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AP is Runelords, 25 pt buy and we have 7 players. My guy looks like this:
CG Medium Humanoid (human)
Init +2; Senses Perception +2
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Defense
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AC 17, touch 12, flat-footed 15 (+4 armor, +1 shield, +2 Dex)
hp 13 (1d10+3)
Fort +4, Ref +2, Will +1
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Offense
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Speed 20 ft.
Melee Light Shield Bash +3 (1d3+2/x2) and
Club +5 (1d6+4/x2) and
Scimitar +5 (1d6+4/18-20/x2) and
Shortspear +3 (1d6+4/x2) and
Spear +5 (1d8+6/x3) and
Spear +5 (1d8+6/x3)
Ranged Sling +3 (1d4+4/x2)
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Statistics
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Str 18, Dex 15, Con 15, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 7
Base Atk +1; CMB +5; CMD 17
Feats Improved Shield Bash, Quick Draw, Two-weapon Fighting
Traits Armor Expert, Militia Veteran (any town or village) (Survival)
Skills Acrobatics -1 (-5 jump), Climb +1, Escape Artist -1, Fly -1, Knowledge (geography) +2, Knowledge (local) +2, Perception +2, Ride -1, Stealth -1, Survival +6, Swim +1
Languages Common, Draconic
Other Gear Chain shirt, Light wooden shield, Club, Scimitar, Shortspear, Sling, Sling bullets (10), Spear, Spear, Backpack (21 @ 44.5 lbs), Bedroll, Belt pouch (2 @ 1.44 lbs), Chalk (5), Charcoal stick (5), Gear maintenance kit, Grappling hook, Hammer, Mess kit, Mug/tankard, Piton (5), Pot, Rope, Sack (10 @ 0 lbs), Sack (empty) (2), Signal horn, Torch (5), Waterskin (2), Whetstone, 8 GP, 8 SP, 6 CP
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TRACKED RESOURCES
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Club - 0/1
Shortspear - 0/1
Sling bullets - 0/10
Spear - 0/1
Spear - 0/1
Torch - 0/5
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Special Abilities
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Armor Expert -1 Armor check penalty.
Improved Shield Bash You still get your shield bonus while using Shield Bash.
Quick Draw Draw weapon as a free action (or move if hidden weapon). Throw at full rate of attacks.
My thought was to Weapon Focus, maybe specialization, into Spears. His ranged will be the spears or sling if need bludgeoning damage. My other thought was to Shield bash and maybe bull rush the mob back into spear range, if they get close (based on a thread I read here in the advice forum)
Would Power Attack be the feat for 2? Then work on the Weapon Focus, until I qualify for ITWF? Or should I work on my shield feats first? I don't need to be a turtle or even the damage soaker, since we have quite a few melee folks in our group. I wouldn't be opposed to a dip into something. I was thinking of following Rogue Eidolon's Guide with the Sword and Board build. That sound like a plan?
Shield spikes
You might want let your "down the road" feats inform your next level. If you want Bull Rush to push people back into spear range, you need Power Attack first. If you're thinking of Shield Slam (which it sounds like you might be), then you don't need Power Attack until you want the extra damage.
For shield feats, Shield Focus is always hard to pass up. If your allies keep getting hit, Saving Shield and Covering Defense are nice, and very appropriate for a "shield wall" or phalanx fighter.
If you're wanting to do the "hurl a spear as you run in" tactic from Troy, you might look at Opening Volley (hit with ranged attack to increase your melee attack) or Charging Hurler.
For the first two levels, carry a Trident...
... it is a Martial 1 handed "spear", and can keep with the general aesthetic, you can brace it.
I usually prefer heavy shields when I make my Hoplite-style fighters. The Spear, large shield and short sword (or Gladius) combo is more in line with my idea of the Greek shield wall. However, It does lend to not being able to two weapon fight effectively until you throw the spear and draw the light shortsword.
You might want to take lunge (or maybe use a long spear after third level) for the flavor to hit with reach while still being able to shield bash.
With seven characters using 25 point-buy I assume you are ok trading some optimization for more Hoplite flavor...
+ 1 to all previous feat and weapon comments.
definitely get weapon focus spear and Improved shield bash at first level... I've never felt the need to take quick draw though... perhaps TWF or Weapon focus Shield Bash instead?
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As to the Quickdraw, it's really for the ability to throw at same speed as normal attacks, since he's dedicated to spears throughout, he will use them as his ranged attack.
Basically we are already in the game, I am just planning ahead, the first level feats have been locked in (right now). We'll see how things work out, I can always retrain one of them.
Yeah optimization isn't a big concern. This was just an idea that took hold and I really liked the idea of a guy who could be a trouble spot in a small place by getting AOO with reach. In all honesty, seeing the group we have, probably could have gone archer fighter and done tons more damage.
The shortspear is one handed and will be his main one hander until 3, then he'll just use spears. We actually have a polearm archetype fighter in the group too, we don't lack for reach. Depending on how things go, I may even stay with shortspear and shield and get more into melee and allow the polearm fighter to control the reach stuff. But, we also have a paladin and a barbarian, as I said we are melee heavy.
I am with you Forthepie. Every time I see Troy I want to make a spear weilding BA. Too bad they are so hard to optimize. Others have given great advice. I like your build but why wooden shield. You got to go with a round bronze shield lol! And why Simitar instead of a short sword. Again I know its more optimized but if your going all out Troy you might as well throw optimized out the window and go all in.
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Rather than a shortspear, look at taking javelins. Rather than taking Quickdraw, you can ask if you can do like the big guy that Achilles faces in the beginning and draw several at once (say 3), throwing one while holding the other two in your other hand. Then you can draw as you move in to meet your opponents.
Javelins are superior ranged weapons to the shortspear as they have an increased range increment. (Plus I have always liked the visual look of having a quiver of javelins on your back, like the Wemic from the old AD&D Monster Manual 2.) :p
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Rather than a shortspear, look at taking javelins. Rather than taking Quickdraw, you can ask if you can do like the big guy that Achilles faces in the beginning and draw several at once (say 3), throwing one while holding the other two in your other hand. Then you can draw as you move in to meet your opponents.
Javelins are superior ranged weapons to the shortspear as they have an increased range increment. (Plus I have always liked the visual look of having a quiver of javelins on your back, like the Wemic from the old AD&D Monster Manual 2.) :p
Why is it an either/or? Get an Efficient Quiver and use Javelins for range and a Shortspear for melee.
Also, a quibble against those talking about "Hoplites." Achilles never needed a shield wall! The Homeric heroes aren't formation fighters.