TOWER SHIELD SPECIALIST

Many fighters believe the tower shield is a tool suitable only for troops on the battlefield, claiming it is too large and bulky to use in skirmishes or within dungeon corridors. Tower shield specialists defy those notions, using their massive shields with startling skill and incredible effect. They use these seemingly clumsy shields to perform deft maneuvers that confound their enemies.

Burst Barrier (Ex):

At 2nd level, a tower shield specialist can use his shield to screen himself from burst spells and effects, gaining a +1 bonus on Reflex saves against them while employing a tower shield. This bonus increases by +1 for every four levels after 2nd (to a maximum of +5 at 18th level). This ability replaces conditioning.

Tower Shield Training (Ex):

At 3rd level, a tower shield specialist gains armor training as normal, but while he employs a tower shield, the armor penalty is reduced by 3 and the maximum Dexterity bonus allowed by his armor increases by 2. If the tower shield specialist is not employing a tower shield, the benefits to armor training revert to the normal bonuses. This ability alters armor training

Tower Shield Specialist (Ex):

At 5th level, while using a shield, the tower shield specialist the reduces the armor check penalty of his shield by 2 (to a minimum of 0) and increases his shield’s damage die by one step when using his shield to make a shield bash attack. If he is wielding a tower shield, he also reduces the shield’s penalty on attack rolls by 2 (to a minimum of 0). This option functions even when the fighter is not wearing armor.

 

A tower shield specialist does not gain a weapon training bonus on attack rolls and damage rolls made with weapons from his chosen fighter weapon group. This ability alters weapon training.

Tower Shield Evasion (Ex):

At 9th level, the tower shield specialist gains Shield Focus with tower shields as a bonus feat. While using a tower shield, the tower shield specialist gains evasion (as the rogue class ability). At 17th level, the tower shield specialist gains improved evasion, as the rogue advanced talent, while using a tower shield.

Immediate Repositioning (Ex):

At 13th level, as an immediate action, a tower shield specialist can reposition his tower shield to another facing, but he cannot use this ability to interrupt an attack.