buffing the SHIELD rules

[Stalker0]

Well, my reasoning is that when you watch someone fight with a sword and shield, they are oftentimes trying to use the shield aggressively to push aside the opponent's sword and/or shield to create an opening for attack. Just seemed like a reasonable ability for shields to do, even though in D&D shields and AoOs seem miles apart.

Keep in mind that dnd's combat system is abstract. Two fighters do not stand there and go "I swing 3 times, whack, whack, whack." "Alright, now I swing 3 times." Both are moving feinting, swinging, yelling, kicking, throwing dirt, whatever.

So for flavor purposes, I'm sure a sword and board fighter is throwing around his shield like crazy, knocking away weapons, moving in with gut shots, etc. The mechanics of shield bash mean that the player did some real damage to the guy, more so then just got him off balance or knocked the wind out of him.


Here's another example:

1) In swashbuckling duels, you often see one guy knock back another man's weapon. This is resolved in the abstact nature of dnd combat.
2) Then you often see a moment where the two swing their rapiers around each other very fast, and one goes flying away. That would be represented by a disarm manuever.

 

[Rhun]

In my games, I generally have bucklers provide +1 AC, light shields +2 AC and heavy shields +3 AC. I then add feats to improve upon this or to provide other abilities for sword and boarders.

 

[librarius_arcana]

{added}
Feat: Shield Expert
You have learned to better utilized your shield to defend yourself. You gain a dodge bonus equal to the number of attacks you may take in a full attack action.

Like this one

 

[dante58701]

When I play female paladins...they use their shields to keep away penetrating objects of inappropriate nature. They also wear chastity belts. Too many DMs are disturbed.

 

[Nyaricus]

When I play female paladins...they use their shields to keep away penetrating objects of inappropriate nature. They also wear chastity belts. Too many DMs are disturbed.

Yeah, a sword would look pretty inappropriate sticking from your stomach, too

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

In my games...I then add feats to improve upon this or to provide other abilities for sword and boarders.

Care to share?

 

[Someone]

In a campaign I DMed once I allowed everyone with a shield free use of the Combat Expertise feat; if you had the feat and a shield, you got +2 AC for each -1 penalty to hit. Worked well, though I used it because heavier armor wasn´t available.

 

[Land Outcast]

Another thing I've seen around: When carrying a shield, add your Str bonus as an increment to your Shield Bonus to AC.

 

[ValhallaGH]

A simple, but useful, change is to alter the shield tables slightly.
Type AC
Buckler +1
Light +2
Heavy +3
Tower +4

Same at the extremes but it makes the light and heavy shields more useful and appealing, especially the Light shield.

 

[Griffith Dragonlake]

In a campaign I DMed once I allowed everyone with a shield free use of the Combat Expertise feat; if you had the feat and a shield, you got +2 AC for each -1 penalty to hit. Worked well, though I used it because heavier armor wasn´t available.

This is an excellent idea! I will definitely be incorporating into my homebrew, Grymwurld.™