Sword and Board help

[redpandamage]

I have made a character in my current game and would like some advice on how to build him effectively. Some info is that he is a human slayer who currently uses an estoc and heavy shield. How do you build a sword and board combatant? The heavy shield rules say it is a one handed weapon so it doesn't seem like two weapon fighting is very good. Sincerely asking for help, redpandamage.

[lemeres]

Well...usually, you do it by using either a light shield, or a light weapon in the other hand.

...anyway, onto build advice- if you do use TWF, then improved shield bash is obviously a large plus. For combat style, I personally prefer TWF style (all the nice TWF feats) and then qualifying for other shield feats normally (you can find example ones under the sword and shield style...which is another alternative). I prefer TWF style, since it allows you to skip the tricky stat prerequisites found with those feats, and not with shield feats.

Really...you can just use the ranger guides for most of your build advice. Slayer is mostly the same in that regard.

[Raymond Lambert]

Are you familiar with the math behind why it is.usually more effective to forgo defense and just use a 2hw? If you are, and you are.more interested in the style or the extra AC, then have.fun at it. If not, ask and someone will take the time to write it out or post a link.

I just want to point out that a shield is somewhat negligible as I think slayers, like rangers only get the benefits of combat syle feats if they wear medium or lighter armor. If you are useing dex for a good portion of AC, then you might just want something like fighter for free heavy armor.proficiency since any heavy dex based AC player would already have a high enough. Dex for 2wf. Then use that dex 15/16 with mithral full plate when you can afford it.

[blackbloodtroll]

Who is your god?

[lemeres]

Well, with TWF, you can take advantage of the static bonuses like studied target and sneak attack more effectively. So it can seriously improve your DPR during full attacks.

If you use light shields, then you could grab a quickdraw light shield. Swift action to draw/store (free if you have quickdraw feat). That means you can 2 hand if you have to use standard action attacks (such as when you move). (side note- you can take a style with similar advantages if you use double weapons, or even just 1 handed sword+cestus/gauntlet)

And shields+medium armor can be better than heavy armor. Lets ignore the sheer bonus from the shield itself- +2 shield and +2 armor cost less than +3 armor. It is the advantage of using 2 items for enhancement in a system where costs exponentially increase. So sword and board can out AC a heaver level of armor without too much trouble.

And medium armor (particularly mithral, which has no movement penalties by the way) can take even better advantage of your suggested dex build than mithral heavy armor.

[MightyK]

Take the Shield trained Trait if you want to go the TWF route.

Quote:

Shield-Trained

Benefit(s) Heavy and light shields are considered simple weapons rather than martial weapons for you. Heavy shields are considered light weapons for you.

[Imbicatus]

MightyK wrote:

Take the Shield trained Trait if you want to go the TWF route.

Quote:

Shield-Trained

Benefit(s) Heavy and light shields are considered simple weapons rather than martial weapons for you. Heavy shields are considered light weapons for you.

That's a Gorum religion trait, only available if you you worship Gorum.

[redpandamage]

Thank you for advice. I will ask if I can use the trait even if I don't worship gorum. Using two weapon fighting combat style is a good idea.

[Imbicatus]

I prefer the Sword and Shield Style over the TWF style, because having access to Shield Master at 6 is better than not having ITWF.
Your overall attacks per round won't suffer, thanks to Bashing Finish.

[Scott Wilhelm]

If you take Thunder and Fang, the Klar will be a light shield for you. That's a high-damage option.

If you use Quickdraw, Throwing Shields, you can throw shields as a Free Action and still be able to make Full Attacks with 2 other weapons. If you get a Blinkback Belt, and take the Quickdraw Feat, you could throw your shield, take your Full Attack with 2 weapons, then re-draw your shield as a Free Action again. Actually, since these are all Free Actions, you could theoretically have an infinite Free-Action loop of attacks, but the rules strongly encourage referees to put their own limits on how many Free Actions can be taken in one round, undoubtedly for just this sort of situation. But ask your DM. And maybe under certain circumstances he might allow it as a plot device.