As an example, can a fighter who has been disarmed take his heavy shield, grasp it in two hands, and bash with it that way for purposes of 1.5x strength and increase power attack damage? I find nothing specific that prevents it.
One-Handed: "If a one-handed weapon is wielded with two hands during melee combat, add 1-1/2 times the character's Strength bonus to damage rolls."
If it's a one-handed weapon, you can use two hands for extra damage. (Same thing for Power Attack)
Shield Bash Attacks: "You can bash an opponent with a heavy shield. 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."
While this does imply it's not a one-handed weapon (only treated as such for penalties on attack rolls), it was also written back when shield bashing was assumed to always be done with an off-hand while two-weapon fighting.
They are listed as one-handed weapons in Table: Weapons.
If your GM rules that the heavy shield is still not technically a one-handed weapon, simply affix shield spikes: "These spikes turn a shield into a martial piercing weapon" which, according to Table: Weapons, is one-handed for heavy shields.
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Actually, I am the GM an used it against the player's. And while no one complained about it, there was a question to it's legality rules-wise. I figured if something did prohibit it, someone would be able to find it.
Also I like to know these things for future reference.
Thanks for the info, by the way!
Not any help with the rules as such but... this is pretty convincing.
There is no rule forbidding it, so I'd say yes. Go and fight'em Captain America style!
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Having wielded a shield, I'd say no -- the technique for a shield bash just doesn't work 2-handed. It's like asking if you can wield a gauntlet 2-handed.
@VoodooHoodoo: And I'd call that using a shield as an improvised weapon. I'd let you get 1.5x ST bonus, but you'd have the -4 penalty to hit. Because he's not using the shield as a shield -- it might as well be a plank.
Having wielded a shield, I'd say no -- the technique for a shield bash just doesn't work 2-handed. It's like asking if you can wield a gauntlet 2-handed.
@VoodooHoodoo: And I'd call that using a shield as an improvised weapon. I'd let you get 1.5x ST bonus, but you'd have the -4 penalty to hit. Because he's not using the shield as a shield -- it might as well be a plank.
To be clear, we are talking about 2 different scenarios:
1.) Making a shield bash attack while the shield is strapped on an arm
2.) Holding the shield in both hands and using it as a weapon, not strapped on
I would agree that in Scenario #1, making a shield bash with both hands is not possible. I assume this is what you mean by "the technique just wouldn't work 2-handed." In fact, I think that the rules are already clear with Scenario #1: the shield is treated as a 1-handed martial bludgeoning weapon. As Grick pointed out, the rules for Shield Bash and the Weapons Table show this to be true.
However, I believe Xzaral is actually asking about Scenario #2. In this case, I think it's clear that the wielder would get the STR x1.5 bonus damage, he loses its shield bonus to AC, and that it would take a move action to unstrap the shield to grip it with both hands as a weapon.
Unstrapping a Shield: "Strapping a shield to your arm to gain its shield bonus to your AC, or unstrapping and dropping a shield so you can use your shield hand for another purpose, requires a move action. If you have a base attack bonus of +1 or higher, you can ready or drop a shield as a free action combined with a regular move."
Dropping an Item: "Dropping an item in your space or into an adjacent square is a free action."
This suggests that unstrapping a shield, but not dropping it, is still a move-equivalent action. What's UNCLEAR, however, is whether or not the shield is still considered to be a martial weapon in Scenario #2, or would it be considered an improvised weapon? I think this is the biggest question, because you aren't wielding the shield in the same way as in Scenario #1. I think the shield's base damage would remain the same, but I would personally lean toward ruling Scenario #2 as using the shield as an improvised weapon... though it certainly is a gray area.
Actually, I am the GM an used it against the player's.
Or at least tried to use, if we hadn't cut poor Sir Eldon down where he stood before he could get the bash off ;)
As noted, I think it is perfectly fine and sensical to be able to put a second hand behind that shield bash if you have the hand to spare.
Sure, but then it's an improvised weapon. Like if Jack clunked the giant in the noggin with its own pewter dinner plate.
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I don't see any reason why you couldn't use it two-handed, but I'd treat it as you'd treat any other two-handed weapon: both hands are considered "in use" until the character's next turn. So any attacks of opportunity would need to be resolved using the shield bash, two-handed, etc.
You can also think of it as using the off-hand to build momentum, not necessarily wielding the shield with it. Or maybe you grab the other guy with your off-hand to pull on him and increase impact that way.