Bucklers a Brawlers best friend?

[Fuzzman91]

So simply put, if I have the “Unhindering Shield” Feat would I be able to make unarmed strikes with a Buckler on each arm for some extra AC? If not should I look at dual wielding Klars?

[VoodistMonk]

Tekko-Kagi are what you are looking for...

[Fuzzman91]

VoodistMonk wrote:

Tekko-Kagi are what you are looking for...

They would be lower damage though (still was considering them if the bucklers are a no go).

[Sandal Fury]

You don't get the AC bonus from both shields, but yeah, Unhindering Shield is always a nice option if you can spare the feats.

[Firebug]

Well, shield bonuses don't stack if you were planning on getting the AC from both. All typed bonuses (besides circumstance and dodge basically) don't stack with the same typed bonuses.

Bucklers also give you a -1 to attack rolls when you use that hand to attack and the Unhindering Shield feat does not negate that.

[LordKailas]

A buckler provides a shield bonus same as other kinds of shields. Shield bonuses do not stack you just get the benefit of whatever bonus is higher. A brawler could carry two large shields and run around kicking everyone and their AC would be no higher than if they were carrying 1 large shield.

The feat unhindering shield is irrelevant to a brawler unless they want to use a two handed weapon, since their unarmed strikes can be made with fists, elbows, knees, and/or feet.

[Fuzzman91]

So Tekko-Jakis or Klars seem like a better choice. I know you can switch up what you can do with them but what about Klars? Are they the same as Tekko-Jakis or are the weapons and shields at the same time?

[Lyrad the Strange]

Klars count as both a weapon and a shield. If you choose to dual wield them, be a Ranger - you get Shield Master at 6th level with the Sword & Shield combat style. Shield master lets you ignore the TWF penalty with your shield if you attack with a weapon in your other hand - being that a klar counts as both a weapon & a shield, the most liberal GM's will let you TWF with no TWF penalties to either hand.

Shield master also lets you treat your shield enhancement bonus as a weapon enhancement bonus - so enchant your weapons for half price.

Before anyone gets too excited and cries foul - I still think this build is probably less optimal then a traditional Thunder & Fang ranger using the same combat style... It may even take about the same amount of feats to pull off since you will need to take Improved Shield Bash to retain your AC bonus while attacking with your klar - that's baked right into the Thunder & Fang feat.

[Melkiador]

Brawlers can "dual wield" with only 1 weapon, with brawler's flurry. Really, any brawler could/should use a heavy shield and flurry with whatever weapon qualifies, including another shield. You could even have an offensive shield for flurrying and a defensive shield just for the AC.

If you want to build a 2 shield combat style, the dwarven war-shield is built for this. It's a light weapon for regular two weapon fighting that does the damage of a klar and gives you an extra 1 AC if you have 2 of them. The only downside is that it's an exotic weapon if you aren't a dwarf.

[TiwazBlackhand]

Theoretically what happens if both shields are enchanted?

More to the point, would you benefit by having one +5 buckler and one +1 Heavy Fortification buckler? Gaining the +6AC from the first, but also gaining the Heavy Fortification power from the second? At a net savings of 39,000gp?

[Melkiador]

You only have one shield magic item slot, so can only magically benefit from 1 shield as a shield at a time. But shields can still be "equipped" as weapons instead. So, you can't get any more defense out of a second shield, except for something you'd be able to get out of any other weapon, like a magic defending weapon.