Just take a Kasatha with a real shield and 3 weapons for Gorum's sake!
Anyway, a buckler can't work: Either you can't wield a buckler because it's not a weapon, or you can't wield it because you already wield anything else in the hand.
Actually I still think I can wield the buckler to get a shield bonus.
^^ Read the entry again, you don't wield a buckler.
his small metal shield is worn strapped to your forearm. You can use a bow or crossbow without penalty while carrying it. You can also use your shield arm to wield a weapon (whether you are using an off-hand weapon or using your off hand to help wield a two-handed weapon), but you take a –1 penalty on attack rolls while doing so. This penalty stacks with those that may apply for fighting with your off hand and for fighting with two weapons. In any case, if you use a weapon in your off hand, you lose the buckler's AC bonus until your next turn. You can cast a spell with somatic components using your shield arm, but you lose the buckler's AC bonus until your next turn. You can't make a shield bash with a buckler.
TBH, I don't like the idea you don't "wield" a buckler, but hey, wielding is just a mess. Imo, you wield a buckler, until you attack with your arm/cast spell/stuff.
By RAW, you still can wield light or heavy shields, because they are weapons.
|
You're all mad! I'll try to be constructive...
'Wield' is not a game term, and means different things in different contexts. As such, the word should be avoided and replaced by less ambiguous terms in every case.
For shields (purely in terms of using them as objects which grant an AC bonus), shields are worn.
The problem with Phalanx Fighting is this: we all know that, historically, a long spear could be used with a shield. But...how, exactly? Did they really hold the spear in one hand, or did the shield itself help support the spear?
If the spear was held in one hand, then this could be done without holding a shield! How does the mere fact of holding a shield in your left hand magically let you use a longspear in your right hand, when without the shield it would be impossible to use a longspear one-handed? Either Phalanx Fighting should train the ability to use longspears one-handed, or the shield somehow (non-magically) helps support the spear.
If the shield helps support the spear, then Phalanx Fighting should allow you to use a shield as if it were a second hand on the spear. This would occupy that hand. Essentially, your left hand is both holding the spear AND the shield, and is occupied in doing so. Therefore it is not available to be used to hold a second weapon.
I'm not an historical phalanx-fighting expert, but I suspect that the true case resembles the second. I think that Phalanx Fighting doesn't so much let you use a longspear one-handed, but simply lets you use a shield at the same time as using the spear two-handed.
It's either that, or you're trained to use a longspear one-handed, shield or no shield.
Also the shield might help to counterbalance the spear.
Historically speaking the greek phalanx and the roman legions used rather short spears in combination with a heavy or even tower shield.
The macedons used pikes or longspears, but they used booth arms to hold the very clumsely weapons. Their advantage was the impressive reach.
I'm totally Okay with you two (and it's one of the reason I don't think RAI it was meant to use 2 polearm with a buckler). The rules were poorly written.
The term wield still exist (more or less as an unwritten rule, as BBT likes to point from time to time), but yeah, it's not what they should have used for a shield.
By RAW, you can't use this archetype with a tower shield.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
These threads make me sad. They can be boiled down to...
Player "Hey, I'd really like to play a PC like those cool guys in 300. I'm sad because the rules say I can't.
Design Team "I bet there are players who'd love to play a Spartan type fighter like in 300. Let's give an inch and come up with a cool archetype so they can."
Player "Wow! They've given an inch so I can be a cool Spartan. I'm gonna take a mile now and see if I can really stretch the spirit of this to duel-wield polearms to squeeze an extra 10-20 DPR."
I did and still stand by statement.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The problem with Phalanx Fighting is this: we all know that, historically, a long spear could be used with a shield. But...how, exactly? Did they really hold the spear in one hand, or did the shield itself help support the spear?
...
I'm not an historical phalanx-fighting expert, but I suspect that the true case resembles the second. I think that Phalanx Fighting doesn't so much let you use a longspear one-handed, but simply lets you use a shield at the same time as using the spear two-handed.
The Greek hoplite used a proper round shield that was over three feet in diameter. He fought with a spear that was between eight and nine feet long, which he used one-handed and in an over-hand motion. This tradition extended to ancient Italian states and cultures, as well. The Etruscans and the early Romans fought in a way largely indistinguishable from that of their Greek neighbors.
Philip II of Macedon is credited with introducing what is now known as the Macedonian phalanx. He made the shield smaller (though still the size of a Pathfinder small shield), and the spear longer - over 16 feet long, in fact. This spear, called the Sarissa, was used with both hands and was thrust in an under-hand motion.
The hoplite actively used his left arm to defend himself with his shield. The Macedonian phalangite may have had his shield strapped to his arm or may have simply had it hanging from his shoulder (historians don't agree). Either way, it was passive defense, since the phalangite's main consideration was to aim his giant spear (which eventually grew to 22-24 feet in length during the Hellenistic Age) at someone.
I hope this helps! :)
