Just to make sure I'm reading it right ... bucklers can be Raised if you're not wielding a weapon in the hand they're on. Which means a greatsword/buckler build is really a greatsword build with more encumbrance and cash used.
But characters with unarmed attacks like monks, catfolk, and catfolk monks can strap on all the bucklers they want because they're not wielding weapons. Nice fast unarmed attacks will help, say, swashbucklers since they can grab with one hand, then claw, then raise the buckler anyway.
Right?
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A greatsword/buckler build just doesn't really work, because you have to wield the greatsword in two hands and that means your buckler won't work.
Yeah, unarmed strikers can indeed make good use of bucklers.
But it's not just them: you could use a broadsword, which is a one-handed sword that does more damage when held in two hands. If you don't need the buckler right now, hold your sword in both hands and slash away. If you want to be more defensive, switch to one-handed. Or use a feat like dual-handed assault to have the best of both worlds.
There's a price you pay though:
- true two-handed weapons have the biggest damage dice
- bucklers have a lower AC bonus than shields that take up a hand fully
Bucklers are only as good as the Shield cantrip (unless you have the Buckler Expertise feat), but the Shield cantrip can be used with 2H weapons like the greatsword.
you can only shield block once per fight however, so it's only the same if your buckler always breaks.
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Bucklers are only as good as the Shield cantrip (unless you have the Buckler Expertise feat), but the Shield cantrip can be used with 2H weapons like the greatsword.you can only shield block once per fight however, so it's only the same if your buckler always breaks.
A buckler has 3 Hardness and 6 HP, so yes your buckler almost always breaks.
OTOH, the Shield cantrip doesn't require the Shield Block general feat, has more Hardness, and can be used with a greatsword like the OP wanted.
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Why the buckler? You can combine unarmed attacks with an ordinary shield just fine.In the example given the grab would involve the one hand. The next attacks would have to be shield bashes, not unarmed. It might be relevant.
Note: Unarmed does not have to be with fists you can use any body part therefore you can use a shield as much as you want with unarmed no sheild bashes needed.
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Even Adamantine Buckers are pretty useless, with only 8 hardness and 32 HP at level 8, meanwhile a Lesser Sturdy Shield has 10 hardness and 80 HP, at a lower level for less money. The only reason you would carry a buckler is if you have Buckler Expertise, and even then you likely aren't going to block with it, just have the bonus to AC.
The Shield spell is just a much better option. And since the addition of the Dusty Rose Prism, anyone can get it (without scaling) for the low price of 50g.
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I think the only real reason for a buckler is if you want the AC, but also need a free hand.
Blocking with it is almost never gonna happen. But that's the case for most shields. 16 classes (as of time of writing) have a reason to use shields, namely AC. Only 3.5 of them get Shield Block as a class feature.
A bunch of "fencer"/"duelist" style feats demand a free hand; bucklers can work with that. (I've never understood why we use the word "duelist" for 1H combat, as opposed to "I'm fighting this enemy on my own, without the rest of the party helping".)
I think the only real reason for a buckler is if you want the AC, but also need a free hand.
Blocking with it is almost never gonna happen. But that's the case for most shields. 16 classes (as of time of writing) have a reason to use shields, namely AC. Only 3.5 of them get Shield Block as a class feature.
A bunch of "fencer"/"duelist" style feats demand a free hand; bucklers can work with that. (I've never understood why we use the word "duelist" for 1H combat, as opposed to "I'm fighting this enemy on my own, without the rest of the party helping".)
The name's probably for the stereotypical pose for fencing. I don't really get how the free hand works aside from actually doing stuff with it like grabbing or shoving or poking though.
And to answer earlier, the idea is more to grab and then maul with your claws. I've wanted to develop a swashbuckler amurrun with the gymnast focus (so grapply) but Duelist Stance requires a weapon. I know it's more optimal to go with an orc or half-orc and chomp the enemy into submission, but I'd rather do that with an elf barbarian build or something like that.
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I've wanted to develop a swashbuckler amurrun with the gymnast focus (so grapply) but Duelist Stance requires a weapon.
You just have to wear a gauntlet/spiked gauntlet as those allow you to use the stance AND leave your hand free so you can claw all you like while having a 1 handed weapon wielded.
Why the buckler? You can combine unarmed attacks with an ordinary shield just fine.
Aesthetics, I'm OK with my monk having a smallish buckler but not a larger shield of some sort. I absolutely do not want to be Capt America.
I've wanted to develop a swashbuckler amurrun with the gymnast focus (so grapply) but Duelist Stance requires a weapon.You just have to wear a gauntlet/spiked gauntlet as those allow you to use the stance AND leave your hand free so you can claw all you like while having a 1 handed weapon wielded.
I didn't think of this, and it can be stylish in its own way. Although I'm also assuming you can't use claws with the gauntleted hand because gauntlet, so no using twin gauntlets.
Why the buckler? You can combine unarmed attacks with an ordinary shield just fine.Aesthetics, I'm OK with my monk having a smallish buckler but not a larger shield of some sort. I absolutely do not want to be Capt America.
same I hate that it's not just optional but almost optimal to use a shield with a fist fighter. There should be some support for striking with separate fists.
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I didn't think of this, and it can be stylish in its own way. Although I'm also assuming you can't use claws with the gauntleted hand because gauntlet, so no using twin gauntlets.I've wanted to develop a swashbuckler amurrun with the gymnast focus (so grapply) but Duelist Stance requires a weapon.You just have to wear a gauntlet/spiked gauntlet as those allow you to use the stance AND leave your hand free so you can claw all you like while having a 1 handed weapon wielded.
Duelist feats say " Requirements: You are wielding only a single one-handed melee weapon and have your other hand or hands free" so a DM could disallow it because you would be wielding 2 single handed weapons.
On clawing with a gauntlet, I don't see a reason it wouldn't work. The can have openings for the claws. You can also look at Xulgath Deepmouth
that uses spiked gauntlet and claws].