So I'm playing around with a build I might run in my GM's next campaign, at some point in the future; essentially, the goal is to be Captain America. No weapons besides my shield, shield bashing being my primary source of DPS.
Is that viable with only Paizo mechanics, as a 1-20 fighter? Also of note is that I don't plan to take the Shielded archetype, I find it inferior by a wide margin to the baseline Fighter.
Hmm. I was kind of hoping to avoid Ranger, to be honest; 1-20 Fighter was really the way I planned to go, but this might work just as well, admittedly.
No way to do this as a straight Fighter and really be viable without that "shared enhancement bonus" thing, though...
It's actually a pretty common build from a while back. Everyone loves Captain America. If you search around for more captain andoran stuff, you'll find loads more builds.
No way to do this as a straight Fighter and really be viable without that "shared enhancement bonus" thing, though...
It will be viable if your DM do not ban Two handing the shield is just that shielmaster is the best feat for the build.
At low levels you will not be stellar but you probably will do just fine, Enchant the shield as normal and use a shield spike as a weapon.
A sample build ( you could also look the information of this avatar for another shield ony build)
1. Power attack, Furious focus
2. Shield focus
3. Weapon focus
4. Weapon specialization
5. Iron will
6. missile shield
7. Step up
8. Disruptive
9. Improved critical
10. Spellbreaker
11. Shield master at last.
12. ray shield
If you look under my Aliases at Ezra Scarlet Acadia VI you can see most of the Shield feats just drop the TWF feats and pick up Power Attack.
You might Also look into the Fighter Archetype focused on Shields. I wanna say it is called Shield Master...
Sorry would provide links if I wasn't on my phone... really sorry.
Oh one last thought you might pick go TWF and use a Gauntlet or Cestus as your secondary Weapon. The Shield will be you main Weapon with the Cestus used for a little extra damage.
And I think they are in the same Weapon group for Weapon Training if you stay basic Fighter.
Yes, I love shields...
Blinkback Belt and a Quickdraw Steel throwing Shield...
Isn't there a Mundane Throwing Property for a Shield or A Mundane Throwing Shield?
I like captain america with a hand gun.
I like captain america with a hand gun.
Meh, Kinda goes against the original Fluff of him though.
But if you Wish you can always make him with one. Hmm, Shield, Twin Cestus, and a Revolver...
I like captain america with a hand gun.Meh, Kinda goes against the original Fluff of him though.
Er, he used a gun in the original comics...
Actually, almost every super hero did--including batman. And they shot and killed people with said guns without much thought.
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I like captain america with a hand gun.Meh, Kinda goes against the original Fluff of him though.Er, he used a gun in the original comics...
Actually, almost every super hero did--including batman. And they shot and killed people with said guns without much thought.
Yup. Ol' Cap loved shooting up Nazis. Japanese too.
I like captain america with a hand gun.Meh, Kinda goes against the original Fluff of him though.Er, he used a gun in the original comics...
Actually, almost every super hero did--including batman. And they shot and killed people with said guns without much thought.
He uses a gun sometimes in newer comics too, especially in flashbacks back to WW2. Hell, he used one in the last Avengers movie.
And to be fair to Batman, those guys were experimental monster men that he kept saying were better off dead, lol.
However, a shielded gunslinger would be horrible, since you'd lack the ability to reload.
By Original Fluff I am referring to the original write up of his Personality from the Short Story.
He despised Firearms and even when he used them he never shot to kill. That actually was the reason he chose to take only the Shield and left the Sword behind.
I'd go Human Divine Hunter at least 5 with a throwing shield then probably Brawler Fighter for a while then either stay in that or go Guide Ranger.
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I looked at doing a build similar to this recently. My current thoughts are human fighter (brawler archetype) from 1-20. Primary weapon is the heavy shield, but they also have a cestus in their "main" hand. Basic idea is that on a standard attack you use the cestus hand with the shield to get two-handed damage, but on a full attack you use the cestus as the off-hand weapon and hope either it or the shield crits to proc Bashing Finish for the free attack. Human is for the extra feat and Martial Versatility/Mastery, which lets you apply your weapon focus/spec/etc towards all weapons in the same weapon group (close). This means you effectively end up with +7 attack and +11 damage for all weapons in the close weapon group, which includes shields, unarmed strike and the cestus.
If you don't like the cestus, Improved Unarmed Strike would be damned appropriate for a Captain America build and fit the role almost as well. This case does allow you to do two-handed damage with the shield while still maintaining the presence of the off-hand strike (which is basically free, since Shield Master removes the penalties for TWFing from the shield attacks).
Feat List (Heavy Shield + Cestus): Improved Shield Bash, Two-Weapon Fighting, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (Heavy Shield), Martial Versatility (Weapon Focus (Heavy Shield)), Weapon Specialization (Heavy Shield), GWS (Heavy Shield), GWF (Heavy Shield), Shield Slam, Shield Master, Bashing Finish, Improved Critical (Heavy Shield), Martial Mastery, Double-Slice
Feat List (Heavy Shield + Unarmed Strike): As above, but add Improved Unarmed Strike somewhere. You can wait until after shield master if you wish, because it won't be until then that the unarmed strike would be essentially free.
The build above can (by 12th level) end up dealing some pretty serious damage when criticals happen as they get that free shield bash from bashing finish, but does pretty well even at level 1.
Why Divine Hunter?
And what books do you have access to?
If you have Adventurer's Armoury their is a +50GP upgrade called Throwing Shield that allows you to throw the shield.
Combined with a Blinkback Belt (either the belt or try to get it Reslotted into a Gauntlet), a Quickdraw Shield, and Quickdraw feat.
Become a Shield Chucking Monster. Maybe have two Cestus and TWF for when you happen to need to beat down someone and can't get your shield.
Shield Slam will be your preferred Feat to get ASAP.
Ranger isn't bad. But it isn't the best overall.
For the most part, I would use a Heavy Shield(not spiked) two-handed.
Why not spiked?
It's actually a pretty common build from a while back. Everyone loves Captain America. If you search around for more captain andoran stuff, you'll find loads more builds.
Norgrim is this good enough.
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Norgrim is this good enough.It's actually a pretty common build from a while back. Everyone loves Captain America. If you search around for more captain andoran stuff, you'll find loads more builds.
Ah, thank you sir, i must have scrolled right by it. My mouse scrolling function is overly sensitive from time to time.
would this work for a free hand fighter? you could pick up some neat captain tricks with this archetype.
Ah, thank you sir, i must have scrolled right by it. My mouse scrolling function is overly sensitive from time to time.Norgrim is this good enough.It's actually a pretty common build from a while back. Everyone loves Captain America. If you search around for more captain andoran stuff, you'll find loads more builds.
I know that feeling.
would this work for a free hand fighter? you could pick up some neat captain tricks with this archetype.
I like this, because remember, Captain America doesn't just hit people with his shield. He's also a master martial artist who punches people.
I thought he was a Boxer...
I thought he was a Boxer...
My understanding is that he uses his own unique fighting style that does use elements of boxing.
From what I could find. He was formally trained in boxing. Had basic CQB/CQC from Military Training. Then when he was reawaken or whatever you call it he was trained in Martial Arts and such.
So you are right on him in the "Modern" World. If it is based on him during the WWII-era storyline he was only boxing with a little bit more. Mostly Wrestling.
Captain America was trained by Thor and Black Widow mashing up his combat style into something that is totally "Captain America"
Stated up in Marvel Super Heroes RPG, cap is the maximum possible in every physical stat and ability that a normal human could possibly be (not achievable through natural training)
In MSH those stats are Fighting, Agility, Strength and Endurance.
Cap is rated at incredible (40) fighting skill. An interesting note, that puts Cap at a better fighting skill than any of the other avengers have. So he took what he knew, Thor knew and Black widow knew and made into something greater than the sum of it's parts.
CQB/CQC wasn't a 'thing' during WW2. It would have been a short quick dirty Judo lesson.
Judo is probably the best way to describe Caps WW2 fighting style, some punching and some wrestling.
Cap also had the cool james bond motorcycle (something the disappeared as he got more superheroy)
Cap used firearms in WW2 that he rarely if ever uses in 'modern' fighting.
In the Marvel Superheroes universe, a full force punch from Cap (using his shield) delivers more destructive deadly force (according to game rules) than a submachine gun.
The rangers and the airborne of real world WW2 were taught marital arts prior to the D-Day Landing as part of their training. It's not unlikely that a special operative, like Captain America would have had access to the same training.
I think it's safe to call it 'martial arts', Boxing is, technically, a martial art, even tho many don't like of it as such.
CQB/CQC wasn't a 'thing' during WW2.
The British Commandos and the Schutzstaffel would beg to differ.
CQB/CQC was first defined in WWI it is used to describe the fighting one had to do in the Trenches. It was based on Rudimentary Karate, Wrestling, and short range sharpshooting.
The training wasn't formalized until 1940. The Special Forces and Marines were the only ones who went through it heavily.
Cap wasn't part of those he was a reject soldier pulled into the Super Soldier Project. They only had Army Trainers.
Note: The Captain America information is from the ORIGINAL Pre-Marvel Captain America which was the original WWII story.
Well, there's going to be a little conflicting info when some people are using modern age info, and some people are using golden age info.
But the basic idea is still the same. He aught to be a guy who can shield bash, then punch you.
I'm using 0 Age info...
I'm using 0 Age info...
I don't want to start nothin', but WWII is firmly in the Golden Age.
0 Age is that which refers to the Comics Story BEFORE Marvel obtained the rights to the Character now known as Captain America.
I like this, because remember, Captain America doesn't just hit people with his shield. He's also a master martial artist who punches people.
I thought he was a Boxer...
A boxer is a martial artist who punches people.
I was saying that as in he wasn't a Master. He was simply a basic boxer.
In MSH those stats are Fighting, Agility, Strength and Endurance.
Cap is rated at incredible (40) fighting skill. An interesting note, that puts Cap at a better fighting skill than any of the other avengers have. So he took what he knew, Thor knew and Black widow knew and made into something greater than the sum of it's parts.
Thor has Unearthly Fighting. Hercules has Unearthly too. And Cap has Amazing. Maybe you are mistaken with Agility?
0 Age is that which refers to the Comics Story BEFORE Marvel obtained the rights to the Character now known as Captain America.
Timely Comics who originated Cap are the same artists/writers who did Cap for marvel.
Caps story was he obtained special hand to hand combat training before being deployed.
I was in the army when CQB was stylized, I'm not a WWII vet. British Commandos did not utilize anything called CQB in or before ww2 or even ww1. it just didnt happen.
CQB stands for close quarters battle, and is mainly training on how to deal with firearms and bayonets that are in your face.
Army Rangers and Paratroopers were mainly trained off British Commando units, which is why they spent their late pre deployment in Britain. There wasn't anything called CQB back then, despite what wiki might want to tell you.
Thor has Unearthly Fighting. Hercules has Unearthly too. And Cap has Amazing. Maybe you are mistaken with Agility?In MSH those stats are Fighting, Agility, Strength and Endurance.
Cap is rated at incredible (40) fighting skill. An interesting note, that puts Cap at a better fighting skill than any of the other avengers have. So he took what he knew, Thor knew and Black widow knew and made into something greater than the sum of it's parts.
Hercules is a very late (and Lame) avenger.
Thors Strength is unearthly (100) not his fighting. I dont recall cap moving up to amazing fighting, which set are you looking at. Mine was from the late 80s early 90s.
The Comic Character was originally known by a different name.
Marvel bought the rights to the character but not the name.
I am getting this from a WWII Era Military Doctrine Codex.
CQB/CQC is the method of fighting at ranges less than 50 yards. It is the typical conditions of fighting in Trenches and Urban Terrain.
Thor has Unearthly Fighting. Hercules has Unearthly too. And Cap has Amazing. Maybe you are mistaken with Agility?In MSH those stats are Fighting, Agility, Strength and Endurance.
Cap is rated at incredible (40) fighting skill. An interesting note, that puts Cap at a better fighting skill than any of the other avengers have. So he took what he knew, Thor knew and Black widow knew and made into something greater than the sum of it's parts.
Hercules is a very late (and Lame) avenger.
Thors Strength is unearthly (100) not his fighting. I dont recall cap moving up to amazing fighting, which set are you looking at. Mine was from the late 80s early 90s.
In my book, Thor was Unearthly Fighting ("superior powers backed with long experience in combat"), Excellent Agility, Unearthly Strength and Unearthly Endurance. He was, if I recall correctly, the hero given in the stat section as example of unearthly level in both fighting and endurance. Some people who played with me were disgusting that he had more health than Hulk, because he had better overall physical stats.
This was the Benchmark given in the book:
http://superbuddies.net/capin/benchmarks.html
In the Campaign book of 1984, Cap has his face as the Amazing Fighting example (and Black Panther and Punisher are also mentioned, with the legend "ultimate human fighting machine"). He has also Incredible Agility, that's why I think you are confusing both. Plus Excellent Strength and Remarkable Endurance.
i have no idea what you guys are going on about. and still i am intensely interested.