Sword and Board Fighting
Contrary to the name of combat style, ‘Sword and Board’ fighting refers to any style of combat that involves wielding a shield in the off hand.
Fighting with Weapon and Shield
When a character wields a light or one-handed weapon in one hand and a shield in the other, they receive the shield’s relevant bonus as a shield bonus to their AC and gain access to the Block and Shield Bash Maneuvers.
Shield Bash
A character holding a shield can use the shield as a weapon to make Basic Strikes. If they do so, the shield deals damage as per the ‘Shield Bash Damage’ listed for that shield. Characters not proficient with shields take -2 penalty to the attack and damage rolls for the shield bash.
After using a Shield Bash, a character loses the shield’s bonus to their AC until the start of their next turn.
Sword and Board Feats
Sword and Board [Battle Stance, Combatant, Sword and Board]
Benefit: While in this battle stance, with a shield in your off hand, the first block attempt you make does not use up your reaction for the turn
.
In addition, while in this battle stance, you do not lose your shield’s bonus to your AC after using a Shield Bash.
Special: You may take a second stance while in this one. The effects of the two stances stack.
Bastion of Defense [Battle Stance, Combatant, Sword and Board]
Prerequisites: Sword and Board
Benefit: While in this battle stance, with a shield in your off hand, the bonus your shield provides to AC increases by +2. You also gain a +2 bonus to your CMD.
At 9th level, these bonuses increase to +4.
At 18th level, these bonuses increase to +6.
Team Guardian [Combatant, Sword and Board]
Prerequisites: Sword and Board, Bastion of Defense
Benefit: While in the Bastion of Defense battle stance, with a shield in your off hand, allies adjacent to you gain a shield bonus to AC equal to the bonus provided by Bastion of Defense. This bonus that stacks with any shield bonus they already have.
Block Projectiles [Combatant, Sword and Board]
Prerequisites: Shield Proficiency
Benefit: You may use your shield to Block ranged attacks.
Multi-Block [Combatant, Sword and Board]
Prerequisites: Shield Focus
Benefit: Once per round, if a single creature makes more than one attack against you on their turn, you may attempt to block every attack they make that you would normally be able to block otherwise.
Hinder Passage [Combatant, Sword and Board]
Prerequisite: Sword and Board, Bastion of Defense
Benefit: While in the Bastion of Defense battle stance, whenever you hit with an attack of opportunity against an enemy leaving an adjacent square, that enemy’s movement is halted and they cannot move until the beginning of their next turn.
Impassible Obstacle [Combatant, Sword and Board]
Prerequisite: Sword and Board, Bastion of Defense, Hinder Passage
Benefit: Whenever you successfully stop an enemy’s movement with Hinder Passage, that attack of opportunity does not use up your reaction for the turn.
Expert Shield Bash [Combatant, Sword and Board]
Prerequisite: Sword and Board
Benefit: While in the Sword and Board battle stance, you may make a Shield Bash attack in addition to an attack with your weapon whenever you would be allowed to make a Basic Strike.
Drive Them Back! [Combatant, Sword and Board]
Prerequisites: Sword and Board, Expert Shield Bash
Benefit: Whenever you push an enemy, you may make a Shield Bash against them.
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