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I'm looking at creating a bodyguard type character that is all about protecting a ward. I realize there are a couple of different ways to go about this.
The initial way I'm looking at it is a Phalanx Soldier with Friendly Switch, Saving Shield, and so on. Providing AC to the ward and moving them out of harms way and taking their place. Under the Phalanx Soldier it allows you to use a polearm with one hand. Is there an option, feat or otherwise that allows you to use a reach weapon and still threaten the squares adjacent to you? Would Shield bash be the best option here, or is there an option to get the polearm to reach adjacent squares and 10' squares?
Looking for help.
quick question is the ward a PC, NPC or cohort ? (it matter becuase its the difference between being able to use teamwork feats or not)
I'm looking at creating a bodyguard type character that is all about protecting a ward. I realize there are a couple of different ways to go about this.
The initial way I'm looking at it is a Phalanx Soldier with Friendly Switch, Saving Shield, and so on. Providing AC to the ward and moving them out of harms way and taking their place. Under the Phalanx Soldier it allows you to use a polearm with one hand. Is there an option, feat or otherwise that allows you to use a reach weapon and still threaten the squares adjacent to you? Would Shield bash be the best option here, or is there an option to get the polearm to reach adjacent squares and 10' squares?
Looking for help.
Polearm fighter can do the reach 10 or reach 5 with a polearm (all be it at -4 to start and you can only do one or the other , swapping as a free action)
of course you can't take that and Phalanx solider,
one option is however to take quick draw feat letting you draw new weapon as a free action.
so in any given round you can drop your current "reach" weapon and draw a 1h non-reach weapon and still have a full round of actions.
carry 2-3 reach and 2-3 non-reach weapons around and you can swap several times during a fight.
otherwise shield bash is probably your best option for hitting adjacent and you probably know all the feats you can take to max out that damage.
be aware if you attack using the shield I'm pretty sure its treated as two weapon fighting as your holding 2 weapons even though your not using one (think there was another thread on this specifically)
of course if you drop the polearm then its not TWF.
A left field approach you might want to consider is the Barbarian and the Come and Get Me rage ability, where you basically make yourself a big fat target and get AoO's on anyone who hits you.
which means if the GM is playing monsters normally the ones near you and your ward will probably go for you over the ward.
You can also take other powers to make foes shaken and potentially frightened and pankied resulting in them running away
which is all in line with protecting a ward just in a more proactive way.
Instead of cutting off an attack headed for the ward, you make yourself such a tempting target the enemies choose to hit you over your ward
(more fun imo ;) )
Have you even considered one level of cavalier (or two to get your order ability) instead of fighter just to get the class ability where you can share your teamwork feat?
you could take that even further if you wanted to try and get your ward to ride your mount with you ;)
although thats really cutting down on the groups actions since riders only get std actions.
Some good ideas from Phasics, but a couple of questionable points:
so in any given round you can drop your current "reach" weapon and draw a 1h non-reach weapon and still have a full round of actions.
carry 2-3 reach and 2-3 non-reach weapons around and you can swap several times during a fight.
Carrying more than one reach weapon is nearly impossible. They're big. Long. Awkward. And they don't even strap onto your back very well unless you never adventure anywhere but in wide open fields.
This is a PFS character who will experience a multitude of DMs. I advise against anything that is blatantly unrealistic, like walking around with multiple big awkward weapons - some DMs may disallow that. At least until you find a big bag of holding.
be aware if you attack using the shield I'm pretty sure its treated as two weapon fighting as your holding 2 weapons even though your not using one (think there was another thread on this specifically)
Nope. That other thread is old and obsolete.
Someone official cleared that up a couple weeks ago. I think it was James Jacobs but I'm not exactly sure. I am, however, sure of what he said:
Pathfinder has no handedness. You can be right-handed or left-handed and it doesn't matter at all. Therefore there is no off-hand except when you use two weapons at once.
Therefore, if all you do is hit someone with your second weapon (or shield), then those are not "off-hand" attacks. They only become "off-hand" attacks if you're also attacking with your primary weapon.
of course if you drop the polearm then its not TWF.
Just be aware that if you're not a walking armory, and some DMs won't let you be such a thing, then dropping your one and only polearm might be dangerous, since it's a move action that provokes an AoO to pick it up again. Which means you get clobbered and you also cannot make more than one attack that round.
heh well carrying around multiple weapons to cover reach might be unrealistic but its litterally the only other way to do what he asked which was to be able to reach 5 and 10.
the only other option is polarm master which is mutally exclusive with phalanx solider
so I totally agree its a bit of a cheese solution but hey its also the only RAW solution ;)
shield attacking rule works for me I'll take your word for it it also means dropping a polearm to shield attack without penalty is not applicable.
Personally I think using the Barbarian is a more fun option for protecting a ward.
"Don't hit him, look at my Brazillian abs all unprotected and shiny!"
and yelling at a monster to make it drop its gear and run away would be comedy gold for a society game