D&D 5E Question about magical shields...
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Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal
I don't think there are any hard-and-fast rules about this, leaving it up to DM interpretation.
Here's a couple potential ways to look at it and I'm sure there are more.
Here's a couple potential ways to look at it and I'm sure there are more.
- It's magical, it would overcome resistance. But the magic on it is to give you a bonus to AC, it doesn't affect your to hit rolls.
- It's magic but has no enhancement around doing damage, so it doesn't count as magical for overcoming resistance or add to hit/damage.
- Looking at the rules for improvised weapons (PHB 148), it talks about some improvised items being close enough to a weapon to use weapon damage and even gain proficiency. If that's the case, it can act as magic, so a magical staff would count as a magic quarterstaff (with no bonuses) for overcoming damage resistance. A shield doesn't fall into that weapon category, so it wouldn't.
- Same as above, plus since you have the Tavern Brawler feat you get proficiency with it, so I guess it's a magic weapon.
- Heck, sounds good to me. Clever thinking! I like when PCs go outside the box.
MMh, guess I'll be at my DMs mercy then. Although I think the argument about a devotion paladin, using his shield as an improvised weapon and channeling Sacred Weapon on it might be a point. It becomes magical too, but the game does not have a distinction between 'battle magic', 'protective magic', and 'general magic', or 'whatever magic'. Magic is magic.
Kithas
First Post
You are definitely at your dm's mercy but I see it as reasonable. One nhing to note, shields are neither light nor 'weapons' so there is no raw way to attack with a sword and shield ala two weapon fighting.
As for examples of 'defensive' magic being used offensively 'blast of tempest' is a pretty straightforward one. Mediocre show overall but for atleast the first half all of the mages fight solely with defensive magic.
Who says I would do dual wield with sword and shield? It's just the shield and a free hand. Prone, grapple, pummel (with the shield), rinse repeat. The sword is just in case I can't grapple/prone.
Also as long as I use the shield as a weapon while having my other hand free (or grappling someone), I should get the +2 damage from the Dueling fighting style, wouldn't I. And Enlarge increases the shield's size, so I get an additional d4 to my damage rolls with the shield for a total of 2d4+6 (Str 18), when bashing skulls with the shield. Booming/Greenflame Blade, respectively Shield might add up, too. Booming Shield sounds better anyway.
Not much, but ok for a grappling defender, I guess.
Also as long as I use the shield as a weapon while having my other hand free (or grappling someone), I should get the +2 damage from the Dueling fighting style, wouldn't I. And Enlarge increases the shield's size, so I get an additional d4 to my damage rolls with the shield for a total of 2d4+6 (Str 18), when bashing skulls with the shield. Booming/Greenflame Blade, respectively Shield might add up, too. Booming Shield sounds better anyway.
Not much, but ok for a grappling defender, I guess.
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Kithas
First Post
I was just covering general usage scenarios. As far as dueling and gfb/bb that is also up tomyour dm. All of those require a "weapon" which raw a shield is not.
Kithas
First Post
As does the dual wielder feat but it has classicly not been allowed with shields for abusable reasons. I undertsand your interpretation Im just saying the interpretation that I have seen wore often is different. Basically all of nhis comes back to talk to your dm. Which is sadly usuallythe answer. <.<
Stop for a moment there. By that thought if I pick up Tavern Brawler it would negate the effect of the Dueling Fighting style. It will definately do so, when I use my shield for a bonus action attack on my turn while attacking with my sword primarily. But as long as I do not use my shield like that Dueling will still be applied (to my sword attacks).
Now, when I use my shield as a weapon during my attack action while having my other hand free I do not see any reason why Dueling should not be granted. Dueling needs a melee weapon. It does not state simple or martial melee weapon, just melee weapon. There are 3 categories at least, not two. Simple, martial and improvised. The only difference is, that the improvised weapon category does not provide a list, because it would be endless as such.
I do not see any line in the paragraph, stating that improvised weapons do not count as weapons when used with spells/effects. GFB/BB requires a melee attack done with a weapon, and Dueling says a melee weapon. No word about simple or martial. Further I do not see the abuse in this.
You think some might dual wield two shields for a twice the AC +1 for the feat, don't you?
Now, when I use my shield as a weapon during my attack action while having my other hand free I do not see any reason why Dueling should not be granted. Dueling needs a melee weapon. It does not state simple or martial melee weapon, just melee weapon. There are 3 categories at least, not two. Simple, martial and improvised. The only difference is, that the improvised weapon category does not provide a list, because it would be endless as such.
I do not see any line in the paragraph, stating that improvised weapons do not count as weapons when used with spells/effects. GFB/BB requires a melee attack done with a weapon, and Dueling says a melee weapon. No word about simple or martial. Further I do not see the abuse in this.
You think some might dual wield two shields for a twice the AC +1 for the feat, don't you?
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