I'm contemplating a shield bashing brawler fighter/Brawler build. It is for a game at level 13 and I'm thinking fighter 7/brawler 6 for two levels of close combatant and close weapon mastery.
I made a thread here about the base damage. Assuming my math there is right the base damage for a bashing shield would be 3d6 with +6 for close combatant.
How would you build such a pc using Core, APG, ARG, UC, UM, ACG as sources. 15 Point Buy
As traits are not as strictly handled I think Shield Bearer for +1 damage on shield bash sounds good.
Feats (5+6): Shield focus, Improved Shield Bash, Shield Slam, Shield Specialization, weapon focus (heavy shield), weapon specialization (heavy shield), shield master (?),
I contemplated making a dex build but I found no viable way. The klar, which qualifies for slashing grace is not in the close group and is a one-handed weapon. And I don't know a way to make a light shield, heavy shield or madu do dex to damage without the agile enchant (which isn't allowed)
Why not just go Shield Champion? The ricochet and ranged maneuvers can open up some sick combat flexibility. See here for details:
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?454387-Wolf-Trip-Shield-Champ ion-Intimidation-Martial-Control-of-Gravitas
You can also use Mutagenic Mauler if you would rather prioritize stats over feats on the fly.
I thought about shield champion, not decided yet.
Mutagenic mauler isn't what I want here, first I think martial flexibility will come in handy and second the mutagen is only 1/day on most days. And as our game goes that's often only 1 fight.
I'll look at your link.
Unchained rogue 3 could let you dex to damage with a finesse shield. It's not on your allowed books, but often that's the only thing allowed from unchained..
It's tough to beat weapon master fighter 3 for weapon training plus the gloves, same damage as brawler fighter but more attack.. With the saved levels you could fit in the un-rogue, more brawler levels, or a dip into cleric for growth domain enlarging.
The weapon master weapon training only nets +1/+1 while the brawler nets +3/+1. So 7 levels Brawler archetype get me +6 damage +2 to hit while 7 levels weaponmaster + gloves get me +4/+4. Same levels invested but one more feat on the weapon master side.
And the brawler's bonus is added to all weapons in the close group including unarmed strikes while the weaponmaster only gets it for one weapon.
The weapon master weapon training only nets +1/+1 while the brawler nets +3/+1. So 7 levels Brawler archetype get me +6 damage +2 to hit while 7 levels weaponmaster + gloves get me +4/+4. Same levels invested but one more feat on the weapon master side.
And the brawler's bonus is added to all weapons in the close group including unarmed strikes while the weaponmaster only gets it for one weapon.
Only one weapon, but I thought you were shield flurrying. Your math seems off, unless i'm missing something.. brawler 7 close combatant is +2 hit +4 damage, wm 3 training plus gloves gives +3/+3 and saves levels you can put elsewhere.. Unless your GM allows gloves with close combatant, in which case that's a free +2 damage
Sure, you are right. Ist starts with +3/+1 but only increases by +1/+1. My bad.
Unchained rogue 3 could let you dex to damage with a finesse shield. It's not on your allowed books, but often that's the only thing allowed from unchained..
It's tough to beat weapon master fighter 3 for weapon training plus the gloves, same damage as brawler fighter but more attack.. With the saved levels you could fit in the un-rogue, more brawler levels, or a dip into cleric for growth domain enlarging.
If allowed, you could have a finesse shield build with rogue(unchained)4, fighter(weapon master)3, brawler6, and possibly fit in weapon trick shield and a way to improve your feint actions like the moonlight stalker line, two weapon feint (if the brawler flurry counts as twf for feat prereqs too), or even feinting-flurry... The feinting stuff obviously may be too situational to want to deal with, that's probably more mesmerist-bait than your style..
The klar, which qualifies for slashing grace is not in the close groupThe Klar IS in the close weapon group. Light Shields are in the close weapon group, and the Klar counts as a light shield
A traditional klar counts as a light wooden shield
While the klar counts as a light shield it still has its own rules. And those rules say it is a one-handed weapon and put it in the heavy blades group. I do not want to bend the rules enough to claim they are both light and one-handed weapon and they are both heavy blades and close weapons, one from its own entry the other from being treated as light shields.
You would need to use a light shield or worship gorum for Shield-Trained if you go finesse-based. Shields are also heavy, so encumbrance may be a problem if you dump STR, and you will need to get the shield ACP to 0 to overcome the finesse to-hit penalty.
You are right.
And as you need a slashing weapon for slashing grace that will not work. I could only get dex to hit.
Well, technically--to the letter of the rules--a Klar is not a Spiked Shield, and so the Bashing Enchantment upon the Klar stacks just fine, and the base damage will be 2d6.
I did not intend to use a spiked shield, just a normal shield. So the stacking of shield spikes and bashing is of no consequence to this build.
I only brought it in because I was looking for ways to use dex to damage.
Those interested in hurting things with a shield might find inspiration here.
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You would need to use a light shield or worship gorum for Shield-Trained if you go finesse-based. Shields are also heavy, so encumbrance may be a problem if you dump STR, and you will need to get the shield ACP to 0 to overcome the finesse to-hit penalty.You are right.
And as you need a slashing weapon for slashing grace that will not work. I could only get dex to hit.
You wouldn't need slashing grace if you included unchained rogue 3.
I think I'll just drop the concept.
The discussion going on in the rules thread about this thread shows, that too much is questionable about it.
And, most likely, it is "too OP" for the group I was planning it for.