I want to point this out very clearly from the start.
This is NOT a Two Weapon Fighting Quetion!
This is a free shield bash on a 2 handed critical treat question.
I know on a reach weapon there is no way you could get a free shield bash, your shield does not have reach as well.
If I was wielding a Katana and shield. No one would argue against using Bashing Finish. For it is two 1 Handed weapons
But while wielding both shield and a 2 handed weapon, I feel there would be issues. Do I use free actions to hold and regrip my Nodachi while using a free shield bash?
Both are free actions. For example, a wizard wielding a quarterstaff can let go of the weapon with one hand as a free action, cast a spell as a standard action, and grasp the weapon again with that hand as a free action; this means the wizard is still able to make attacks of opportunity with the weapon (which requires using two hands).
As with any free action, the GM may decide a reasonable limit to how many times per round you can release and re-grasp the weapon (one release and re-grasp per round is fair).
Nodachi is in the Polearms Weapon Group
http://archivesofnethys.com/FighterWeapons.aspx
Bashing Finish
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/bashing-finish-combat/
Shield Brace
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/shield-brace-combat-shield-maste ry/
Perhaps there is a limit to how many free shield bash I could get in a round because of this:
"Free Action: Free actions consume a very small amount of time and effort. You can perform one or more fr ee actions while taking another action normally. However, there are reasonable limits on what you can really do for free, as decided by the GM."
Core Rulebook page 188 says,
"Free actions don't take any time at all, though there may be limits to the number of free actions you can perform in a turn."
In other words, the GM can allow more or fewer free actions as appropriate to the circumstances.
Bashing Finish would appear to function normally when used with a Nodachi and Shield Brace.
Heck of a feat investment though, since you cannot TWF.
The issue of number of free actions allowed by the GM is independent, it has nothing to do with Bashing Finish.
I would be wielding a Katana and shield with TWF while using Full attack actions. Can only do TWF as a full round action anyways.
But while moving, No TWF and using Nodachi and shield for extra damage and extra attacks with Bashing Finish.
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I would be wielding a Katana and shield with TWF while using Full attack actions. Can only do TWF as a full round action anyways.
But while moving, No TWF and using Nodachi and shield for extra damage and extra attacks with Bashing Finish.
So, it looks like you're planning to swap back and forth between using TWF with a Katana and Shield when you can full attack, but swapping the katana out for the Nodachi when you have to move?
The point I would call out for that is even if you take Quickdraw so you can draw your new weapon that still does not reduce the action requirement to sheath your weapon, that requires a full move action (can not even be done as part of a move). So to swap quickly you need to drop your current weapon, making swapping back problematic to say the least.
I would say with what you're planning you're probably better off just focusing on the Katana, and using the feat you're spending on shield brace for something else. Since investing the feats to use both the katana and nodachi well would probably not happen fully. Perhaps you could pick up Lunge, this would increase your ability to perform a full attack so long as your next target is within 15' of you, since you could 5' step and lunge to someone 10' away.
The idea is to crave a path using Nodachi to a location or target, drop the Nodachi and Quickdraw the Katana; then TWF.
It cost me very little to drop a weapon, a free action in fact.
I am heavily feat taxed as is to be able invest in lunge and I don't like lowering my AC. Although it would add reach to my shield and Katana at the same time. Hmm...
Since my build has Martial Flexibility, I will be sure that lunge is on my combo list.