Aiding another and helping my party

[Toren "Stand" Still]

Hi all, playing a Phalanx Soldier archetype fighter, with a tower shield and bec de corbin (well, anything for reach and brace property). Looking for normal combat options as far as providing cover and/or AC bonuses for my party. I'm hoping to be the rock the enemy breaks on.

I'm at lvl 1.

[VRMH]

The simple act of standing in front of your ally will give them cover.

[Toren "Stand" Still]

Excellent! That's what I was hoping, but I didn't know if that were true and if there were other things I should/could do.

[Thorkull]

Most GMs should allow you to take the "Aid Another" action as a standard action to hit AC 10 against an opponent that you threaten to grant one ally a +2 bonus to AC.

I think it's a waste of an action, but YMMV.

There are some feats that allow you to grant your shield bonus to an adjacent ally, as well, I think. I don't remember the details right now.

[Ascalaphus]

There's another thread here about Whirlwind. It's got a hilarious build where you use a Guisarme with Improved Trip and Lunge to AOA-trip everyone that comes near your party, then Whirlwind when it's your turn. If they stand up they provoke AOA so you can trip them again.

[redcelt32]

Ascalaphus wrote:

There's another thread here about Whirlwind. It's got a hilarious build where you use a Guisarme with Improved Trip and Lunge to AOA-trip everyone that comes near your party, then Whirlwind when it's your turn. If they stand up they provoke AOA so you can trip them again.

Trip locking no longer works by Pathfinder rules. You would however get the AoO on them.

[DM_aka_Dudemeister]

Ascalaphus wrote:

There's another thread here about Whirlwind. It's got a hilarious build where you use a Guisarme with Improved Trip and Lunge to AOA-trip everyone that comes near your party, then Whirlwind when it's your turn. If they stand up they provoke AOA so you can trip them again.

You can't trip a character who provokes for standing from prone, you can't trip a prone character and the attack resolves before they're standing.

[spalding]

Well...

IF you get the following:
Order of the dragon cavalier (3 levels) with honor guard archetype shield wall for your tactics choice and take the adopted(helpful) trait you can provide a very nice bonus to your allies AC instead of taking AoOs.

[Ascalaphus]

Even so; you could Whirlwind to trip anyone standing and hit anyone lying down, then AOA everyone who stands up, then trip everyone who comes closer. Remember to get Lunge and Combat Reflexes. If at some point you get Greater Trip I'm sure your party members will also start to cast longing looks at Combat Reflexes.

[Captain Zoom]

If it fits your character concept to have been raised by Halflings, then---

If you're using traits and you're determined to do Aid Another actions, consider taking the APG Social Trait - Adopted, and then using that to take the Halfling (of Golarion) Racial Trait - Helpful (Gives a +4 bonus in place of the normal +2 when using the Aid Another action).

however, I tend to agree with VRMH and Thorkull. Aid Another is probably a waste of your actions... better to interpose yourself, attack opponents, and use AOAs to keep opponents from going around you to get at your allies.

[Pendin Fust]

Thanks everyone...and this is going to sound stupid but..AoA?

[Mike J]

I have to agree as well with Aid Another being largely a waste of your action. I think the best use of a high AC, reach weapon character like yours is to shove them down the enemy's throat to keep the rest of the party safe. Get out front and get in the way.

If your GM plays the monsters like I do, make sure to poke the nastiest one each round to keep it focused on you and not your other party members.

[jon bourque]

There is swift aid (feat) but it only gives a +1...

[spalding]

Pendin Fust wrote:

Thanks everyone...and this is going to sound stupid but..AoA?

AoO -- Attack of Opportunity.

[Dragonamedrake]

Trait: Helpful - Whenever you successfully perform an aid another action, you grant your ally a +4 bonus instead of the normal +2

[Pendin Fust]

Abraham spalding wrote:

Pendin Fust wrote:

Thanks everyone...and this is going to sound stupid but..AoA?

AoO -- Attack of Opportunity.

Gotcha...I knew AoO...I just saw the AoA thing and thought there was something else!

I'll have to look into that trait.

The idea was to sit behind my shield (and at later levels) be able to use the polearm one handed, poking at beasties and generally insulting anything to attract their attention.

Good ideas though, keep 'em comin!