D&D (2024) Did Protection Fighting Style just become "Shield Wall" for warrior types?

[Mistwell]

Shields have really gotten their due in 5E, and it's about time.

And yet, still no buckler

 

[DEFCON 1]

I'll be curious if it actually matters all that much at the end of the day.

In my Theros game I made a phalanx fighting style and fighter subclass that gave bonuses to that fighter and the people next to them via a shield wall mechanic... and yet the players rarely if ever took advantage of it. They always just ran up and engaged whichever enemies were around them and never thought about moving adjacent to each other or whatever.

Granted, I'm sure there are more technically-minded players out there that would make use of these mechanics to their utmost... but how many more will just play to play and not even think about maximizing the effectiveness of these rules?

 

[Mistwell]

I am serious about the buckler by the way. The 3e rules for buckler worked fine, though you could tweak them for 5e. Why doesn't 5e have a buckler which grants a +1 AC rather than the +2 AC of a standard shield, but allows some more uses for that hand?

For that matter, we should have the Tower Shield back as well. Those 3e rules worked fine too. You can forgo attacks and use it for total cover, or you can gain a +4 AC in exchange for -2 to attacks. I can see tweaking that to +3 AC for 5e, but regardless those rules should port reasonably well to 5e.

 

[Guest 7037866]

I am serious about the buckler by the way. The 3e rules for buckler worked fine, though you could tweak them for 5e. Why doesn't 5e have a buckler which grants a +1 AC rather than the +2 AC of a standard shield, but allows some more uses for that hand?

For that matter, we should have the Tower Shield back as well. Those 3e rules worked fine too. You can forgo attacks and use it for total cover, or you can gain a +4 AC in exchange for -2 to attacks. I can see tweaking that to +3 AC for 5e, but regardless those rules should port reasonably well to 5e.

We have used both in 5E for a long time.

Buckler (AC +1, light property, may be used for two-weapon fighting, 1d4+STR bludgeoning damge)
Tower (AC +5, heavy property, STR 13 requirement, acts basically as 3/4-cover, 1d6+STR bludeoning damage)
"Normal" Shield (AC +2, may be used, 1d4+STR bludgeoning damage)

Note you can make "bash" attacks with the normal and tower shields, but as a normal attack, not part of TWF.

Shield Master allows bonus action attack with normal shield.

 

[Mistwell]

We have used both in 5E for a long time.

Buckler (AC +1, light property, may be used for two-weapon fighting, 1d4+STR bludgeoning damge)
Tower (AC +5, heavy property, STR 13 requirement, acts basically as 3/4-cover, 1d6+STR bludeoning damage)
"Normal" Shield (AC +2, may be used, 1d4+STR bludgeoning damage)

Note you can make "bash" attacks with the normal and tower shields, but as a normal attack, not part of TWF.

Shield Master allows bonus action attack with normal shield.

Those are some nice house rules there!

 

[James Gasik]

I am serious about the buckler by the way. The 3e rules for buckler worked fine, though you could tweak them for 5e. Why doesn't 5e have a buckler which grants a +1 AC rather than the +2 AC of a standard shield, but allows some more uses for that hand?

For that matter, we should have the Tower Shield back as well. Those 3e rules worked fine too. You can forgo attacks and use it for total cover, or you can gain a +4 AC in exchange for -2 to attacks. I can see tweaking that to +3 AC for 5e, but regardless those rules should port reasonably well to 5e.

Kobold Press has the Manica in the Tome of Heroes. +1 AC, doesn't take up your hand.

We had a debate about shields at the start of the current campaign- a player wanted to drop their shield. It was pointed out they couldn't, books were searched, and we found the rules state that shields are simultaneously strapped to one's arm and held in hand!

I think the only reason the buckler doesn't exist is spellcasters. They wanted casters to jump through hoops to carry a shield around, and didn't want every caster carrying around a buckler. Even the Cleric and the Paladin, who are iconic shield users, run into weird issues when using a shield and a weapon.

-

On another note, yes, bring back shield bashes! Shields are more useful in battle than being a portable wall one hides behind!

 

[Guest 7037866]

Those are some nice house rules there!

Thanks. We've been using them for something like 4 or so years maybe?

Since then, we've had IIRC 3 TWF-types who have adopted the bucklers, but only one user of the tower shield. Still they seem to work well, are balanced, and the players like having the options.

Obviously, use them if you want or modify them as fits your game. Cheers.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

I always thought since third edition that the fighter should not only have increased attacks as they level but increased opportunity attacks/reactions as they level.

So not only would the fighter be able to defend it nearby ally did be able to bash you when you miss. This would reduce the whole analysis paralysis because you would just have so many reactions that you both defend and attack.

Ive played for a good while now with the houserule that AoO gave you a full attack action. Smites, Rage, Sneak attack and spells (with warcaster) are already usable on AoO, so the fighter was actually lagging behind in the AoO department. A high level fighter should have devastating AoO.

 

[James Gasik]

There was a UA that had a fighting style that gave you more opportunities attacks-

• Tunnel Fighter (UA). As a bonus action, you can enter a defensive stance that lasts until the start of your next turn. While in your defensive stance, you can make opportunity attacks without using your reaction, and you can use your reaction to make a melee attack against a creature that moves more than 5 feet while within your reach.

Why this never got to print I couldn't tell you, it seemed good to me.