Shield Fighter - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Shield Fighter

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Ocule
Sep 13, 2015 10:40:01
So I was talking with one of my players who felt that the game could use a good offensive shield feat so I started taking a look around on how to make this viable without being redundant or too powerful and I seriously cannot think of anything.

Right now my houserule is the shield is a d6 weapon bludgeoning weapon and you get your proficiency bonus if you're proficient with shields. I also added a light shield that only gives +1 to AC but you can use it as a d4 bludgeoning light weapon. However this has come to mean that in order to effectively beat people to death with your shield and weapon you need the two weapon fighting style (the paladin doesn't get it despite being an iconic shield user), you need the shield master feat (because its just too good of a benefit not to pass up and seems intended to allow shield bashing), and two weapon fighting so you can actually do damage with it. Imo this is overkill and I think I might be inclined to allow the shield master feat to pull double duty and allow for a shield bash much like crossbow master allows the hand crossbow dexterity bonus to damage without needing the fighting style or two weapon feats.

I tried making an offensive shield feat but it doesn't seem to actually give enough to make it worth an actual feat. Thoughts on this?

#2
transcendantviewer
Sep 13, 2015 12:36:35
I came up with a similar idea in regards to dual-wielding shields. It'd be a specialized feat that would give you the ability to benefit from wielding two shields. They can't use them to shield bash (Not without the Tavern Brawler Feat), though.

#3
transcendantviewer
Sep 13, 2015 12:40:17
As far as making use of shields offensively, just have him grab Tavern Brawler. That way, he's always armed and dangerous (Badumtis).

#4
DM_HEEGZ
Sep 13, 2015 17:25:44
I have been experimenting with all creatures being able to use the charger and shield master feats just as a general action. Charge used to be a thing for everyone. I don't see a problem with allowing the shield bashing ability for anyone with a shield either. You can always treat a shield as an improvised weapon, allowing 1d4 damage for a regular shield, and 1d6 for a spiked shield. I think if you check the lizardfolk in the DMG you get an additional glimpse how to run a shield attack in addition to the feat description.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Ocule Sep 13, 2015 10:40:01	So I was talking with one of my players who felt that the game could use a good offensive shield feat so I started taking a look around on how to make this viable without being redundant or too powerful and I seriously cannot think of anything. Right now my houserule is the shield is a d6 weapon bludgeoning weapon and you get your proficiency bonus if you're proficient with shields. I also added a light shield that only gives +1 to AC but you can use it as a d4 bludgeoning light weapon. However this has come to mean that in order to effectively beat people to death with your shield and weapon you need the two weapon fighting style (the paladin doesn't get it despite being an iconic shield user), you need the shield master feat (because its just too good of a benefit not to pass up and seems intended to allow shield bashing), and two weapon fighting so you can actually do damage with it. Imo this is overkill and I think I might be inclined to allow the shield master feat to pull double duty and allow for a shield bash much like crossbow master allows the hand crossbow dexterity bonus to damage without needing the fighting style or two weapon feats. I tried making an offensive shield feat but it doesn't seem to actually give enough to make it worth an actual feat. Thoughts on this?
#2 transcendantviewer Sep 13, 2015 12:36:35	I came up with a similar idea in regards to dual-wielding shields. It'd be a specialized feat that would give you the ability to benefit from wielding two shields. They can't use them to shield bash (Not without the Tavern Brawler Feat), though.
#3 transcendantviewer Sep 13, 2015 12:40:17	As far as making use of shields offensively, just have him grab Tavern Brawler. That way, he's always armed and dangerous (Badumtis).
#4 DM_HEEGZ Sep 13, 2015 17:25:44	I have been experimenting with all creatures being able to use the charger and shield master feats just as a general action. Charge used to be a thing for everyone. I don't see a problem with allowing the shield bashing ability for anyone with a shield either. You can always treat a shield as an improvised weapon, allowing 1d4 damage for a regular shield, and 1d6 for a spiked shield. I think if you check the lizardfolk in the DMG you get an additional glimpse how to run a shield attack in addition to the feat description.