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Pretty much that, although dumbed down to reward level instead of magic weapon level.

My House rules would be to add a sword into the Barding Rewards. That'd give every sword using culture except elves (who only use it as a backup weapon anyway) a Sword reward. Specifically:

The Reward ‘Spear of King Bladorthin’ is replaced with the ‘Sword of King Bard’ a long sword whose perfect balance and fine edge provide the ability to use its two-handed stats even when using it one-handed in concert with a buckler or shield (but not with a great shield).

This seems balanced with Spearman's Shield, and combines really well with Swordmaster to boot.

And Tower Shield.

Yeah, that works.

Stacking Swordmaster, that, and Tower Shield makes an iron defense with a respectable offense, and is especially tough for archers to deal with.

Angelalex242 wrote:And Tower Shield.

Yeah, that works.

Stacking Swordmaster, that, and Tower Shield makes an iron defense with a respectable offense, and is especially tough for archers to deal with.

Actually, as written, it doesn't work with Tower Shields, since that's a great shield only Reward. I thought that'd make it a little too good, and the ability to only have one of the two has precedent (Spearman's Shield and a Bitter Spear are effectively un-combinable as well, for example).

Allowing it is pretty easy, though, and workable if you prefer.

I've seen, and even used a bitter great spear. Though my build wasn't as good at the time. I've gained experience enough that it might be best to get Spearman's shield, Fell, Bitter, Grievous in that order. Normally, I'd get Fell, Bitter, Grievous great spear, and then see if I have room for the Shield. Especially because Shadow Bane wants forward and makes defensive stance much less valuable.

In contrast, Swordmaster insists on defensive.

Anyways, there's also precedence for everything stacking. Notably, on the Dwarf. (The dwarves figured out having mutually exclusive gear just makes their warriors less effective. Axe of Az, Mail Coat, Helm of Awe were probably designed as a matched set once...)

Bitter Great Spears aren't legal either, actually.

And like I said, you can absolutely make it stack and it won't be the end of the world, I'm just clarifying my original intent.

Dwarven rewards don't stack, they just aren't mutually exclusive. But there's no synergy between them.

There's no synergy between Bitter Great Spear and Spearman Shield either.

+1 Parry is of little consequence in Forward Stance.

Bitter Great Spear, by the way, is about on par with the Splitting Axe (which works on axe AND Great Axe.)

There's nothing Bitter Great Spear does that Splitting GreatAxe doesn't do as well...or better. The extra penetration still only goes off on a G Rune, after all. The called shotting Elf can't force it.

And I've yet to hear a reason why ash wood from Dol Guldur couldn't be made into a great spear format.

Angelalex242 wrote:There's no synergy between Bitter Great Spear and Spearman Shield either.

+1 Parry is of little consequence in Forward Stance.

Rather than respond, I'll just leave things on that note.