Shield bash [Archive] - Wizards Community

Shield bash [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Daverius
02-04-06, 06:34 PM If a character with Improved Shield Bash feat, attacks only with his shield, does he suffer the penalty to attack even if he is only making one attack?

For example: A fighter using a longsword and a heavy shield makes a charge and chooses to attack with his shield, does he suffer the -4 off hand weapon penalty if he has two weapon fighting? IF he does not have twf, does he suffer a -8 penalty?

Or..

because he is not fighting with two weapons at the same time, does he not suffer any penalties?

Thanks in advance.

Mike
Munkwunk
02-04-06, 08:31 PM As far as I understand it, the latter is true.

You only incur "off-hand' penalties when you fight with more than one weapon in a single round. This is partly the result of 3.5 doing away with the Ambidexterity feat, as I understand it.

So you can hold two weapons (or a weapon and a shield) and as long as you only attack with one of them in a given round, you won't suffer the penalties for TWF.
chrispedersen
02-05-06, 11:35 PM If you look a shield is always wielded in the offhand.
PHB 125. "you can bash an opponent with a heavy shield, using it as an off hand weapon..."

C
Munkwunk
02-06-06, 02:37 AM Right. Unless I'm mistaken though, you no longer suffer off-hand penalties to attack rolls unless youa ttack with both weapons in the same round.

Looking through the TWF rules in the SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/specialAttacks.htm#twoWeaponFighting) it doesn't appear to say anything about this.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Daverius 02-04-06, 06:34 PM	If a character with Improved Shield Bash feat, attacks only with his shield, does he suffer the penalty to attack even if he is only making one attack? For example: A fighter using a longsword and a heavy shield makes a charge and chooses to attack with his shield, does he suffer the -4 off hand weapon penalty if he has two weapon fighting? IF he does not have twf, does he suffer a -8 penalty? Or.. because he is not fighting with two weapons at the same time, does he not suffer any penalties? Thanks in advance. Mike
Munkwunk 02-04-06, 08:31 PM	As far as I understand it, the latter is true. You only incur "off-hand' penalties when you fight with more than one weapon in a single round. This is partly the result of 3.5 doing away with the Ambidexterity feat, as I understand it. So you can hold two weapons (or a weapon and a shield) and as long as you only attack with one of them in a given round, you won't suffer the penalties for TWF.
chrispedersen 02-05-06, 11:35 PM	If you look a shield is always wielded in the offhand. PHB 125. "you can bash an opponent with a heavy shield, using it as an off hand weapon..." C
Munkwunk 02-06-06, 02:37 AM	Right. Unless I'm mistaken though, you no longer suffer off-hand penalties to attack rolls unless youa ttack with both weapons in the same round. Looking through the TWF rules in the SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/specialAttacks.htm#twoWeaponFighting) it doesn't appear to say anything about this.