Shield Bash Questions

[R0ninknight]

Hi! I'm new to the server and I'd like to say, first off, that I'm impressed with the customizations! Its talented work.
I only have a few questions so far on this topic but I'd like to start this thread to extend to any other questions regarding the Shield Bash feat tree if anyone thinks of any others in the future.

Okay, do I have this right:
Heavy Shield, only Shield Bash feat = Featless Two Weapon Fighting Penalties
Heavy Shield, Shield Bash, 2WF = -2 AB Main Hand, -4 AB Offhand, 1 shield attack
Heavy Shield, Shield Bash, I2WF = Full AB Main Hand, -2 AB Offhand, 2 shield attacks
H. Shield, Bash, I2WF, Agile S. Fighter = Full Main Hand, Full Offhand, 2 shield attacks
Tower Shield = Main Hand AB -2, Shield Bash AB -2 compared to Heavy Shields

Am I on the right track?

Also, does not the Dazed status incur automatic Reflex save failures and deny the target the benefits of Evasion and Improved Evasion while the daze lasts?

[grunts]

I can answer a few things about shield bash. Two weapon fighting reduces the penalty by -2(the gloves in beregost are a decent choice unless you have mithral full plate). The penalty and damage increases the bigger the shield you use. I've never seen a shield that gives a bonus to shield bash damage so if it exists it's the rarest item ever.

Shield bash becomes mostly for style and RP once you hit epics, since DR negates it completely. Shield charge is really only good with dire charge, otherwise you're better off with knockdown and haste. Shield slam requires you build your character around it and still requires too many rolls for little benefit. Adding a +4 adamantite shield that goes through DR would make shield bash much more practical. That would be my dev suggestion

[R0ninknight]

There are no weaponized shields? Oh no! Hopefully within my next 20 levels or so somebody can toss that in. Is mithril full plate one of the rarer items, too? I'm told crafting isn't released otherwise I'd just order custom spellsword-type gear.
I think Pen-and-Paper spoiled me. lol

[grunts]

There are no weaponized shields? Oh no! Hopefully within my next 20 levels or so somebody can toss that in. Is mithril full plate one of the rarer items, too? I'm told crafting isn't released otherwise I'd just order custom spellsword-type gear.
I think Pen-and-Paper spoiled me. lol

If it exists don't count on getting one ever. As for Mithral Full Plate it's worth around 800k-1 million gold. Not an impossible goal but daunting for a new player for sure. Shield bash really isn't that special in pnp so I guess you're more or less getting the same here hah. You can craft wands, potions and scrolls, I highly suggest getting at least 10 use magic device for wand usage, it's doable no matter what character build you have.

[R0ninknight]

Well now I just feel tricked and I'm not sure what to do.

[grunts]

Also evasion isn't supposed to work while helpless but still does half the time. It also isn't supposed to work in medium or heavy armor but does. What kind of character are you going for? Maybe we can help with that instead.

[R0ninknight]

Paladin 4 / Sorceror 6 / Eldritch Knight 10 / Dragonslayer 10. I'm going to stagger the E. Knight and Dragonslayer at level 17 to meet all the server rules.

[R0ninknight]

Paladin 4 / Sorceror 6 / Eldritch Knight 10 / Dragonslayer 10. I'm going to stagger the E. Knight and Dragonslayer at level 17 to meet all the server rules. I'm hoping that eventually the occasional Daze inflicted by shield bash will help with spells that require reflex saves like Combust.

In PnP, off the top of my head, doesn't making heavy armor mithril only cost 10 grand? Why the multiples higher cost?

[grunts]

Ahhh I see. So this build is actually made worse with shield bash(all are honestly). Your saves will be fine with Paladin+CHA+Resistance buffs+mantles when you need them. Since you're a battle mage your gear isn't as important so you can equip resistance gear if you really want, totally not necessary though. If you mean your reflex spells, you won't be using them on single targets anyways. Stick to defensive spells and spells without saves like greater missle storm.

If I were you I would drop shield bash/shield slam and run around with a 1 handed weapon, used 2 handed. Then just throw on a tower shield when you need it(which isn't often with mirror image spam). Or just use a manly 2 hander with power attack since you have shield spell anyways. Drop Dragonslayer to 9 and get another caster level or even just 7 for greater spell penetration. If you want to add alot of cheese you can replace paladin with water cleric for evasion then get expose weakness but the build will have a lot less RP value imo.

As far as Mithral Armor goes it's not craftable on this server, it's an extremely rare drop. If you do plan around mithral remember you only need a 12 DEX+cats grace to take full advantage. Dragon slayer makes you get a 13 DEX anyways but if you go any higher it's a waste. You could also go Aasimar and get epic divine might if you aren't already.

This post will likely get moved to the character building section.

[DM Narshe]

Shield bash is a very cool feat. I would ask around to see which parts of it are the more useful ones though, if your build is feat-starved. Our character building forums are useful for that.

From what I remember with my little bit of testing with it, the initial bash feat is good to include in a build if you're going to use a shield, but the others are sort of lackluster. That could have changed though.

It's an excellent thing to add to a more well-rounded build, but I wouldn't center a whole character concept around it.

[grunts]

Shield bash is a very cool feat. I would ask around to see which parts of it are the more useful ones though, if your build is feat-starved. Our character building forums are useful for that.

From what I remember with my little bit of testing with it, the initial bash feat is good to include in a build if you're going to use a shield, but the others are sort of lackluster. That could have changed though.

It's an excellent thing to add to a more well-rounded build, but I wouldn't center a whole character concept around it.

Def. agree with you on the coolness of shield bash. It just needs some love in the DR department imo. Time for Narshe to make it happen!

[DM Narshe]

Def. agree with you on the coolness of shield bash. It just needs some love in the DR department imo. Time for Narshe to make it happen!

This is probably my favorite variant rule, actually. We couldn't make it happen here without changing a ton of the core principles of the server, but it's -awesome- in a PNP campaign.

If I were building a game/server, this is what I'd do rather than AC.

[R0ninknight]

That's my favorite variant rule, too.