Throwing specialist with Shield Bash

[RexDart]

I'm working on a character who will be a 1st level Scout (but with a non-standard "0-level start" in an NPC class, which in her case will provide martial weapon and shield proficiencies.)

My idea is that she'll carry a spiked shield, and spend the vast majority of her time running around throwing axes at people. But in melee, she'll use the spiked shield instead of a regular melee weapon, and assuming her "main" hand to be empty. This seems like a fairly logical idea, but the rules seem to hate people who want to shield bash. Will this work, or do I have to take an enormous penalty because the shield is in the "off hand?" If that's the case, can I transfer the shield to the main hand, and how (move action?) Or should I stop trying to be interesting and just carry a shortsword or something as a backup melee weapon?

I know the whole thing is undoubtedly sub-optimal, but I kinda like the idea of this character going into Discount Captain America mode when in melee.

[Zanos]

You only take a penalty for off-hand attacks in 3.5 in the context of two weapon fighting. As long as you aren't actively trying to make multiple attacks by using twf, you won't take a penalty for shield bashing.

[Rebel7284]

Main hand and off hand are concepts that only come up if you are using two weapon fighting rules to get extra attacks. Otherwise, you can just as well be holding two or more weapons and attack with them interchangeably without any penalties.

[RexDart]

Thanks, these are excellent clarifications to something that the rules make unnecessarily confusing.

[NinjaGuy]

A few things to consider are 6 levels of Fighter with the Dungeon Crasher ACF from Dungeoncape. Makes bull rushing people into things an effective route.

Tome of Battle makes everything melee related better, and if you want to throw your shield, like Cap'n 'Murica, 4 levels of Bloodstorm Blade will help you out immensely, but you'd also need a level of Warblade to qualify or you're burning 3 feats to get in. Point Blank Shot, Martial Study and Martial Stance.

Finally, if Tome of Battle and Dungeon Crasher aren't right for you, the Swift Hunter feat from Complete Scoundrel allows you to stack Scout levels with Ranger levels for Skirmish, Favored Enemies and even lets skirmish's precision damage hurt things otherwise immune if you select them as a Favored Enemy.

Make it happen, Cap'n.

[RexDart]

A few things to consider are 6 levels of Fighter with the Dungeon Crasher ACF from Dungeoncape. Makes bull rushing people into things an effective route.

Tome of Battle makes everything melee related better, and if you want to throw your shield, like Cap'n 'Murica, 4 levels of Bloodstorm Blade will help you out immensely, but you'd also need a level of Warblade to qualify or you're burning 3 feats to get in. Point Blank Shot, Martial Study and Martial Stance.

Finally, if Tome of Battle and Dungeon Crasher aren't right for you, the Swift Hunter feat from Complete Scoundrel allows you to stack Scout levels with Ranger levels for Skirmish, Favored Enemies and even lets skirmish's precision damage hurt things otherwise immune if you select them as a Favored Enemy.

Make it happen, Cap'n.

The last one is my current plan - Swift Hunter at 5th level. And I love the idea of finally being able to smack the undead around with extra damage!