Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 thewayne687 Sep 04, 2014 10:22:11	So I've run into multiple instances now of needing to clarify the Dueling fighting style (both in running AL sessions and playing in them). I understand the book states "the DM's word is law", however in organized play the book is/should be "law" for the sake of continuity. Before getting into the nitty gritty of the rules question, I'll post the Dueling Fighting Style rules verbatim.   "When you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no other weapons, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with that weapon."   I interpret that as being allowed to carry a shield or spellcasting focus in the off hand, and still gain a bonus. There are no hard and fast rules for using a shield as a weapon anymore, and a character would have to take a feat just to be able to shove with the shield. Last night, after playing in Encounters, the DM interpreted it as the off hand must be empty for this benefit to apply, or be holding something non-melee-combat related (he said a spellcasting focus would be fine when I asked about it, and the example he gave was a torch). However, he said using a shield in the off hand would take away from this bonus, as a shield could be considered a weapon.    Now of course, shortly after this the Fighter in question (weilding his sword in one hand and a torch in the other) promptly used the torch as an improvised weapon, which was kind of hilarious given the rules discussion we just had.   So I ask all of you, for the sake of ease and continuity within the game, how do you feel this rule should be interpreted? We got into a rather extended debate as to what constitutes a weapon, and "intent" last night. If you truly could not hold a shield in the off hand and still reap the benefits of this fighting style, I feel the rule would have been phrased thusly:   "When you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and nothing in the other hand, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with that weapon."   Thanks in advance to anybody for their input.
#2 Veleria Sep 04, 2014 11:31:39	You can use a shield. this has been confirmed by the developers of 5e. much of the confusion seems to come from the name which many interpret as swasbuckling style however man duelists in real life made use of a buckler.
#3 Plaguescarred1 Sep 04, 2014 19:01:31	Yeah Jeremy Crawford confirmed on twitter that Duelist Fighting Style could work with a shield;     @Dungeonleft Was the "Dueling" fighting style intended to support a shield?  "Dueling" doesn't scream "shield" at me. ‏@JeremyECrawford A character with the Dueling option usually pairs a one-handed weapon with a shield, spellcasting focus, or free hand.
#4 thewayne687 Sep 04, 2014 20:30:19	Thanks a ton for the responses guys; I feel a bit silly now, guess I should have dug a bit deeper and could have answered it myself!