[3.5] agile shield fighter, what's the point?

[Raezeman]

So yeah, title says it all, what's the point of agile shield fighter?

The way i understand it is that with this feat, you can attack once with your normal weapon and once with a shield bash as a full round with -2 penalty on both attacks. But with 2 weapon fighting, you can basically do the same, even more attacks if your bab let's you and more bashes with the improved two weapon fighting.

So why agile shield fighter? Is it only to avoid the dexterity prerequisites of two weapon fighting, or only to get a heavy shield as a off-hand without the heavier penalty of not having a light weapon in your off-hand?


enlighten me please!

[Techwarrior]

You don't that those two combined are good enough?

Anyway, it essentially combines Oversized TWF and TWF into one feat. Consolidating feats is good stuff. It also allows you to easily Power Attack, and if you can snag Pounce somehow you can go into basic charger build.

One of my favorite characters was a Bardblade who used this line and Inspire Courage to become an absolute wrecking ball. All while actually having an AC that mattered what with the shield and associated feats. It's one of the few heavy characters that actually did enough buffing and damage that NPCs really wanted to focus on her.

[Raezeman]

combining oversized TWF and TWF into one feat is good yes, but it requires improved shield bash and shield specialisation. And while i would go for improved shield bash with this anyway, shield specialisation does not seem to be worth it (don't like only + 1AC for a whole feat).
so basically you go for either:

-improved shield bash, TWF and oversized TWF
or
-improved shield bash, shield specialisation and agile shield fighter.

3 feats to get almost the same effect, and i would still chose the multiple attacks over the extra 1 AC. And if you don't go power attack, you don't even need the oversized and go with a light shield, having another feat open. So i still don't see why to go for agile shield fighter if you have enough dexterity...

[Bakkan]

Two notes:
Unless there is errata I am unaware of, you can still do iterative attacks with your main weapon with Agile Shield Fighter; nothing says you are only allowed to make one weapon attack and one shield bash.

The lack of a Dexterity requirement is a major point. Particularly if you're using point-buy on a heavy armor user, you're unlikely to start with higher than a 12 Dexterity.

[Zombimode]

So why agile shield fighter? Is it only to avoid the dexterity prerequisites of two weapon fighting, or only to get a heavy shield as a off-hand without the heavier penalty of not having a light weapon in your off-hand?


How many heavy armor guys do you know that can afford a Dex of 15+?
How many shield users that are interessted in shield bashing want to limit themselves to light shields?

This answers your question.

[Blackhawk748]

Also Shield Specialization is a pre req for Shield Ward which is pretty freakin sweet so at least that feat is gonna be doing something

[StreamOfTheSky]

Two notes:The lack of a Dexterity requirement is a major point. Particularly if you're using point-buy on a heavy armor user, you're unlikely to start with higher than a 12 Dexterity.


How many heavy armor guys do you know that can afford a Dex of 15+?

This, basically. TWF has atrocious Dex requirements that are tough for a str-based guy to meet, that's the "appeal" of Ranger. Of course, Gloves of the Balanced Hand undercut this feat a fair bit if available, giving TWF w/o the dex or ITWF if you have TWF.

You can bash w/o limiting yourself to light shield, though. There is Oversized TWF. Or 2-handing a heavy shield as your only weapon. Or...why not main hand the heavy shield and off-hand a kukri? There are options.


Also Shield Specialization is a pre req for Shield Ward which is pretty freakin sweet so at least that feat is gonna be doing something

Well, if Parrying Shield is available, Shield Ward becomes much less special, to be fair. Both are good feats.