Feats for sword and shield?

[InstallTakesForever]

Which feats to choose for a sword and shield build? Like for example EK Sorcerer, EK Wizard or any other sword and shield builds?

If possible, not many feats, so I can also choose some feats related to spellcasting.

Shield Mastery seems like one of the obvious choices. But then I was reading other posts where all the THF feats are recommended for sword and shield? Why? Aren't there more appropriate feats for sword and shield? I know single weapon fighting is out of the question because it won't work with shield as off-hand (unless bard).

Also, what kind of sword (or axe, mace, etc.) would you recommend as main weapon for a sword and shield EK Sorcerer? Bastard? Khopesh? While taking the exotic feat related to that weapon?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Enoach]

I like to have Shield Bash if going S&B and it is not my primary focus. The off-hand strikes add up.

THF is if you use the bastard sword or Dwarven War Axe. If you are not using those then you don't need them

If you use the masters touch spell I would go with your preferred martial weapon. If goin Knights Training feat then Longswords are a good option

[unbongwah]

I posted a newbie fighter Vanguard build recently. The "secret sauce" is that S&B builds using bastard swords or dwarven axes benefit from both the THF feats (extra Strikethrough + higher damage modifier) and Shield Mastery feats (extra doublestrike and PRR). Meanwhile the Vanguard tree boosts DPS from higher attack speed (total of +20% at level 20+), higher shield-bashing chance, plus other goodies.

I don't advocate S&B Eldritch Knight because S&B is by far the lowest melee DPS option for EKs plus you have to deal with arcane spell failure; and the defensive benefits of shields don't outweigh the downsides for EKs IMO. [Single Weapon Fighting is the more newbie-friendly Eldritch Knight option IMO.] But here's a S&B dwarf wizard EK if you really want to go that route.

[Tilomere]

The EK enhancement tree will reduce ASF to 0 for all non-tower shields, and also for crystal tower shields. Options exist from augments to filigree to reduce other tower shields to 0 as well.

[InstallTakesForever]

I posted a newbie fighter Vanguard build recently. The "secret sauce" is that S&B builds using bastard swords or dwarven axes benefit from both the THF feats (extra Strikethrough + higher damage modifier) and Shield Mastery feats (extra doublestrike and PRR). Meanwhile the Vanguard tree boosts DPS from higher attack speed (total of +20% at level 20+), higher shield-bashing chance, plus other goodies.

I don't advocate S&B Eldritch Knight because S&B is by far the lowest melee DPS option for EKs plus you have to deal with arcane spell failure; and the defensive benefits of shields don't outweigh the downsides for EKs IMO. [Single Weapon Fighting is the more newbie-friendly Eldritch Knight option IMO.] But here's a S&B dwarf wizard EK if you really want to go that route.

Thank you both for the suggestions. I played as a THF Kensai Fighter, really liked the damage and the enhancements like a good death. That looks like an interesting S&B Vanguard build I'm curious to try, with less DPS than THF but more resistance.

I see a lot of sorcerers using sword and shield. What would you suggest for an EK Sorcerer? TWF? SWF? Scepter and orb?

[unbongwah]

I see a lot of sorcerers using sword and shield.

If I had to guess, those "S&B EKs" probably aren't melees, they're casters using shields for the passive defensive benefits. 23 APs into Eldritch Knight buys you a lot of survivability buffs:

• Shield Training + Armored Arcana lets you equip medium armor + heavy shield to benefit from higher PRR and no MRR cap. At higher levels, slot a Sapphire of Spell Agility to neutralize the arcane spell failure from shields.
• Improved Mage Armor + Improved Shield + Mystic Wards for +10% AC, +10 PRR, and +10 MRR.
• Arcane Barrier: "When your Hit Points drop below 50% of maximum, you are immediately protected by an Arcane Barrier that reduces all incoming damage by 25% for the next 20 seconds."
• +30 Universal Spell Power from the EK cores

What would you suggest for an EK Sorcerer? TWF? SWF? Scepter and orb?

SWF has the advantage of no added stat pre-reqs unlike THF or TWF. Also you can equip an orb in your offhand for the caster bonuses + EK's Orb Saves (+3 to saving throws and +10 Universal Spell Power while holding an Orb).

However melee sorcerer is tricky because you don't get bonus feats like wizard which make being an EK wizard a bit easier. Plus a fleshy wizard can use Pale Master tree for added survivability and self-healing from undead forms + Negative Energy spells; a fleshy sorc EK has no such option.