Hello All,
I am familiar with pathfinder but by no means an expert. I been playing since last June.
I recently created a basic level one human fighter with the feats Shield focus, Saving Shield, and Missle Shield. I gave him a superhero complex + compulsive over-protectiveness for a personality. He was suprisingly more fun to play than I had expected. I think I only got hit once the entire encounter. The fun part was frequently using the "Saving Shield" feat; (whenever an adjacent ally is the target of an attack, you can, as an immediate action (i.e. once a turn), grant that adjacent ally a +2 shield bonus to AC). There was a few times that +2 AC bonus prevented what would have been successful attacks. I didn't get to use Missle Shield feat as I was never attacked with a ranged weapon. I also noticed that the adventuring party was sticking close to me, which usually rarely happens. Most game sessions the party usually splits up during combat.
My character hasn't reached second level yet, so I decided to re-work the character to see if I could improve on the "Captain America" theme. BTW, I am not a Min/Max'er, but do appreciate efficient and effective character choices. Basically, I want this human fighter to use a shield, and focus on defending his allies. I stumbled across an awesome feat that was begging to implemented on this character.
It is the "Bodyguard" feat; (when an adjacent ally is attacked, you may use an attack of opportunity to attempt the aid another action to improve your ally’s AC. You may not use the aid another action to improve your ally’s attack roll with this attack.)
At first I thought could combind this feat with Saving Shield to give an ally +4 to AC, but after discussing it with some other PFS people in my group it was decided that I could not perform two actions from one trigger. I did learn however that the effects of multiple Aid Another actions do stack.
I also stumbled across the halfling racial trait "Helpful" which allows the character to provide a +4 rather than a +2 bonus when using the Aid Another standard action. Being a human, I chose the Adopted feat and selected that one.
I also found the trait "Defender of the Society" which gives me a bonus +1 to AC if wearing Medium of Heavy Armor. Seems like a no brainer.
I looked at different classes and archetypes. The Cavalier seemed too focused on horses which I have never used in all the games I have played since June. Also, I just wasn't impressed with the teamwork feats and being limited to once a day sucks. The religous theme of the paladin just didn't fit with my idea for this character. I finally settled on the "Unbreakable" archetype of the fighter Class. Getting Endurance and Diehard for my one bonus combat feat at first level was nice and getting the "Heroic" feats later sold me on the theme.
So at 1st level I have Endurance, Diehard, Combat Reflexes, and Body Guard. I have 12 Str, 16 Dex, 16 Con, and 10 in everything else (I hate negative penalties). I am focusing on Dex and Con with this character. Dex for the AC bonus and extra Attacks of Opportunities. Con for the Heroic feats.
I learned that as my standard action on my turn I can perform Aid another (granting +4 to the AC of an adjacent Ally) and then use my Attacks of Opportunities to repeat the actions if my adjacent ally is attacked before or after my turn. I can potentially give one ally +8 to their AC! I want to purchase a Shield of Guarding (eventually upgrading to Greater Guarding) and Armor of Benevolence as soon as possible.
I do know that I want to take the following feats for sure keeping in theme with my idea;
"In Harm's Way" - While using the aid another action to improve an adjacent ally’s AC, you can intercept a successful attack against that ally as an immediate action, taking full damage from that attack and any associated effects (bleed, poison, etc.). A creature cannot benefit from this feat more than once per attack.
"Shield Focus" - Increase the AC bonus granted by any shield you are using by 1.
"Greater Shield Focus" - Increase the AC bonus granted by any shield you are using by 1. This bonus stacks with the bonus granted by Shield Focus.
"Heroic Recovery" - Once per day as a standard action you may attempt a new saving throw against a harmful condition or affliction requiring a Fortitude save that is affecting you. If this save against the affliction fails, there is no additional effect, but a successful save counts toward curing an affliction such as poison or disease. You cannot use this feat to recover from instantaneous effects, effects that do not allow a saving throw, or effects that do not require a Fortitude save.
"Heroic Defiance" - Once per day as an immediate action you can delay the onset of one harmful condition or affliction (such as panicked, paralyzed, stunned, and so on), including permanent and instantaneous conditions. Activating this feat delays the onset of the condition until the end of your next turn, after which time the condition takes its normal effect. This feat has no effect on hit point damage or ability damage.
What do you think? What changes would you do? What other feats do you recommend?
