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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Helldritch" data-source="post: 8102489" data-attributes="member: 6855114">So is a defender sword and I would not allow it either. Just holding a +1 sword should not allow a wizard to get +1 hit and damage with his spells, he should actively be using the sword to attack. And so should a shield not protect the one who is simply holding it. A shield is an active protection. Not a passive one as an armor is. The magic of the shield makes it lighter and allow for faster reaction (this is not related to the action called reaction by the way) and enables the shield user to block incoming attacks.  Simply holding a shield does not make you able to earn that hability.Well there is a case where I would allow a non proficient user to get the full bonus. It is with the dodge action. Obviously, the character is trying its best to defend so he is actually using the shield but can't retaliate because the character does not know how to do defense and attack with a shield at the same time.These little things has beem in D&D since AD&D in the fiend folio. And I am not sure but there was either an adventure or a supplement in basic where they were mentioned (but this one is a hazy memory, it might have been for AD&D.)</blockquote>