Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

Tested with:

Feats taken during level up:
Improved Shield Bash
Shield Charge
Shield Slam

Feats provided by item:
Two Weapon Fighting

Results:
-2AB penalty from turning on Shield Bash was still sometimes visible in character sheet. It seemed completely random and I coudn't pin-point the reason. Usually re-equipping the item solves this issue but if you won't notice it happening you'll run around with penalty despite having TWF from item

Shield Slam consistently lowers AB by 2 points (destpite having TWF from item). With /effectface enabled in autocmds I constantly seen "Attack decrease wears off" and in character sheet AB constantly jumps with each slam use back and forth.

Overall Shield Slam and Shield Bashing feels extremely underwhelming and under-powered. Simple improved knockdown or disarm that is investment of just 1 feat works through whole leveling process and can shine in Epic areas while investment of 3 feats into Bashing and Slam will make you wonder "why didn't I just make a commoner with mauls-es".

Among Bashing many issues is how Divine Power does not apply it's damage to shield which I'm not sure if is intended considering it works with sneak attack.
Making it work with Keen, Flame Weapon, Divine Power and similar abilities could potentially make this feat line salvageable.

It also does not work with favored enemies, boo

Shield Bash and the shield use related feats are awesome ideas and unique features to gameplay. As someone who has used Shield feats extensively in the past, I attempted to enjoy it.

But unfortunately, mechanically, they simply “nerf” a builds possibly mechanical output, and thus server being very mechanically designed to obstruct builds through challenges not related to randomness found with a dice-based game, Shield use feats are fun until you realize the self-imposed handicap.

It really wouldn’t take much to make them “on par” with most other things, like Knockdown, like Disarm. Little nudges are a good thing!

I did some tests today and think just shield bashing could actually be good for... a sneaker.

As long as it's only working with sneak attacks it's just not viable for everyone else. Especially if you try charge/slam route which are empty feats doing nothing in epic areas currently.

Way I see it add EDM damage to it, Favored Enemy one so Cavaliers can benefit and perhaps elemental from fiery weapon, keen, make sure it's Armor bonus adds to dmg/attack and it would be in decent place again.

the problem with shield bash as a sneak character, is if its turned on and you're near a hostile mob it will auto roll and pull you out of stealth

YourMoveHolyMan wrote: ↑Sun Oct 05, 2025 9:05 pm the problem with shield bash as a sneak character, is if its turned on and you're near a hostile mob it will auto roll and pull you out of stealth

Whoaaa I guess then even that part is busted. I guess last possible build I thinked it could work with just got debunked. It's officially irredeemable in current shape.

One more bug I just noticed.

Shield Bash doesn't even work with Inspire Courage. At least I can't see any magical damage in log.
With Inspire Courage +6 i see this:

Turned Inspire Courage off and I get:


Same AB (+31) so Inspire Courage adds no AB and no damage.

Doesn't seem to work with anything besides sneak attack and even that apparently works poorly breaking stealth.
How it passed QA I have no idea.