Shield master feat removes what penalties?

[jacetms87]

This is the text of the shield master feat it seems clear to me that it removes all penalties with your shield if you wield another weapon, such as the penalty on power attack, as the wording of the power attack feat states it is a -1 penalty. etc. Are there any rulings on this paticular feat I should eb aware of, are there penalties it has been FAQd to not remove.

Shield Master (Combat)
Your mastery of the shield allows you to fight with it without hindrance.

Prerequisites: Improved Shield Bash, Shield Proficiency, Shield Slam, Two-Weapon Fighting, base attack bonus +11.

Benefit: You do not suffer any penalties on attack rolls made with a shield while you are wielding another weapon. Add your shield's enhancement bonus to attacks and damage rolls made with the shield as if it was a weapon enhancement bonus.

[Starglim]

It might help to read it as "You do not suffer any penalties on attack rolls made with a shield because you are wielding another weapon." It negates the two-weapon fighting penalty only. A GM might allow it to negate the penalty from spell combat, which is closely equivalent.

[Maxximilius]

It negates TWFing penalties, but only on shield attacks.
Basically, assuming a level 12 fighter with 10 Str, Improved TWFing feat and Shield Master feat, wielding a +3 heavy shield and a longsword (for a -4 penalty to all attacks this round) :

BAB : +12/+7/+2
TWFing : +8/+3/-2 +15/+10

[Obsidian]

Maxximilius wrote:

It negates TWFing penalties, but only on shield attacks.

Basically, assuming a level 12 fighter with 10 Str, Improved TWFing feat and Shield Master feat, wielding a +3 heavy shield and a longsword (for a -4 penalty to all attacks this round) :

BAB : +12/+7/+2
TWFing : +8/+3/-2 +15/+10

thats why duel wielding shields is so uber epic with shield master

[jacetms87]

Obsidian wrote:

thats why duel wielding shields is so uber epic with shield master

Thats what I thought untill my GM ruled that even though I would hit people with my shield/s witha ll attacks only attacks from one hand qualify for shield slam.... That and with all do respect to everyone in the thread that is not what the feat say it clearly says removes all penalties, by RAW, it would mean all penalties, right has there been a post by JJ SKR, etc, or a FAQ some sort of offical/ semi offical source?

[Maxximilius]

jacetms87 wrote:

Thats what I thought untill my GM ruled that even though I would hit people with my shield/s witha ll attacks only attacks from one hand qualify for shield slam.... That and with all do respect to everyone in the thread that is not what the feat say it clearly says removes all penalties, by RAW, it would mean all penalties, right has there been a post by JJ SKR, etc, or a FAQ some sort of offical/ semi offical source?

"Q: Does Shield Mastery remove the penalties for all attacks if you are using a non-shield weapon and a shield and two-weapon fighting? Or does it only remove the penalties for the shield attack?

A: Shield Mastery only removes the penalty for Two Weapon Fighting on the Shield Bash itself, it does not remove it for a non-Shield weapon in your other hand."

Pathfinder FAQ.

[jacetms87]

Well that kind of settles that sorry for previous comment guys, thanks for the answers in both threads max, thank goodneed for being able to drop improved shield bash, now on to duel wielding kukeris.

[Maxximilius]

Don't make the mistake of thinking that this feat is bad, my character is based on sword&board, and holds it's own nicely without even having to resort on borderline cheese through a quickdraw shield with the quickdraw feat, to TWF with both a longsword held two-handed and shield bashs in the same round (which can also be done with a scimitar/kukri/glove of storing combo). ;)

[jacetms87]

I agree with you that it still seems quite powerful, however it doesnt seem it is right for this paticualr game after talking with the gm. With very very high Cmds to avoid bull rushes, and also not really having accsess to a city to purchase new gear very often, I will have to save it for another time. Oh well now time to be yet another name TWF looking for crits on kukeris.

[Maxximilius]

You may enjoy this then if double-weapons TWFing is what you aim for.