Quartz
Hero
In this thread we see how GWF compares with TWF, so I'm wondering how sword & board compares. Obviously the damage per round is going to be less, but does the shield compensate?
-
NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
D&D 5E How viable is Sword & Board in 5E?
- Thread starter Quartz
- Start date
Olgar Shiverstone
Legend
Someone I'm sure will run the full stats. S&B is down on average about 2.5 points per action, but has a 10% less chance to be hit on average. The +2 for a shield is pretty good. I suspect it's more or less balanced, so long as mechanics don't appear for the other styles that start bumping AC (like Two Weapon Defense).
The main benefit of sword and board is that it's the style most supported by dexterity. With studded armor, you can start with 17 AC, and raise that to 19 AC, just a 1 point difference from the full plate that costs 1,500gp, and it can go higher with magic items. You can also make stealth and other dexterity checks and get that +5 bonus to dexterity saves, of which there are many, instead of strength saves, of which there are very, very few. And, a bonus to initiative is never a bad thing either. With the lack of a charge action, being able to pull out and accurately fire off a Longbow is also going to be a major edge.
and it's supported for a variety of play styles, with three legit choices among the available fighting styles: defense, duelling, protection.
<edit: ninja'd>
<edit: ninja'd>
Some quick math:
1st Level Fighter (no fighting style). Strength +3 vs AC 16.
TWF: 2 d6 weapons 5.35
SB: 1 d8 weapon 3.975
Adjust the AC to 18 (for the shield). This is to emulate how much DPR the SB fighter would negate because of his +2 AC in facing other fighters.
TWF: 2 d6 weapons 4.35 (-19% DPR)
SB: 1 d8 weapon 3.225 (-19% DPR)
Conclusion: If a TWF switches to SB, he loses 26% DPR. In exchange all enemies attacking him lose 19% DPR. Considering that the SB guy will often face multiple foes...and the fact this DPR numbers aren't perfect when comparing monster, the SB guy seems like he is doing alright.
1st level Fighter (TWF and dueling styles).
TWF: 6.85
SB: 4.975
Adjusted to 18
TWF: 5.55 (-19% DPR)
SB: 4.025 (-19% DPR)
Conclusion: This time the SB loses slightly more DPR (27% vs 26%) and applies the same DPR penalty.
Overall: This comparison is not as perfect as the TWF vs GWF was simply because of the nature of defense vs offense. That said I think the base style seems to stack up pretty well, especially in any situation where you face more than 1 foe. Technically in a dueling scenario (1 on 1 hackfest all else being equal) the TWF would win slightly more often, but the SB comes out stronger in group fights.
1st Level Fighter (no fighting style). Strength +3 vs AC 16.
TWF: 2 d6 weapons 5.35
SB: 1 d8 weapon 3.975
Adjust the AC to 18 (for the shield). This is to emulate how much DPR the SB fighter would negate because of his +2 AC in facing other fighters.
TWF: 2 d6 weapons 4.35 (-19% DPR)
SB: 1 d8 weapon 3.225 (-19% DPR)
Conclusion: If a TWF switches to SB, he loses 26% DPR. In exchange all enemies attacking him lose 19% DPR. Considering that the SB guy will often face multiple foes...and the fact this DPR numbers aren't perfect when comparing monster, the SB guy seems like he is doing alright.
1st level Fighter (TWF and dueling styles).
TWF: 6.85
SB: 4.975
Adjusted to 18
TWF: 5.55 (-19% DPR)
SB: 4.025 (-19% DPR)
Conclusion: This time the SB loses slightly more DPR (27% vs 26%) and applies the same DPR penalty.
Overall: This comparison is not as perfect as the TWF vs GWF was simply because of the nature of defense vs offense. That said I think the base style seems to stack up pretty well, especially in any situation where you face more than 1 foe. Technically in a dueling scenario (1 on 1 hackfest all else being equal) the TWF would win slightly more often, but the SB comes out stronger in group fights.
Last edited:
Quartz
Hero
ISTM that fighting styles will make a big difference. For example the S&B fighter would be well advised to take the Duelling fighting style for +2 damage, which is significant, but the GWF style only nudges the average damage up slightly.
Take a Str 16+Dex 14 / Dex 16 fighter.
At 1st a GWF fighter attacks at +5 (+3 Str, +2 proficiency) for 1d10+3 or an average of 9.3 damage.
At 1st level a S&B duellist fighter attacks at +5 (as above) for an average of 9.5 damage. This is pretty much the same as the GWF fighter and the S&B guy has an advantage of 2 points of AC.
At 1st level a TWF fighter attacks at +5 (+3 Dex, +2 Proficiency) x2 for 1d4+3 x2 or 11 damage. A clear advantage to the TWF fighter, but he loses 2 points of AC to the S&B.
Take a Str 16+Dex 14 / Dex 16 fighter.
At 1st a GWF fighter attacks at +5 (+3 Str, +2 proficiency) for 1d10+3 or an average of 9.3 damage.
At 1st level a S&B duellist fighter attacks at +5 (as above) for an average of 9.5 damage. This is pretty much the same as the GWF fighter and the S&B guy has an advantage of 2 points of AC.
At 1st level a TWF fighter attacks at +5 (+3 Dex, +2 Proficiency) x2 for 1d4+3 x2 or 11 damage. A clear advantage to the TWF fighter, but he loses 2 points of AC to the S&B.
