touch you and even spells, trip attacks, bullrushes and other stuff will tough to get you down. There also another feat in the PHB 2 that basically does all the stuff that two weapon fighting would do only with shields.
servingwench 03-25-08, 09:23 PM	Im big on back stories, personality and looks, ive never been good at power gaming, hence me asking, but i was thinking of down the road on weapons I'd like to leave my weapon choice open till later and was going to get twd after twf to get another AC bonus. If at level 5-6 i get an awsome weapon im not specialized in and want to use it, there goes all of my investment in a single weapon. but any sheild is a good sheild. Was thinking of taking 3 levels of lasher, hence the combat reflex and whip dagger, i find the whip a useful weapon. I find it odd that in Dark ages of camelot, reaver class was one of my favorites, maybe its ingrained in my brain to try to make one in DnD
mplindustries 03-25-08, 09:30 PM	The very best feat for sword and board is Improved Buckler Defense. Then you can use a two-handed weapon and thus not suck at dealing damage. Plus, you only lose one single AC for using a buckler over a heavy shield. (I often wonder what the heck a light shield is even for...who would ever use one?).
Spikes01k 03-25-08, 10:03 PM	Two Weapon rend is a nice feat. I highly suggest it to allow for extra damage with the multiple attacks. It almost always makes two weapon fighting good. You need to focus on getting as much extra damage as you can to allow for making two weapon fighting worth it. I HIGHLY suggest weapon finesse and deal with a light shield. THAT is why we have light shields, because heavy can't weapon finesse. Your going to be putting all your points into dex to get the better twf.