I know about the duelist class. The problem is, that not every 2 weapon fighter is a duelist. The option is there for any class to take feats that grant 2 weapon attacks, why not 2 weapon defense without taking a PRC?
The off hand weapon is just as often used for defense, and Having to take a PRC which then relies on another ability score is retarded. As a Ranger for example, you already have Dex, Wis, Str, and Con as being important, why now make them have to posess a high INT as well?
For rogues, the Dueslist is alright, because you already have to have Int, Dex, Str, and Cha, but what effect does INT really have on parrying a blade?
Sounds more like a dex skill to me.
As for the S&B fighter, I was thinking something along the lines of getting a parry/block/weaponbind attempt equal to your number of AoOs each round.
For example:
You can attempt an opposed attack roll to block an incoming attack, if you win by 5 or more, the shield has deflected the attacker's weapon arm outward, leaving him open and provoking an AoO for you only.
It would make shield fighting actually have as cool an ability as overhead chop.
There could be a feat called improved shield defense, which would require improved shield bash as a prereq.
Really all a 2 handed fighter is getting is str x2 instead of str x1.5 with overhead chop.
I know about the duelist class. The problem is, that not every 2 weapon fighter is a duelist. The option is there for any class to take feats that grant 2 weapon attacks, why not 2 weapon defense without taking a PRC?
Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but in PFRPG two-weapon defense is a generally available feat. (p.96)
As for the S&B fighter, I was thinking something along the lines of getting a parry/block/weaponbind attempt equal to your number of AoOs each round.
For example:
You can attempt an opposed attack roll to block an incoming attack, if you win by 5 or more, the shield has deflected the attacker's weapon arm outward, leaving him open and provoking an AoO for you only.
It would make shield fighting actually have as cool an ability as overhead chop.
There could be a feat called improved shield defense, which would require improved shield bash as a prereq.
Really all a 2 handed fighter is getting is str x2 instead of str x1.5 with overhead chop.
Yeah... The tough thing with introducing parry is that it's such a foreign concept in D&D. Why with a shield and not a weapon (primary or secondary)? It just gets messy, especially if rolls are involved.
Really, if you were revamping more of the system, someone's BAB should contribute to defense even just when wielding a weapon, as your weapon is used for attack and defense in general combat. If you did that, then adding more for an off-hand (shield or weapon) would fit seamlessly in the system.
It is not foriegn to D&D. See second edition.
As for 2 weapon defense, my whole point is there should be a continuation of it like the 2 weapon fighting chain.
Who wants to burn a feat for +1 ac? I can buy a ring of protection +1 for that.
Parrying has been used as long as I've been playing until 3rd ed with combat expertise feat, which in my opinion was gimped.
I'm pretty sure it wasnt a house rule, It might have come from the 2nd edition book skills and powers, but it was a pretty standard rule:
You give up one attack per round to attempt a parry, then it is an opposed attack rule.
To make combat more interesting, I think that it should be a feat, it could mirror two weapon fighting feats, only be for two weapon defense and you get a number of parry attempts equal to what your off hand attack would be.
I would prefer it run of AoO attemps, then it would make combat reflexes a little more useful as a prereq feat for it.
Here are 2 possibilities for how it could work:
Active defense - When fighting with a shield or offhand weapon, you gain 1 attempt per round to deflect an incoming attack. make an attack roll, if your attack total is higher than your opponents, his attack misses. if your roll exeeds the opponents by +5 or more, you gain an attack of opportunity. You do not get to make an offhand attack with this feat. you suffer normal 2 weapon fighting penalties when using this feat. this penalty does not apply to shields.
Improved active defense - You gain a second deflect attempt per round.
This could replace 2 weapon defense, be used for both sword and board, or make 2 weapon fighters pretty cool without taking the PcR.
These feats could be automatic for swashbucklers and duelists.
Other characters could use the 2 weapon fighting feats in concert with these 2 new ones to establish a fighting style.
The main point i'm making is I guess that a fighting style should not be a whole different class.
A fighter should be able to define his style in the same way he defines his weapon of choice.
Any other class should be allowed to fight how they like without multiclassing.
After all, there is just one wizard class with multiple specialties, Druids can choose to be shifters, casters or healers, Priests get to choose domains, or forgoe them for warpriest, why not give fighters the same variety through feat selection?
About Two Weapon Defense...
The only thing I noticed is that since it allows the off hands weapon to grant a +1 Shield Bonus, you should logically also be able to take advantage of Shield Bonus Enhancements on the same item - a slightly strange scenario, but since you're still paying for that, it seems fair to me (and the minimum to actually make the Feat "worth it"). If you have Shield Focus Feats (granting bonus to Shield AC), those should apply also... Still pretty underwhelming, I agree.