can anyone clarify about the single weapon style actually apply to? If read *very* strictly, i take to mean that only people using a single one handed weapon(can be anything) without using shield can qualify for the bonus. so does that mean that once you use a shield you're disqualified from the bonus? thanks

Yes, shieldfighting has its own specialisation.

Anyone like to explain the point to the single weapon style? You get like a -2 ac bonus if you have 2+ in it, but you can get awfully much more using decent shields. The only one I've used it on is Mazzy, since it makes it easy to switch from bow to short sword without meddling with a shield if I encounter someone resistant to arrows or don't have any to waste atm.

If you're a Monk it makes perfect sense, he can't use his second hand and he really needs the AC bonus.

Thieves can't use anything better than a buckler, and their THAC0 is already bad enough without dual wielding.