Shield / No Armor archetypes?

[David knott 242]

For a long time, the only archetype I was aware of that got any advantage from carrying a shield while wearing no armor was the Savage Barbarian -- and that archetype did not work very well, as it retained armor proficiency and at every level was better off wearing armor than depending on its archetype bonuses to AC.

Recently I noticed that the Sacred Attendant Cleric, while not specifically mentioning shields, also has no shield based restrictions, so it would make sense for such a character to carry a shield while not wearing armor. Furthermore, by selecting this archetype, you are pretty much committed to doing just that. Unfortunately, you do have to resort to some 3rd party feats to make this archetype work mechanically.

Does anyone know of any other archetypes that are designed to work with the combination of a sheld with no armor? I am looking for any such archetypes, whether they work well mechanically or not.

[Zwordsman]

Maybe a multiclass Shield Cchamp brawler.
Honestly though there aren't many shield not armour things in general.. mainly because it doesn't make much sense to do logistically.

If there was.... I feel like it would be a multiclass. Draconic Sorcerer shield champion comes to mind. Armourless for casting and right materials for no acf on the shield.

Ultimately though.. I don't think there are any I know of that are actually focused on said set up. There are ones that could work around it. but there aren't any inherently set up to do so.. Main issue I feel is that shields are still armour. So all the unarmoured things are inherently incompatible with it. and generally having to deal with the weight leads one to often be a str charcater with armour.

Hopefully someone else knows of one. but I don't knw of any directly supporting it. Just ones you could opt to do so.

[strayshift]

Just a concept on a savage barbarian build, it can be combined with:

1. Beast Totem (gives bonus to a.c. with Beast Totem rage power);
2. Urban Barbarian (controlled rage to boost dex as well as crowd control to further boost a.c.);
3. Mad Dog (gives animal companion but reduces rage powers, although you can spend your wealth by level on armour for the companion rather than yourself);

You have 3 possible 'optimised' build directions:

a. Archer Barbarian (supporting the Animal Companion);
b. Teamwork feats (again supporting the animal companion but with either a reach, sword/board or finesse build.
c. Small character mounted build.

It's an overlooked archetype in my opinion.

[strayshift]

In answer to your original question though - the viking fighter archetype may be useful? It has shield defence which adds to a.c.

[David knott 242]

The Viking Fighter is the most promising option I see here, although it does require 3rd party feats to set it up as well as to make it viable. It provides a strong incentive to use a shield, but you would need some other discouragement for armor since it is fully compatible with up to medium armor. The upside for it is that, as a fighter archetype, it gives you plenty of bonus combat feats.

And I would assume that most arcane spellcasting classes are out of the question, as it is far easier to deal with ASF on armor than on shields. Archers are out of the question as well unless you have more than two arms.

But for non-arcane casters, the combination of a heavy shield with Improved Unarmed Strike looks interesting.

Certainly finesse based builds are out of the question here, at least at early levels, as your shield's ACP would apply for any weapon you use with Weapon Finesse.

[avr]

The shielded mage feat works for arcane spellcasters, and those may not have any particular means to use other armor without arcane spell failure.

Arshea's celestial obedience gives you Cha to AC when unarmored at character level 11 if you're a divine paragon cleric, but doesn't specify shields.

The Worst Archetype In The Game, brute vigilante, breaks out of their armor on a regular basis if such is worn but can use a shield.

[VoodistMonk]

What are the 3rd party feats required for a Viking Fighter? All you need is Unhindering Sheild, and a reach weapon. Lol.

There could be a way to make a Sacred Attendant Cleric of Mazludeh work... with a Monk/UnMonk dip, there might even be a way to make Crusader's Flurry work with your heavy shield... I just cannot immediately think of a way to get around losing your Monk's AC Bonus whenever you carry a shield. Someone smarter than me might know a work-around. I know about Unhindering Shield, but that does us no good with Mazludeh's favored weapon, the heavy shield. Going into Holy Vindicator for the whole Vindicator's Shield thing could prove thematic for a Cleric focused on their shield.

Imot has the light shield as their favored weapon... Upsetting Shield Style allows feats and abilities that apply to light shields to apply to bucklers... Unhindering Shield allows a Monk to ignore a buckler for their AC Bonus and Flurry and stuff... Crusader's Flurry allows one to Flurry with their deity's favored weapon. So a Monk VMC Cleric could do it, or a Monk with a Cleric dip. Hooked Boss can be attached to a buckler, which could lead to some fun trip/flat-footed shenanigans... maybe a Flowing Monk for the base?

[VoodistMonk]

Shieldbearer Warpriest of either Mazludeh or Imot might be able to pull it off with a dip in Monk/UnMonk... Crusader's Flurry to Flurry with your shield, because why not? Might need to use some shenanigans to keep the Monk's AC Bonus whilst carrying a shield, though.

[Alphavoltario]

VoodistMonk wrote:

Shieldbearer Warpriest of either Mazludeh or Imot might be able to pull it off with a dip in Monk/UnMonk... Crusader's Flurry to Flurry with your shield, because why not? Might need to use some shenanigans to keep the Monk's AC Bonus whilst carrying a shield, though.

<Shield Focus> into <Unhindering Shield> shield mastery feat.

Special allows monks to use bucklers with no caveats.