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The Thunderstriker at what level it takes the ability to not miss the bonus to AC? I do not understand ...
Level 19: Improved Buckler Defense (Ex)
Can you fight a two-handed weapon and still maintain the buckler's AC bonus? Some archetype?
Also, if your GM allows 3.5 material, there's a feat called Improved Buckler Defense that do just that (but you keep the -1 penalty on attack rolls). Many believes that this feat was too strong because it lets you have all the benefits of fighting with a two-handed weapon (high DPR) while receiving a +6 shield bonus on your armor class with a magical buckler +5. This bonus to AC can get even higher with Shield Focus.
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It's not exactly what you're asking for, but a wand of shield would give you a +4 bonus for a minute, which is likely all you need for a single combat. Put it in a spring-loaded wrist sheathe and then drop it on the ground after casting if you don't have a move action available to stow it. It means you're giving up your first round to buffing, but it may be worth it in specific fights.
If you hate the idea of making a UMD check, a level of alchemist would give you access to the shield spell as a standard extract drink, along with access to mutagen.
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Thunderstriker Fighter archetype.
Can a Thunderstriker substitute a Klar for a buckler? If so, would this be approved for use in Pathfinder Society?
I'm trying to create a PFS-legal character who uses the Thunder & Fang fighting style as published in the Pathfinder Adventure series, Curse of the Crimson Throne (#4, A History of Ashes).
Can a Thunderstriker substitute a Klar for a buckler?
Klar: "As Armor: The klar functions as a light wooden or light steel shield when used to defend in combat."
Thunderstriker is hilariously awful.
If you can't get the 3E feat of the same name, the best best is to simply get extra arms. Ironically, while using a buckler w/ a 2H weapon is extraordinarily difficult in PF, growing an entirely new limb is incredibly simple. Alchemist 2 (for a choice of a vestigial limb OR a tentacle to hold that shield; and you can then take feats for more limbs/tentacles if you want) or Synthesist Summoner 1 (Arms evolution) will do it. Now that you have a spare limb, you can use that shield and still 2H a weapon!
Man, it's a good thing PF shunted that broken ol' Improved Buckler Defense all the way to 19th level. Totally kept the game balanced by doing that.
Thunderstriker is hilariously awful.
If you can't get the 3E feat of the same name, the best best is to simply get extra arms. Ironically, while using a buckler w/ a 2H weapon is extraordinarily difficult in PF, growing an entirely new limb is incredibly simple. Alchemist 2 (for a choice of a vestigial limb OR a tentacle to hold that shield; and you can then take feats for more limbs/tentacles if you want) or Synthesist Summoner 1 (Arms evolution) will do it. Now that you have a spare limb, you can use that shield and still 2H a weapon!
Man, it's a good thing PF shunted that broken ol' Improved Buckler Defense all the way to 19th level. Totally kept the game balanced by doing that.
I believe this is more related to copyright issues than balance issues. This is why I won't sell my D&D 3.5 books, there's still good stuff in there that Paizo can't reprint in their own books. :)
But...Paizo named the 19th level class feature that has an identical effect the exact same name as the feat! How does THAT avert copyright issues anymore than just reprinting the bloody feat?! Rename it if you must. That's basically what they did with Ectoplasmic Spell (compare to 3E's Transdimensional Spell) and many other things.
Yeah you're right, and beside, feats with "Improved" in their name tend to have a "Greater" version in Pathfinder, but I don't think that there's any Greater Buckler Defense in the game. That's strange! :P
So what is the point of this class? At 3rd level he can attack with a weapon two handed with no penalty from a buckler. Okay great...why not just not have a buckler and always use your great axe etc. A bastard sword or any non light single handed weapon seems like a better option than a two handed weapon here so you can swap round to round.
At 7th level he can shield bash with a bucker...lose his ac bonus and not attack with his two handed weapon...why would you do that? A one handed weapon seems like a better option again.
13th level...as I read it reduced penalties for two weapon fighting. Same at 17th level.
19th level...no loss of ac when two weapon fighting with a buckler.
No where besides the class description does it say anything that I think allows using a two handed weapon and getting your shield bonus or using a two handed weapon as part of two weapon fighting.
Also a quick draw shield with the quick draw feat and the improved shield bash feat essentially invalidates this entire class except for knockback smash at 11th level and hammerand anvil at 13th level.
Am I correct in my assumptions?
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If you really just want to keep your shield bonus while wielding a 2-hder then nothing is better then the Thunder and Fang feat.
By 3rd level a human fighter can wield a 2-hd weapon in one hand, have a shield (Klar) in his off-hand while keeping his shield bonus. Add to that you can shield bash with that klar and 2 hand attack AND still keep your shield bonus.
If you decided to go Ranger instead of fighter you would also get to ignore all 2wp fighting penalties on your shield bashing at 6th level.
Anything that lets you keep your buckler bonus is basically competing with an animated shield, which is a fairly pricy item, or the ring of force shield (which can be activated or deactivated at will).
And yet in 3E, it was a 1st level feat and the animated shield was continuous use, not only a few rounds at a time.
And yet somehow martial characters weren't breaking the game.
You know who I see wearing shields in PF, in almost every circumstance?
CASTERS. They have spells for offense, so no worries over 2-handing a weapon for more damage. Mithral means even a wizard can have a +5 buckler w/ no problems.
And yet in 3E, it was a 1st level feat and the animated shield was continuous use, not only a few rounds at a time.
And yet somehow martial characters weren't breaking the game.
From what was explained to me years ago, and I dont remember who said it, the reason the animated shield was limited to rounds was because the two-handed melee types would overshadow the TWF'ers and sword and board types.
I guess it is easier to limit the shield to 4(this number may be incorrect) rounds, than it is to boost the other two fighting styles.
PS: I am not defending the choice to reduce the shield to 4 rounds just offering perspective.
Sure, it's easier. It's not better, though. 2H fighting wasn't overpowered, it was the only style that was remotely decent. The solution that should have been made was to boost TWF and actual sword and board (and unarmed and the single 1H weapon fighter, which always gets forgotten) to bring them up to par. Instead, the devs decided to give mid - late level 2H warriors a 3-7 point AC reduction, basically (+1 animated heavy shield through +5 animated heavy shield).
I know you're not defending the decision. But I really dislike it, and am getting appalled by people acting like the whole "2H + shield" deal was a "problem" in 3E.