The Armor Master's Handbook introduced three Shield Gauntlet Style feats. I really like the idea behind these feats, and they seem pretty good, but I'm having a hard time thinking of the a build that really takes advantage of all of the different things these feats do.
A brief description of the feats:
- Shield Gauntlet Style: When you're wearing a (spiked) gauntlet in your off hand, and you're not using that hand to hold weapon or shield or to make attacks, you (1) get a +1 shield bonus to AC, and (2) can treat your gauntlet as a buckler for the purposes of feats and abilities (though you're considered to have a free hand). And (3) you're treated as having Improved Unarmed Strike for the purpose of satisfying the Deflect Arrows and Snatch Arrows feats.
- Shielded Gauntlet Attack: (1) Attacks with your (spiked) gauntlet do damage as the sacred weapon of a warpriest of level = (your BAB - 4). (2) You get an extra attack of opportunity that you can make each round, but you must use your (spiked) guantlet to make it. And you're allowed to perform a disarm or steal maneuver when you make this attack of opportunity.
- Shielded Gauntlet Master: (1) You get the shield bonus to your AC even if attack with your (spiked) gauntlet, or use that hand to hold a weapon. And (2) you get to add your (spiked) gauntlet's enhancement bonus to the shield bonus to AC you get.
- General prerequisites these feats require: proficiency with bucklers and light shields, weapon focus (gauntlet of spiked gauntlet).
So what builds would best take advantage of these feats?
(My Preliminary thoughts:
- Monks and Brawlers won't benefit from the increased damage to your (spiked) gauntlet attacks, and don't benefit from the "treated as having Improved Unarmed Strike" for certain feats benefit, so they don't seem to take best advantage of these feats.
- You want a build that wants multiple attacks of opportunity, to take advantage of the free one you get; but it can't be a reach-weapon build, because it has to be an attack of opportunity you can make with your (spiked) gauntlet.
- You also want a build that more or less keeps your gauntlet off-hand free, so you can make attacks of opportunity with it. (The Shield Gauntlet Master feat allows you to hold stuff and still get the shield bonus, but I don't think it allows you to make attacks of opportunity with the (spiked) guantlet hand if you're holding something in it.)
- And to get a nice shield bonus, you want to have a high enhancement bonus on your (spiked) gauntlet. But that's only worth the money if you're using it to attack a lot. So that suggests a build that makes relatively heavy use of the (spiked) gauntlet attacks.)
One of the classes which get to increase their weapons enhancement bonus temporarily might be a good idea. Paladin or Magus or Warpriest.
Vigilante Avenger with Fist of the Avenger and Lethal Grace.
The first build in my Batman thread did this to great effect.
Builds using the dwarven waraxe or bastard sword.
You can alternate between using two hands or getting a shield bonus without the -1 to attack the buckler would give.
Swashbucklers seem like a good fit. They need a free hand for a lot of class features, need to use attacks of opportunity to use some class features (the bonus attack might free up a feat if they took combat reflexes), don't get improved UAS, usually don't get shields.
You're right, Swashbucklers do look like a nice fit. Swashbuckler Finesse applies to spiked gauntlets (since they're light piercing weapons), they benefit from the increased base damage on spiked gauntlet attacks, they can use the extra attack of opportunity on Opportune Parry and Reposte-ing (and on further attacks given a trip build), and benefit from the "hand is free" language. Nice!
Two potential hiccups with going straight Swashbuckler: (1) they're not proficient in light shields, which the Shield Gauntlet Style requires, and (2) there's no feat that allows you to apply dex to damage on spiked gauntlets. Boo.
But maybe you can just make your spiked gauntlets Agile, and dip into fighter for the shield proficiency an extra feats? Following Zedorland's suggestion:
I think tripping might be good here. When they provoke for standing, disarm them with the +4 cmb for them being on the ground.
So maybe something like this?:
Human 5th level Swashbuckler/2nd level Fighter
1. [Swashbuckler] Weapon Focus (Spiked Gauntlet) (bonus Human feat), Shield Gauntlet Style
2. [Swashbuckler]
3. [Swashbuckler] Shielded Gauntlet Attack
4. [Swashbuckler] Shielded Gauntlet Master (bonus Swashbuckler feat)
5. [Swashbuckler] Dirty Fighting
6. [Fighter] Improved Trip (bonus Fighter feat)
7. [Fighter] Greater Trip, Fury's Fall (bonus Fighter feat)
Important Equipment: Agile Spiked Gauntlets
Huh. Not bad. And this paired with a Potion of Enlarge Person to really take advantage of the extra attack of opportunity looks pretty good...
Vigilante Avenger with Fist of the Avenger and Lethal Grace.The first build in my Batman thread did this to great effect.
Yeah, this was my first thought too! I was initially worried that this wouldn't work, because (this comment seems to indicate that gauntlets can't be enchanted, which would be a big hit to the benefit granted by Shielded Gauntlet Master. You can get around that by using spiked gauntlets, which can be enchanted. But at least one person in that same thread seemed to think that Fist of the Avenger only worked with gauntlets, not spiked gauntlets...
But now that I look back, Fist of the Avenger says it works with unarmed strikes or gauntlets. So if spiked gauntlets are a kind of gauntlet, then it seems it should work. (And, FWIW, the Fist of the Avenger does seem to work in Hero Lab.)
So maybe something like:
Human 9th level Avenger Vigilante
1. Weapon Focus (Spiked Gauntlet) [retrain into Dirty Fighting at lvl 8], Shield Gauntlet Style
2. Lethal Grace talent
3. Shielded Gauntlet Attack
4. Fist of the Avenger talent
5. Shielded Gauntlet Master
6. Favored Maneuver talent (Trip)
7. Fury's Fall
8. Signature Weapon (Spiked Gauntlet)
9. Greater Trip
Pretty nice. Takes a bit longer to get together than the Swashbuckler/Fighter build, but Lethal Grace and Fist of the Avenger together will do pretty nice damage...
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1. Weapon Focus (Spiked Gauntlet) [retrain into Multi Shot at level 8], Shield Gauntlet Style
2. Lethal Grace talent
3. Shielded Gauntlet Attack
4. Fist of the Avenger talent
5. Shielded Gauntlet Master
6. Point blank shot
7. Rapid Shot
8. Signature Weapon (Spiked Gauntlet)
9. Deadly Aim
As an aside, this build works really well for making a green arrow/hawkeye switch hitter. This guy can brawl or take shots at range, good versatility for a martial character.
1. Weapon Focus (Spiked Gauntlet) [retrain into Multi Shot at level 8], Shield Gauntlet Style
2. Lethal Grace talent
3. Shielded Gauntlet Attack
4. Fist of the Avenger talent
5. Shielded Gauntlet Master
6. Point blank shot
7. Rapid Shot
8. Signature Weapon (Spiked Gauntlet)
9. Deadly AimAs an aside, this build works really well for making a green arrow/hawkeye switch hitter. This guy can brawl or take shots at range, good versatility for a martial character.
Yeah, that is a nice build. (It doesn't take advantage of the extra attack of opportunity that Shielded Gauntlet Attack gives you, which I was trying to fit in. But it's probably a more well-rounded (and frankly, better) build overall!
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(P.s.: The swashbuckler/fighter build above needs to take one of the levels of fighter at first level in order to get the shield proficiency needed for Shield Gauntlet Style.)
One of the classes which get to increase their weapons enhancement bonus temporarily might be a good idea. Paladin or Magus or Warpriest.
I like the idea of a gauntlet magus, but it probably doesnt rate against standard crit fishing. Maybe a black blade spiked gauntlet magus?
Yeah, the Magus. Interesting. The Magus can extend their reach with things like Enlarge Person, and so might be able to skip the who tripping set-up. And they certainly benefit from the increase base damage on the spiked gauntlet, and the "free hand" bit.
The Magus would be a little more feat starved than the Vigilante (who has talents to fill in for feats) or a Swashbuckler/Fighter combo, but if they don't need to pursue the trip line, that's not that big a deal. My main worry with the Magus is that they don't have the required shield proficiency, and that seems like a painful thing to burn a feat on. And you don't want to dip into fighter if you're a 6th level spellcaster...
Is there an archetype or something that might help with this?
The Skirnir archetype for the Magus has a bunch of shield-related things. They've got diminished spellcasting, but get a bonded shield, can use shield-related buffs, spellstrike with a shield bash, stuff like that.
Since the spiked gauntlet would be considered a buckler, it should be a valid target for the bonded item.
I'd probably say that the best user out there is an Exemplar Brawler.
1. They can Flurry with the gauntlet.
2. They otherwise don't have IUS or any scaling damage dice.
3. They are proficient with shields naturally.
4. They get a free teamwork feat, so they can get Outflank, and take advantage of that with the extra Attack of Opportunity provided by the style.
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5. They have Martial Flexibility to end the featline faster.
6. They have a big incentive to get Medium/Heavy Armor and less DEX, so they can really find that extra attack useful.
Adding an Exemplar build to my post:
Shielded Gauntlet Exemplar
Race: Human
20 point buy: S16 D12 C14 I10 W10 CH13
Feats:
1. Medium Armor Proficiency, Weapon Focus (Gauntlet)
2. Shielded Gauntlet Style
3. Heavy Armor Proficiency
4. +1 CHA
5. Shielded Gauntlet Attack, Shielded Gauntlet Master
7. Iron Will
8. Improved Critical
The Rondeloro fighter archetype is based around falcata+buckler, which should work with the spiked gauntlet. There's also a Rondelero swashbuckler archetype with a similar theme. You could also potentially do a Thunderstriker fighter.
Two potential hiccups with going straight Swashbuckler: (1) they're not proficient in light shields, which the Shield Gauntlet Style requires, and (2) there's no feat that allows you to apply dex to damage on spiked gauntlets. Boo.
Straight Swashbucklers can be proficient with Light Shields if they have the Regional Recluse Trait.
Straight Swashbucklers can be proficient with Light Shields if they have the Regional Recluse Trait.
Nice reminder. The skirnir isn't a magus archetype I like, so that opens it up a bit.
Maybe a half-elf kensai. With a weapon proficiency from half-elf you can pick up a whip, and with the gauntlet you can still threaten up close. Also the style feats help with the kensai's less than perfect defence. Something like
Half-elf: EWP (whip)
1: Shielded Gauntlet Style
Kensai 1: Weapon Focus (spiked gauntlet)
3: Shielded Gauntlet Attack
5: Shielded Gauntlet Master
Magus 5: Deflect Arrows
I'd probably say that the best user out there is an Exemplar Brawler.
1. They can Flurry with the gauntlet.
2. They otherwise don't have IUS or any scaling damage dice.
3. They are proficient with shields naturally.
4. They get a free teamwork feat, so they can get Outflank, and take advantage of that with the extra Attack of Opportunity provided by the style.
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5. They have Martial Flexibility to end the featline faster.
6. They have a big incentive to get Medium/Heavy Armor and less DEX, so they can really find that extra attack useful.
Nice! That sounds like a great fit.
Straight Swashbucklers can be proficient with Light Shields if they have the Regional Recluse Trait.Nice reminder. The skirnir isn't a magus archetype I like, so that opens it up a bit.
Maybe a half-elf kensai. With a weapon proficiency from half-elf you can pick up a whip, and with the gauntlet you can still threaten up close. Also the style feats help with the kensai's less than perfect defence. Something like
Half-elf: EWP (whip)
1: Shielded Gauntlet Style
Kensai 1: Weapon Focus (spiked gauntlet)
3: Shielded Gauntlet Attack
5: Shielded Gauntlet Master
Magus 5: Deflect Arrows
Nice find! The Regional Recluse trait frees things up quite a bit. So it looks like there are quite a few builds which would take good advantage of the main features of the shielded gauntlet style (including the extra attack of opportunity):
1. A Swashbuckler Opportune Parry-and-Riposte build (with Agile spiked gauntlets and the Regional Recluse trait)
2. A Magus "Enlarge Person" build (with the Regional Recluse trait)
3. An Avenger Vigilante trip-build
4. An Exemplar Brawler build
That's actually quite a few options. (And there are probably some Fighter builds which could take advantage of it too...) Awesome.
Thanks guys+gals!
Straight Swashbucklers can be proficient with Light Shields if they have the Regional Recluse Trait.Nice reminder. The skirnir isn't a magus archetype I like, so that opens it up a bit.
Maybe a half-elf kensai. With a weapon proficiency from half-elf you can pick up a whip, and with the gauntlet you can still threaten up close. Also the style feats help with the kensai's less than perfect defence. Something like
Half-elf: EWP (whip)
1: Shielded Gauntlet Style
Kensai 1: Weapon Focus (spiked gauntlet)
3: Shielded Gauntlet Attack
5: Shielded Gauntlet Master
Magus 5: Deflect Arrows
Magi are not proficient with bucklers though.
Magi are not proficient with bucklers though.Straight Swashbucklers can be proficient with Light Shields if they have the Regional Recluse Trait.Nice reminder. The skirnir isn't a magus archetype I like, so that opens it up a bit.
Maybe a half-elf kensai. With a weapon proficiency from half-elf you can pick up a whip, and with the gauntlet you can still threaten up close. Also the style feats help with the kensai's less than perfect defence. Something like
Half-elf: EWP (whip)
1: Shielded Gauntlet Style
Kensai 1: Weapon Focus (spiked gauntlet)
3: Shielded Gauntlet Attack
5: Shielded Gauntlet Master
Magus 5: Deflect Arrows
Oh crap. That's right. And the shielded gauntlet feats require proficiency in light shields and bucklers. So that makes the Magus. That throws a wrench in the (non-Skirnir) Magus build.
Unless someone knows of some other obscure trait which grants buckler proficiency? :)