Cool shield work, bro!

[TheDarkSaint]

So, I'm looking for a progression to make a fighter really cool with shields. I admit that I've probably been watching Troy and 300 too much and seeing the cinematic affects of guys using shields do more than just bock attacks is too tasty to ignore.

However, I'm just not sure where to go about doing this and what feats to pick up in what class.


Suggestions?

[Darth_Versity]

TWF and Improved Shield Bash. That'll let you hit with the shield. Playing a crusader would be good as well as some devoted spirit maneuvers use shields.

[Gwendol]

There's a not too old thread discussing how to make a hoplite fighter. Google spear and shield fighter. There were a bunch of good suggestions in that one.

[The Random NPC]

Check this (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123630) out.

[ericgrau]

They used tower shields. They let you take advantage of some phalanx fighting feats like the one from complete warrior but that requires a group. You can gain total cover from your shield, to become immune to arrows going towards it for example. But you can't attack through your shield either when you do this. Also works against breath weapons and burst spells but not spread spells like fireball. It's a good way for a melee character to safely approach a ranged foe, or to create your own cover (but not total cover, since you are leaning around it to shoot) to more safely fire a ranged weapon from.

[sonofzeal]

TWF and Improved Shield Bash. That'll let you hit with the shield. Playing a crusader would be good as well as some devoted spirit maneuvers use shields.
Agile Shield Fighter (PHB2) is better for this build, as it lets you shield bash with Large Shields at no penalty.

There's also some feats in CWar that let you do special things on a Shield Bash attack. Stack enough shield-specific feats, and you can do fairly well.

[Person_Man]

Obligatory link: Guide to Shields (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123630).

Specific Fighter build: Sam the Shuffling Shield Soldier

Max out Dex. A small race is a good idea, as it raises your AC and Dex. I suggest Whisper Gnome or variant Kobold.

Take Combat Expertise, Improved Trip, and Combat Reflexes. This gives you some battlefield control.

Take Dodge, Mobility, and Elusive Target. Elusive Target is very useful for a variety of reasons. But the key ability is Cause Overreach. Now whenever you move out of an enemy's threatened area and they miss on the AoO, you get a free Trip attack (and free follow up attack from Improved Trip).

Take Formation Expert (Complete Warrior). This gives you the Step into the Breech maneuver. Whenever you have a line of allies and one ally falls, you may Move into that position as if you had a Readied Action. Also, buy Boots of Speed. This gives you Haste (extra movement and attack) when you need it.

Have a team member cast Empowered Summon Monster/Natures Ally I once or twice, or Animate Objects. This creates a line of weak allies for you. As each one dies, you'll get a free Move. This means you'll probably get a Full Attack most rounds (because they Move for you, die, and you Move into their space), and you'll get plenty of free attacks on your enemies whenever they try to take an AoO on you (and miss, because your AC is so ridiculously high).

Optional:

Take the Ancestral Weapon feat (Book of Exalted Deeds) at first level. This feat lets you sacrifice magic items (bypassing the need to sell them at a 50% mark down) or gold in order to improve a single weapon. Designate your shield as this weapon. If you're playing in a long term campaign, it will save you a lot of money, and give you an uber shield/weapon.

Take TWF, Improved TWF, and then Double Hit (Miniatures Handbook). Now you have 2 more attacks when you make a normal full attack. And when you make an AoO, you may attack with both weapons (your shield and whatever).

Take Robilar's Gambit (PHBII). This will give you an extra attack whenever an enemy swings at you and misses.

Take Shield Specialization and Shield Ward (PHBII). This adds your Shield bonus to your Touch AC and your ability to resist special attacks. Since your Shield bonus will be ridiculously high (base + enhancement +1 from specialization) this should be quite high. This will go a long way towards protecting you from casters (and their dreaded touch attack spells) and very big enemies (like dragons and whatnot, which are fond of Grapple).

Take Item Familiar (Unearthed Arcana). This feat (which everyone qualifies for) gives a chosen item intelligence and special abilities. Lots of them are quite potent at high levels.

The end result: High AC, high touch AC, tons of attacks, plenty of mobility. Not the best build in the world, but it's playable in a normal group.

[gorfnab]

Pathfinder has an archetype for fighters called Phalanx Soldier (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/fighter/archetypes/paizo---fighter-archetypes/phalanx-soldier).