It's widely acknowledged that sword-and-shield style isn't simply unpopular in 3.5 D&D, but it's downright underpowered compared to THF or TWF. I love the imagery and the nod to historicism that comes with using shields, and would also love to see their use increase amongst my players. I'm contemplating houseruling either increasing the armor bonus of all shields sans the buckler by +1, or outright doubling it (so a small shield gives +2 AC, the same as the first proposed rule, but a large shield gives +4). I realize this will increase the AC of many characters who choose to take a shield, but it seems to me that increase would be countered by the decrease that comes with not using two weapons or a two-handed weapon. Thoughts?
Some of the common themes I have seen when suggestions for improving sword and board are these by innate or feats:
* Add Shield AC bonus to reflex saves
* Have shield AC's bonuses apply to touch attacks, but not if flat footed
* Innately upping the AC's in general, 1 buckler, 2 light, 3, heavy, 5 tower
* Have all shields, except tower, finesseable and not have their ACP reduce attack rolls if proficient.
Grant it you probably don't want to do all of these, but there are just some thoughts that have been going around.
The bashing enchantment on a shield is both less expensive and usually more beneficial than the defending enchantment on a weapon in the off-hand. The AC bonus for the shield is active by default, while the AC bonus from the defending off-hand weapon only applies with a full attack (or other specific instances like Two Weapon Pounce allowing attacks with two weapons). With Improved Shield Bash and Two Weapon Fighting, a +x bashing light shield grants an AC bonus of +x+1, can attack as a +1 bludgeoning weapon (1d6/x2) while still granting an AC bonus, and counts as a light weapon (for two-weapon fighting penalties and Weapon Finesse). A +x defending weapon used in the off-hand costs twice as much, grants a lower AC bonus (which is not always active), and forces the wielder to decide how the bonus is divided between AC and attacking each round; granted, it's one less feat.
The shield feats in PHBII are also worth looking at: Shield Specialization (+1 to shield bonus), Agile Shield Fighter (reduce two-weapon fighting penalties with shield bashes), and Shield Ward (shield bonus applies to touch AC and vs. bull rush, disarm, grapple, overrun, and trip) especially.
Thanks for the feedback! In regards to the animated shield enchantment, no one has ever used it before, and I've never been a fan of it aesthetically, so canning it wouldn't be a problem. I do agree that the PHBII dramatically increased the feasibility and attractiveness of a sword-and-boarder, but it still seems lacking. I am not a fan of the shield bash mechanics, since it requires you to invest in the already feat-intensive two-weapon fighting chain, in addition to the shield bashing. I think I will go with increasing the AC bonus of all shields universally, and allow that bonus towards a character's touch AC as well. That would make shields attractive enough to entice me into playing a character who fights sword-and-shield.
Although, perhaps the problem is just that my players who like martial characters are just more fans of taking two-handers regardless of the benefits of shields....
Take the Feats from Pathfinder to boost shield usefullness.
Added AC feats,
DR feats,
Free Bull Rush feat...
A feat that allows you to TWF with your Shield with 0 penalty.
Yeah, there are a lot of great improvements in Pathfinder Shield wise...
Check out Grumble here for an Axe & Board PFighter.
MAYBE houserule that your AC from using a shield increases by +1 when your BAB is +6, +2 when your BAB is +11, and +3 with a +16 BAB....which stacks with the Shield Specialization feat.
Maybe improve the Shield Ward feat so in addition to adding the Shield bonus to Touch AC, at BAB +6, you add your Shield bonus to Reflex saves; at BAB +11, you gain Evasion when using a Shield; at BAB +16, you gain Improved Evasion when using a Shield.
Also, maybe invent a new Fighter-only feat that allows the Pathfinder Fighter to add their bonus to AC for wearing armor or using a shield twice if they are wearing armor AND using a shield.
Also, maybe invent a new Fighter-only feat that allows the Pathfinder Fighter to add their bonus to AC for wearing armor or using a shield twice if they are wearing armor AND using a shield.
That sounds interesting. I haven't switched to Pathfinder yet; for time reasons, I'm waiting until the final product comes out in August. But when (not if) the time comes, that sounds like a good way to go.
Maybe even introduce a feat, like Swing Shield, that has you swinging your shield around so much you gain concealment? Maybe 10% concealment? And you can take the feat up to 5 times, each time the effect stacks?
Maybe a feat that allows a free Disarm attempt if the opponent hits the shield? You'd have to track your regular shielded AC and your un-shielded AC.