Results 1 to 30 of 54
Thread: [D&D 4E] Shield bashing?
-
2011-02-09, 09:06 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2007
- Location
- Imagination Land
- Gender
[D&D 4E] Shield bashing?
One of my players wants to make a character who primarily attacks with a shield. I noticed that shield bash wasn't on the weapons table in the PHB, so is it possible to bash with a normal shield? I know about the spiked shield in AV, and there's a few Fighter powers that push with a shield after an attack with a weapon, but I'm curious what it takes to bash with a regular shield as your primary attack form.
EDIT: The campaign is set in Dark Sun. All pre-Essentials sources are allowed.Last edited by KillianHawkeye; 2011-02-09 at 09:07 PM.
-
2011-02-09, 09:20 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2007
- Location
- UTC -6
Re: [D&D 4E] Shield bashing?
Unless so allowed by a power (or it has a spike), a shield bash would be just an attack with an improvised weapon (the shield). I repeat: a shield is not a weapon, and so its use as such is an improvised weapon, no more effective than a chair. There are tricks for using shields offensively, but those are mostly covered by feats and powers... most of which are available to Fighters.
The player might complain about this. Let him. Then ask him how he would fight armored warriors by using a shield instead of a hammer, sword, axe, or other weapon.
-
2011-02-09, 09:21 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2005
- Location
Re: [D&D 4E] Shield bashing?
Also I believe there's a 4e prestige path based entirely on using two shields.
-
2011-02-09, 09:33 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2007
- Location
- UTC -6
-
2011-02-09, 09:39 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2010
- Location
- Durham
- Gender
Re: [D&D 4E] Shield bashing?
That class is so annoying and silly that it almost never see the light of day though
-
2011-02-09, 09:47 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2007
- Location
- UTC -6
Re: [D&D 4E] Shield bashing?
The Fighter? Or the Snapping Tetsudo? The latter I'll give you (though it's a Paragon Path, not a Class), but it's pretty much exactly what the OP's looking for.
-
2011-02-09, 11:10 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2010
Re: [D&D 4E] Shield bashing?
I assume you're the DM.
You could house rule the spiked shield to be a normal weapon, and then have the player take either fighter or ranger. The fighter gets abilities that incorporate a shield, while both have attacks that use 2 weapons.
Though the fighter method would probably work the best.
Also, not that there is a difference between 'using your shield to attack' and 'actually dealing damage with your shield'. Some abilities, such as Tide of Iron (I think) deal weapon damage, but can easily be flavored to be a simple shield bash.
-
2011-02-09, 11:14 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2007
- Location
- Imagination Land
- Gender
Re: [D&D 4E] Shield bashing?
-
2011-02-09, 11:17 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2009
- Location
- Euphonistan
- Gender
Re: [D&D 4E] Shield bashing?
One good way to do it if you do not like the various shield weapons is to go arena fighter. Arena fighters have an ability (among others) to treat all improvised weapons as +2 prof d8 damage weapons. Add an assassin or monk multiclass for a ki focus (to enhance your weapons) and you have a fair build. Inherent bonuses work as well.
-
2011-02-09, 11:17 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2010
- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
- Gender
-
2011-02-09, 11:19 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2008
Re: [D&D 4E] Shield bashing?
Wait, are people hating on the Snapping Testudo? Inconceivable! Seriously though, I love that Paragon Path so much.
Also in dragon 385 are a number of magic items that are shields that count as weapons, including one as low as level 1.Thanks to Elrond for the Vash avatar.
-
2011-02-09, 11:21 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2007
- Location
- UTC -6
-
2011-02-09, 11:24 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2009
- Location
- Euphonistan
- Gender
-
2011-02-09, 11:32 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2007
Re: [D&D 4E] Shield bashing?
I'm with Reverent One, I actually PLAY a Snapping Tetsudo!
"A little technobabble is good for the soul." -Captain Jack Harkness
-
2011-02-09, 11:44 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2009
- Location
- Euphonistan
- Gender
-
2011-02-09, 11:45 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2007
- Location
- Eastern NC
- Gender
Re: [D&D 4E] Shield bashing?
The Playgrounder Formerly Known as rtg0922
Homebrew:
• "Themes of Ansalon" - A 4E Dragonlance Supplement
• Homebrew Compendium
-
2011-02-09, 11:46 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2009
- Location
- Euphonistan
- Gender
-
2011-02-10, 12:28 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2008
-
2011-02-10, 12:32 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2009
-
2011-02-10, 12:32 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2009
- Location
- Euphonistan
- Gender
Re: [D&D 4E] Shield bashing?
You have been monked? hmm not too bad we shall see.
-
2011-02-10, 03:48 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2007
Re: [D&D 4E] Shield bashing?
You've been Hexbladed!
"A little technobabble is good for the soul." -Captain Jack Harkness
-
2011-02-10, 04:28 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2005
- Location
Re: [D&D 4E] Shield bashing?
Snapping Tetsudo
Throwing shield
YOU... YOU... DOUBLE CAPTAIN AMERICA.
-
2011-02-10, 02:55 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2009
- Location
- Euphonistan
- Gender
Re: [D&D 4E] Shield bashing?
farbound spell blade spiked shield works too.
-
2011-02-10, 03:01 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2011
Re: [D&D 4E] Shield bashing?
Since it's Dark Sun, have him pick up Weapon Proficency (Turtle Shell) at first opportunity and make his At-Wills Shield Feint and Tide of Iron. Then Snapping Testudo at Paragon.
Also, the only reason people pick on Snapping Testudo is because it is equal parts ridiculous and surprisingly optimal.
-
2011-02-10, 03:10 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2009
- Location
- Euphonistan
- Gender
Re: [D&D 4E] Shield bashing?
The places I look often say it is alright power wise (definitely not great)though I have seen much worse. People pick on it because it is ridiculous and it is unusable by RAW and so technically you have to house rule in order to use the class as it does not make an exception anywhere in the paragon path that offsets the rule that you cannot wield two shields.
My favorite combo is arena fighter with gauntlet axe as an arena weapon and turtle shell/spiked shield (they are the same exact thing) with the rhythm blade enhancement. Do not take proficiency with the spiked shield in this case. Since your an arena fighter your damage actually improves with the spiked shield from a d6-d8. You actually wield it better being not proficient with this weapon.
-
2011-02-10, 08:27 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2008
-
2011-02-10, 08:37 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2007
- Location
- UTC -6
Re: [D&D 4E] Shield bashing?
-
2011-02-10, 10:04 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2009
- Location
- Euphonistan
- Gender
Re: [D&D 4E] Shield bashing?
You missed the arena fighter part or you do not know the abilities of the arena fighter.
Arena fighters get many benefits but for this discussion this is what is important
1) Arena fighters treat all weapons they are NOT proficient with as improvised weapons.
2) Spiked shield is an exotic weapon so if you do not spend a feat (or an arena weapon slot) it is an improvised weapon for an arena fighter.
3) Arena fighters treat all improvised weapons as +2 proficiency 1d8 damage weapons.
4) Since my spiked shield is an improvised weapon it nows has those stats and is better for it.
This is not a munchkin move it is by the book and intended.
To Reverent-One
The rule for no two shields is found on page 10 of the Adventurer's vault in the description of spiked shields
"Although a character can not use two shields at the same time, a character wielding a spiked shield enchanted as a weapon can employ arm slot items such as bracers"
I think what they mean to say is that you get no benefit from wearing a second shield and that a shield enchanted as a weapon still allows you to use magical arm slot items. Unfortunately that is not what it actually says and since there is no mention of an exception for the paragon path so it is technically RAW illegal. Of course any DM that is not a robot would allow this work so it is not a practical concern just a strict RAW curiosity.Last edited by MeeposFire; 2011-02-10 at 10:06 PM.
-
2011-02-10, 10:24 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2008
-
2011-02-10, 10:31 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2009
- Location
- Euphonistan
- Gender