Power Attack and Heavy Shield Bashing

[ddgon]

If you Shield bash with a Heavy Sheild, and not while two-weapon fighting, can you use power attack at the 1:2 ratio? a heavy shield is on the one handed but not light melee weapon chart, so it should get a 1:2 ratio, like all other weapons on that chart.

If you hold it in 2 hands, like you can do with other weapons on the chart, you should get 1.5str and 1:3 power attack ratio yes?

I know that useing a shield with two hands is odd, but if you can do it then you could have very high damage while not giving up AC for it. Plus a free bull-rush check per hit is just iceing :)

[David Thomassen]

As a non-light weapon it can benefit from being wielded "2-Handed".

I am not sure where you are getting the free Bull Rush & not giving up AC from. I assume you are looking at a high level fighter with class abilities and feats.

[ddgon]

Sheild Slam and Improved Shield Bash feats. The real question is dose a shield get 1:1 or 1:2 or 1:3 with Power Attack?

[David Thomassen]

Shield, Heavy; ... Shield Bash Attacks: You can bash an opponent with a heavy shield, using it as an off-hand weapon. See “shield, heavy” on Table: Weapons for the damage dealt by a shield bash. Used this way, a heavy shield is a martial bludgeoning weapon. For the purpose of penalties on attack rolls, treat a heavy shield as a one-handed weapon. If you use your shield as a weapon, you lose its AC bonus until your next turn. An enhancement bonus on a shield does not improve the effectiveness of a shield bash made with it, but the shield can be made into a magic weapon in its own right.

Power Attack

PA Blurb:

You can make exceptionally deadly melee attacks by sacrificing accuracy for strength.

Prerequisites: Str 13, base attack bonus +1.

Benefit: You can choose to take a –1 penalty on all melee attack rolls and combat maneuver checks to gain a +2 bonus on all melee damage rolls. This bonus to damage is increased by half (+50%) if you are making an attack with a two-handed weapon, a one handed weapon using two hands, or a primary natural weapon that adds 1-1/2 times your Strength modifier on damage rolls. This bonus to damage is halved (–50%) if you are making an attack with an off-hand weapon or secondary natural weapon. When your base attack bonus reaches +4, and every 4 points thereafter, the penalty increases by –1 and the bonus to damage increases by +2. You must choose to use this feat before making an attack roll, and its effects last until your next turn. The bonus damage does not apply to touch attacks or effects that do not deal hit point damage.

So -1 to Hit and +2 damage one handed (IF used as primary attack), -1 to hit and +3 damage 2 handed.

There is a lot of discussion about the use of a shield as a primary attack, so get confirmation from your ref & good luck with PFS.