Attacking with a shield

[Pyratheon]

One of the players in my Pathfinder game is currently playing a fighter, specifically a phalanx soldier. He has chosen to wield a shield with a shield spike attached to it in his off-hand, as well as a one-handed sword in the main.

What it boils down to, is that we're terribly confused by penalties to attack when it comes to attacking with *just* the shield. He's got the two-weapon fighting feat, so if he is to attack with both his sword *and* shield, the penalties would of course apply. However, often he chooses to simply use a shield bash.

If someone could enlighten me with a detailed description as to how we should calculate the attack bonus for attacking with a shield, I'd be very much obliged.

Thanks very much.

[Jiggy]

Just like any other weapon. No special rules whatsoever (well, except that attacking with it costs him the shield bonus to AC for that round unless he has Improved Shield Bash).

[spalding]

It's simple -- if he attacks with only the shield there are no extra penalties for fighting with two weapons.

Just like if he was to simply attack with the sword there would be no extra penalties for having the shield in the other hand.

[Tempestorm]

The better quesiton is why did he bother with Phalanx Fighter... and then use a sword. That archtypes is deisnged to use a shield and a two handed polearm (wielded one handed).

[Pyratheon]

Wow, very active community. Thanks for responding, helped me out quite a bit.

[Pyratheon]

Tempestorm: The players are just level one, so he hasn't gained the "phalanx fighting" ability yet.

[Tempestorm]

Ah, makes perfect sense and should have thought of that.

[Quatar]

Also. If he has BAB 6, and therefor a second itterative attack, he can do attacks like Sword with +6 and shield with +1, at no penalty.

The TWF penalty only applies if he gets the extra attack from the offhand.

[blackbloodtroll]

Yep, if you are not gaining an extra attack from two weapon fighting, then you are not two weapon fighting, and suffer no penalties.

[Pyratheon]

Thanks everyone. :)

[Perfect Princess]

Tempestorm wrote:

The better quesiton is why did he bother with Phalanx Fighter... and then use a sword. That archtypes is deisnged to use a shield and a two handed polearm (wielded one handed).

If the character isn't level 3 he can't use a polearm one handed yet.