D&D 5E Have we misunderstood the shield and sword fighter (or warrior)?

[ECMO3]

"A shield is made from wood or metal and is carried in one hand. Wielding a shield increases your Armor Class by 2. You can benefit from only one shield at a time." ~quoted from the rules (and the D&D Beyond site).

Edit for the link: Shield

In that description, it's not even said to be armor. It's a hand-item which can be wielded to gain the benefit of +2 AC.

For comparison the definition of half-plate is: "Half-plate consists of shaped metal plates that cover most of the wearers body. It does not include leg protection beyond simple greaves that are attached with leather straps."

So I guess half-plate is not armor either since it is "not even said to be armor"

A shield is listed on page 146 as requiring an action to doff AND it also defined doff as taking it off.

A shield is in the table labeled "Donning and Doffing Armor" also on page 146 and is in the table labeled "ARMOR" on page 145.

 

[Argyle King]

For comparison the definition of half-plate is: "Half-plate consists of shaped metal plates that cover most of the wearers body. It does not include leg protection beyond simple greaves that are attached with leather straps."

So I guess half-plate is not armor either since it is "not even said to be armor"

A shield is listed on page 146 as requiring an action to doff AND it also defined doff as taking it off.

A shield is in the table labeled "Donning and Doffing Armor" also on page 146 and is in the table labeled "ARMOR" on page 145.

I'm aware of that the shield is listed in the table discussing donning and doffing. I have not disputed that doffing is an action.

However, what I've quoted also shows the shield as being an item held in the hand.

 

[ECMO3]

I'm aware of that the shield is listed in the table discussing donning and doffing. I have not disputed that doffing is an action.

To be clear it is in the table labeled "Donning and Doffing Armor"

And the text above that table states that doffing is specifically to "take armor off".

Explain how you are going to drop it without taking it off .... because it is an action to take it off according to the rules.

Further when you "don" you "put on" armor according to the PHB page 146. So if you "donned" your shield then according to the verbiage in the PHB you "put on" your shield and further according. To the PHB it is an action to take it off.

However, what I've quoted also shows the shield as being an item held in the hand.

You have not quoted anything saying it is "held" in hand. Go back read your quote above, it says exactly what I claimed it said three posts ago. It uses the words "carried" and "wielded" exactly like I said it did.

 

[James Gasik]

To be clear it is in the table for "Donning and Doffing Armor"

And the text above states that doffing is specitically "take armor off".

Explain how you are going to drop it without taking it off .... because it is an action to take it off.



You have not quoted anything saying it is "held" in hand. Go back read your quote above, it says exactly what I claimed it said three posts ago. It uses the words "carried" and "wielded" exactly like I said it did previously.

Not to be pedantic, but how do I carry something in my hand without holding it?

 

[DND_Reborn]

Not to be pedantic, but how do I carry something in my hand without holding it?

It's.... MAGIC!!!

 

[ECMO3]

If you aren't using an arm-strap, it would fall to the ground.

Sure you can drop it and you just used your action to do that. Now you have a move and a bonus action left.

You can say "I can drop my shield" but that is still an action, because you have to take it off to drop it and it is an action to take it off. The rules are explicit and clear on this.

If you drop a boulder on someone that doesn't make it not an attack because I am allowed to drop something for free. If I am carrying caltrops or ball bearings in my hand I can't just put them out to create a barrier because "well I am carrying them and I can drop them for free" .... it is an action to do any of these things.

It doesn't take an action to unequip it, it takes an action to doff it (not the same thing, FYI).

It takes an action to "take off" a shield. That is in the rules. That is what doffing it is according to the rules

 

[ECMO3]

I'm aware of that the shield is listed in the table discussing donning and doffing. I have not disputed that doffing is an action.

To be clear it is in the table for "Donning and Doffing Armor"

And the text above states that doffing is specitically "take armor off".

Explain how you are going to drop it without taking it off .... because it is an action to take it off.

However, what I've quoted also shows the shield as being an item held in the hand.

You have not quoted anything saying it is "held" in hand. Go read your quote above, it says exactly what I said it said three posts ago. It uses the words "carried" and "wielded" just like I said.

 

[ECMO3]

Not to be pedantic, but how do I carry something in my hand without holding it?

It is mostly semantics.

The difference is a rules difference, but an important one. The argument is you can drop something that is "held" without an action (the argument istself is not well supported, but that is the premise). However, the rules don't actually say it is "held" though and the rules do not at all provide for freely dropping things that are "carried" or worn.

That said, if I have a splint on my hand, I am "carrying" and "wearing" that splint, but I am probably not "holding" it.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I know that I personally can sure as heck swim with one hand (and two feet). I bet I could do it with a wooden shield. (Maybe not if I was also wearing a lot of armour, but that's another story).

Climbing with a shield on would not be impossible either, depending on what you're trying to climb. I once had a DM try to claim that it would be "impossible" to climb a ladder (of all things) with a shield on. Lucky for me, I was in a store with a 12-foot ceiling and a ladder, so I showed him that I was perfectly capable of climbing up a ladder with NO hands, far or less ONE.

People can do a lot of things that we think they can't, and even more if they practice it. Many things are hard to do (especially if you don't know the "trick" to it) but people are pretty amazing. (Why am I on this tangent? Ignore me.)

 

[Argyle King]

It is mostly semantics.

The difference is a rules difference, but an important one. The argument is you can drop something that is "held" without an action (the argument istself is not well supported, but that is the premise). However, the rules don't actually say it is "held" though and the rules do not at all provide for freely dropping things that are "carried" or worn.

That said, if I have a splint on my hand, I am "carrying" and "wearing" that splint, but I am probably not "holding" it.

I agree that you would be wearing it.
I do not believe it is natural language to say you are carrying it.

I suppose there may be a way in 5e to wield something without using hands. I'm not familiar with techniques for holding a shield with teeth or feet, but it is a fantasy game, so I'm open to hearing how such an idea may work.