Teks's page

My bard was looking for a way to make a touch attack with a weapon, so I could feint, and pretty much just have to beat a 10AC. I finally found the previously overlooked mancatcher, but I'm not sure how some things work for this weapon, and would like them cleared up before I actually use it.

First off I'm assuming I can damage my opponent every round with the mancatcher since he is 10 feet away, and that my opponent is hitting the mancatcher in an attempt to break it, since he can't hit me.

My real question is the CMB for the grapple. This is one of the few times you are actually grappling with a weapon, so would a masterwork weapon increase my CMB in this case? or is it still a naked check?

Also, this weapon is really a touch attack with 1.5 times strength for being two-handed? If so it's a pretty dangerous weapon especially against high AC opponents.

Oh I always wanted to make a classic spear, and shield fighter, which wasn't very attractive in the base player guide, but when I got the APG, and read about the new fighter sub-classes I got all excited again, but I noticed something strange I'd like to share.
Check out the phalanx
Stand firm- small CMB bonus. Not a big deal but it beats bravery IMO
Phalanx fighting- Use a two-handed weapon with one hand (the phalanx's best feature)
now things start to taper off a bit...
Ready pike- brace as an immediate action. Pretty cool, but I would prefer my weapons training 1.
Deft Shield- A bit better then armor training, because it helps compensate for losing weapons training.
Shield ally- This would be good, but the whole point of the shield is to give you shield bash. Your already wielding a large spear in one hand, so why on earth are you going to have a heavy shield in the other. If you have a light shield this ability is a complete waste.

Overall I did not feel the phalanx soldier had much to offer over a base fighter with a shield, and a trident. in fact I thought the base fighter was better. I ditched the plan until...

Two-weapon fighter
defensive flurry- +1 dodge bonus when you use a full attack that improves every 4 levels. this is way way better then armor training 1 & 2
twin blades- +1 to attack, and damage when using two-weapons. It improves every 4 levels, and you only lose weapon training 1- this is huge.
Doublestrike- Normally if I use a move action I am severely hampered. Not any more. This lets me attack with both weapons as a standard action. keep in mind that I get a free bull rush with one of these attacks too. This is very,very good.
Improved balance- -1 to twf penalties. This is so-so.

conclusion.
The phalanx soldier is beat at it's own game by the two-weapon fighter.
The phalanx soldier has neat flavor things, but ultimately your still an inferior fighter with a shield. The phalanx soldier NEEDS shield ally, since he is not a threat, and will not be a prime target.

The two-weapon fighter not only gets a bonus to attack and damage to both his shield, and his trident(by far beating the phalanx fighting ability), but he also get a higher AC plus a slew of additional features that really help a sword and board fighter. The two-weapon fighter doesn't need shield ally, since he will be the center of attention in combat already.

For even more flavor I will be using a quickdraw shield. When I absolutely need to hit a guy with a full attack I can drop my trident, and throw weapons with both hands, while still gaining my twin blades bonuses.
Funny that this beats both the builds that were specifically made for sword and board fighters.