There where a few big threads about this in the Alpha 3 play test. Basically there is a big group of people that would like to see using a shield rock a little more, taking the shield slam tree is a nice option but isn't good for low dex characters or one with few feats.
The ideas I liked best where feats that give a shield bonus that scales with level and a feat that lets power attack do 1.5 the BAB traded.
I could see a fighter feat "Fighter Shield Training" that gives fighters an additional shield training bonus that stacks with and scales with the armor training bonus - up to +4 at 15th level.
I'm not so sure about the 1.5x damage feat. It seems to me that sword & shield is primarily defensive, but it was historically popular so I'd like to see it be a viable path.
In my 3.5 game, I house ruled that shields added to your touch AC, and I considered letting them add to Reflex saves.
One player has been using our house's Shield Training -> Improved Shield Training feat to great effect in my game.
The feat adds the shield bonus to their primary attack against an enemy who has attacked and missed in the current round. This gives high AC characters a good reason to put themselves in position to be attacked.
I feel this gives love to the sword and board fighter, who should be able to turn deflected attacks into opportunities for counterattack. That's what shields are for, in my opinion.
|
One player has been using our house's Shield Training -> Improved Shield Training feat to great effect in my game.
The feat adds the shield bonus to their primary attack against an enemy who has attacked and missed in the current round. This gives high AC characters a good reason to put themselves in position to be attacked.
I feel this gives love to the sword and board fighter, who should be able to turn deflected attacks into opportunities for counterattack. That's what shields are for, in my opinion.
This is an awesome addition.
In my 3.5 game, I house ruled that shields added to your touch AC, and I considered letting them add to Reflex saves.
Nice ideas, and fitting the concept really well. You might want to limit the Reflex save part to those who have taken the Shield Training feat or whatever, just as an added perk.
|
|
There where a few big threads about this in the Alpha 3 play test. Basically there is a big group of people that would like to see using a shield rock a little more, taking the shield slam tree is a nice option but isn't good for low dex characters or one with few feats.
The low Dex thing isn't an issue now. The Shield Bash tree no longer requires Two-Weapon Fighting in the Beta.
And few feats? How does any class in beta have only a few feats?
In my 3.5 game, I house ruled that shields added to your touch AC, and I considered letting them add to Reflex saves.
The Shield Ward feat in PHB2 added shield bonus to touch AC and to checks against bull rush, overrun, trip, etc.
Has a pre-req of Shield Specialization, though, +1 to the AC provided by a type of shields.
The low Dex thing isn't an issue now. The Shield Bash tree no longer requires Two-Weapon Fighting in the Beta.And few feats? How does any class in beta have only a few feats?
In my PDF both Shield Slam and Shield Mastery both require two weapon fighting, which requires dex 15.