First Melee PC in Pathfinder - Shield Basher

[minoritarian]

Hi guys,

I'm going to be playing in a game soon. My first thought was to play an Enchanter with insane social skills but someone else is going to be playing a wizard for their first time. As I've not played a melee character since a Warblade back in 3.5 I thought I'd give it a shot.

The game is going to be a modified Kingmaker set in the North of Golarion (Land of Linnorm Kings I think but as I've been working on a lot of homebrew Iobaria details with the GM maybe there, it's not set in stone - but an all together colder version of Kingmaker at any rate)

I've decided to opt for an Ulfen Shield warrior. Starting with ranger to level 6 to get earlier access to Shield Master. This is what I would intend the build to look like feat, skill, ability and trait wise at level 6.

stat block without magic items:

Alvar Duransson
Male Human (Ulfen) Ranger 6
N Medium Humanoid (human)
Init +3; Senses Perception +12
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Defense
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AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 18 (+6 armor, +2 shield, +3 Dex)
hp 52 (6d10+12)
Fort +7 (+4 vs. hot or cold environments and to resist damage from suffocation), Ref +8, Will +5; +1 trait bonus vs. spells, spell-like abilities, and poison
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Offense
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Speed 20 ft.
Melee Heavy Shield Bash +12/+7 (2d6+8/x2) and
. . Armor spikes +11/+6 (1d6+5/x2) and
. . Dagger +11/+6 (1d4+5/19-20/x2)
Ranged Shortbow, composite +9/+4 (1d6+5/x3)
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Statistics
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Str 21, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 13

Base Atk +6; CMB +11; CMD 24

Languages Common, Dwarven, Giant, Skald

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Special Abilities
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Favored Enemy (Giants +4)
[b]Favored Enemy (Humans +2)
[b]Favored Terrain (Cold +2)

[b]Traits

Glint-Tongued
Glory of Old
Shield Bearer (Ulfen)

Drawbacks

Pride

Feats and level taken at
1: Power Attack -2/+4, Improved Shield Bash
2: Shield Slam
3: Endurance
5: Spiked Destroyer
6: Shield Master

I will probably take 3 or 4 levels of Fighter (Brawler) after this.
But what to do from there I have no idea and what I do from there affects early choices such as do I go spell-less ranger, do I bother taking an animal companion?

So knowledgeable people I ask:

Should I continue in Ranger after getting Close Combatant and Weapon Specialisation? (GM should rule that gloves of duelling work - I've allowed it for them before!)

Should I just swap over to fighter after level 6 in ranger?

What archetypes would be a good choice for either option (4 levels of fighter or 14 levels of fighter)?

Animal Companion or Companion Link?

Any other words of advice?!

I intend to dual-wield heavy shields eventually. So Double-Slice, Two-Weapon Rend, TWF tree will be taken. Won't be taking Bashing Finish or anything else that relies on crits.

[minoritarian]

Oh, and thank you in advance

[TGMaxMaxer]

You should have another feat at 3rd. Isn't Endurance a free ranger feat?

[minoritarian]

Ah yes, it was WF: Heavy Shield. Good catch

[minoritarian]

Just been playing around with it in my head and there's just no way I can go majority fighter. I'd be so bored.

So, for this idea using Ranger17/Fighter3, what would be a good archetype to take, if any, and do you think it's worth taking an animal companion or the companion bond?

[Emmit Svenson]

My advice would be go ranger to level 10 at a minimum. (Ranger 10 lets you cast Instant Enemy for a +6 favored enemy bonus on most opponents.) Then feel free to add in fighter levels if you like--the Brawler archetype could mix in well.

1: Improved Shield Bash
1: Two-Weapon Fighting
2: Shield Slam (ranger bonus feat)
3: Double Slice
5: Boon Companion
6: Shield Mastery (ranger bonus feat)
7: Spiked Destroyer
9: Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
10: Bashing Finish (ranger bonus feat)

Once you get Bashing Finish, your weapons should be a light, wide critical weapon (Keen kukri, most likely) in your off hand and the best heavy shield money can buy.

Power Attack is probably better for this build than Double Slice or Spiked Destroyer, but you’ll want Double Slice for Two-Weapon Rend at level 11, and Spiked Destroyer is just fun. Going Fighter later will give you feats to spend on critical boosts and bull rush improvements; staying Ranger will give you more Instant Enemy and more favored enemy bonus.

[Cult of Vorg]

I think greater bull rush and bashing finish (assuming high threat off hand) are essential to a basher. The shield slam can be situationally useful without greater bull rush, but giving AoOs to everybody else is priceless. Unless you're the only melee in the party.