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Loblusk-

Now that it is evident you want to throw the shield it only changes a few things from the "basher build"..

1) It has to be a thrown shield, still make it your primary, but it requires another feat to use as it is exotic, other than that almost nothing changes.

2) you want the returning property as soon as possible or the shield never, well returns.

3) bash when you like, hit with your fist when you like, and toss that shield like an american warrior.

By going two weapon fighting, shield fighting, and throwing honestly doesn't take much more effort. So let me attempt to create this on the fly.

HUMAN Ranger 6 (focusing only on feats, with an 16 strength, 16 Dexterity, and a +1 magic returning shield for purposes of the exercise)

Ranger 1 (Human)
Feat - Bonus: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (throwing Shield)
Class: Improved Shield Bash (retain AC)

Ranger 2
Feat - Combat Style: Shield Slam

Ranger 3
Feat - Two Weapon Fighting

Ranger 4
Feat - None

Ranger 5
Feat - Shield Focus - in truth this is your first free feat pick what you want! It is not essential for the build in any way.

Ranger 6
Feat - Shield Master

At Lv 6:

Attack (melee - heavy steel shield) 3 (Str) + 6 (BAB) + 1 (magic - Shield Master) = 10
Dmg (Heavy Steel Shield) 3 (str) + 1 (magic) = 1d6+4

Attack (melee - Knuckes) 3 (Str) + 6 (BAB) = 9
Dmg (Knuckes) 3 (str) = 1d+3

IF TWO WEAPON FIGHTING ONLY YOUR KNUCKLES TAKE A PENLATY

Attack (Ranged - Heavy Steel Shield) 3 (Dex) + 6 (BAB) = 9
Dmg (Heavy Steel Shield) 3 (Str) = 1d6+3

As you can see this is very viable, but the feat requirements along with switching between ranged and melee combat makes it much less effective to take feats such as power attack or deadly aim.

If you want to play the CAPTAIN, by god play the Captain. This is the best way, in my opinion, to allow the rules to easily fit within the concept of the character. He would be a lot of fun to play.

I hope that helped.

Lobolusk:

There are to ways to take a "shielded fighter".

First) Shield as a Shield Bash attack, this is complicated but can be done.

Second) Shield as a thrown weapon. This, in my opinion, can never be a primary fighting style. It can look really cool, but never plays out in terms of damage output. This style also creates some AC issues, as you have tossed your shield away on certain rounds. If this is your intent let me know and I will re-work it in my mind. When I was building my shield fighter I determined it was not a viable build, super fun, but caused more trouble than he was worth.

As for the shield slam master: There are likely many ways to jump in and out of multiple classes and perform well with a shield. The two primary concerns for a shield fighter; ONE get the feats, as early as possible, TWO is to recognize that the shield is your PRIMARY weapon, not your secondary.

I built my shield fighter using a straight ranger. The Weapon and Shield combat style allows you to reach some of the shield feats 5 levels earlier than a FIGHTER!! You most likely have to go human, because of the volume of feats required. Your first goal in feats is to get to shield slam as QUICKLY as possible. This can be taken without two weapon fighting as a second level ranger. With this feat, and having improved shield bash, you are not only shield bashing as your primary attack, you are always pushing the enemy away from you. The second most important feat for this chain and where two-weapon fighting really takes off is at 6th level the ranger can take Shield Master. Once you have taken this feat you can two weapon fight and your primary heavy weapon will NEVER take a penalty.

My current shield fighter is in the guise of a spartan warrior. Shield first. When it gets gritty he draws a short sword from his wrist sheath attached to his shield and begins hacking and bashing. It has been an incredibly fun character to play.

Secondly you will notice that at 6th level while taking shield master (which requires normally a BAB of 11) your numerical bonus on your shield for AC is now your numerical bonus as a weapon. Using this feat you will never have a flaming shield. But for the cost of a +3 armor bonus you are ALSO receiving a +3 weapon enhancement. I personally place the bashing property on my shield so as to increase the variable damage output.

With those two feats you are forcing other characters around the board AND two weapon fighting with only a single weapon taking a -2 to it's attack. Add in the favored enemy bonuses, animal companion, spells *lead blades* and you are a serious force to be reckoned with..

The other feats you can and should take are almost all shield and two weapon fighting focused, but the two feats above are the MUST HAVE feats to make a shielded fighter work.

And my rant is done.

I am currently building a shield focused Ranger for Society. I had considered purchasing an adamantite shield until I realized there is no method by which to determine the price. A heavy steel shield is listed in the weapons of the Core Rule Book as well as the armor section. Yet under the Special Materials Section of Chapter 6 of Core Rulebook Adamantine it does not list a shield. Yet shield is listed as a specific cost in Mithral. I just want to make sure that all of the relevant rules are expressed in the email.

Is it possible to create a shield out of adamantine? If so is it receiving the ability to overcome DR as a weapon or it is granting DR as the armor?

My beleif, although founded only on my own reasonable reading of the book, is that if you are allowed build an adamantine shield it would only receive the benefits of a weapon.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Tengu Cleric with the Trickery Domain-

Stealth = Yes
Casting = Yes
Dex and Wisdom = yes and yes
Elven Curve Blade = Yes
Aldori Dueling Sword = Yes

The possibilities are endless, be tricky, devious, cunning, and control the board to your liking while staying wildly dark and dangerous.

I don't have my books with me, or I would post a full build. With that being said I have built this guy, and is fantastically enjoyable. A cleric who doesn't simply have to heal the party, but can sneak, stab, sneak, then heal.

Ok, two questions.

1) Am I reading right that you can take both the Bladebound and Kensai archtypes?

Yes-

2) If you take the two worlds magic trait to pick up brand as a cantrip, can you use brand for spell combat?

Also correct.