| 2 people marked this as FAQ candidate. |
Building (neurotically, several times over while I wait for the campaign to start) a heavy-armored shield-bashing Fighter and wasn't sure about some nuances -- especially when they involve 3rd Party Feats.
If I take Shield Slam:
In the right position, your shield can be used to send opponents flying.
Prerequisites: Improved Shield Bash, Shield Proficiency, Two-Weapon Fighting, base attack bonus +6.
Benefit: Any opponents hit by your shield bash are also hit with a free bull rush attack, substituting your attack roll for the combat maneuver check (see Combat). This bull rush does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Opponents who cannot move back due to a wall or other surface are knocked prone after moving the maximum possible distance. You may choose to move with your target if you are able to take a 5-foot step or to spend an action to move this turn.
and Exalted Bull Rush:
You know how to slam into a foe in a way that is both damaging and effective at relocating him.
Prerequisite: Str 13, Improved Bull Rush, Power Attack, BAB +1.
Benefit: You can charge into a foe and use your body to damage him, while simultaneously pushing him backwards. When you make a Bull Rush, you also make a normal melee attack roll. (This is considered a charge.) If your attack roll succeeds, you deal melee damage. The damage is 1d3 if you are unarmored, 1d4 if in light armor, 1d6 in medium armor, and 1d8 in heavy armor. You add 150% of your Strength bonus to this damage.
Does that mean that every time I hit with a shield bash I enact a cascading effect where I substitute my attack roll for the CMB for my free bull rush (adding or not adding feat bonuses) and then make another attack roll with charge bonuses/penalties: effectively getting two attacks, a bull rush, and -2 AC out of my shield bash if I so choose?
I figured yes for these reasons: 1) a free bull rush is still a bull rush and 2) it's not an extra attack in the traditional sense; it's a damaging bull rush.
But I'd still like to know if I'm missing something here or if Super Genius Games/Other 3rd Party feats should be discouraged for this very munchkatwinky reason. And, more importantly, if this is really effective or a good way to end up playing "Let's watch the Sword-and-Shuffleboard move enemies out of reach like a moron and watch them charge the caster."