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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Sword of Spirit" data-source="post: 6461323" data-attributes="member: 6677017">That sounds like a good way to go, glad it's working out.Short answer = no. Long answer = You could strap a shield onto your backpack and not use it while still fighting with a two-handed weapon, but you wouldn't derive any benefit from the shield. Actually using the shield requires a spare hand not being used for anything else. If you didn't already have it ready when you started combat, it also takes an action to ready the shield (or another one to put it away). Generally if you have a greatsword, you won't want lug a shield around, because you'll almost never use it.Proficiency bonuses don't stack. You only get the bonus once. Your background provides certain proficiencies automatically, and your class allows you to select other proficiencies. If your class and background both gave you the exact same proficiency you only get it once and then select any other proficiency you like as a substitute for the duplicate.In Practice: Start with your background proficiencies. Record those on your sheet. Then look at your class and choose the number of proficiencies your class says you can have (two for most classes) from the list of options it gives you. Don't pick any of the ones you already have from your background. Record those too. That's it!Choose one of the following:1. Gain the listed equipment from your chosen class + the equipment from your backgroundOR2. Gain the gold from the Starting Wealth By Class table and use it to buy everything.No problem!There is one thing else about backgrounds that you may not want to worry about on your first game, but it's important to know. Backgrounds are just soft templates rather than hard-coded things like classes and races. You can alter a background (such as by trading one skill for another one), or entirely make up your own. The Basic Rules describes how this works on p. 36 under Customizing a Background. If you have any questions about how that works feel free to ask, because players aren't going to want to stick with the default backgrounds forever.</blockquote>

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