Shield as a weapon

[jaelis]

Why do you want to make this change?

In many historical cases (the vikings in particular), the shield was often used more than the axe or sword in combat.

Sorry hadn't meant to be so abrupt, but was on my phone and something came up. The point is that its hard to offer advice about something like this if we don't know what your goal is for it.

If what you're after is historical accuracy or more realistic combat, your proposed change seems like such a small step. DnD combat is hopelessly unrealistic overall. I think there are better combat system; one I've heard good things about is Riddle of Steel. But grafting that into the dnd rules might not be so easy

Something broader you might try though is give everyone (or perhaps all martial classes) proficiency with their unarmed strikes, and allow anyone to make an unarmed strike as a bonus action when they take the attack action. (So basically as a default TWF option). Then you could introduce various equipment items that boost your unarmed strike damage. Shields could be included, along with gauntlets, spiked armor, heavy armor itself, bracers, boot spikes, weapon handles, ... whatever you can think of. That at least gets away from the "one swing of your sword" picture which I guess is what bothers you.

You'd want to be careful if you have well-optimized melee combatants already, since this could increase their damage. And it definitely steps on the toes of the monk, you might just increase their damage die at level 1 to make up for it.

 

[Ganymede81]

I second the suggestion of letting a strike with a donned shield count as an unarmed strike; it is fundamentally similar to a punch with a gauntleted fist or a helmeted head-butt.

 

[Prism]

Sorry hadn't meant to be so abrupt, but was on my phone and something came up. The point is that its hard to offer advice about something like this if we don't know what your goal is for it.

Sorry, as the op I should have answered you earlier

One reason is simply a matter of conversion from older versions of D&D. In most of our previous games we have had a character that has done some form of shield bashing or spiked shield use. In particular 3e had very specific (although awkward) rules about attacking with a shield though I have an old AD&D character still that attacks with a shield

However the main reason is that I'm running a campaign set in and around Amn in the Forgotten Realms and I wanted to introduce some alternative weapons and armour to emphasis the conquistador style of that land. I have some other ideas too, but was a bit stuck on the shield

My general rules of thumb are that I only really want to introduce new equipment or modify existing stuff in a limited fashion
I'd like this equipment to be of use without class abilities and feats, though possibly better with them
I don't want to modify any feats or class abilities except for possibly adding limited new uses for them e.g dual wielder and a shield bash.
I want to keep the equipment as simple as other 5e equipment. So for example although a bucker might be best represented by having a differing AC bonus vs melee and ranged, or even being used as a reaction rather than a generic AC bonus, I'd rather not go there.

So far based upon several posts suggesting that a shield should be about as damaging as an unarmed strike I am in agreement I think. Well, I am when referring to the 5e shield which is basically a 'large' shield like a heater or kite shield. The size and surface area would make it unwieldy and do limited damage. As Ancalagon said above it would be better for shoving than damaging.

So a phb shield could be used as a simple melee weapon, doing 1 point of bludgeoning damage + Str. This could be used instead of a regular attack if unarmed or needing to do bludgeoning damage. With the dual wielder feat it could be used as a bonus attack like normal. I'm heading towards allowing the +1 AC too since you get no other real benefits of that feat, except for being able to equip a shield and draw a weapon as a single action. It basically makes dual wielders good with two weapons, or weapon and shield

Then I add another shield in which I'll call a buckler (completely unrelated to the totally fabricated 3e buckler). Now these were the ones that were historically used to attack with and so should do more damage as the buckler is designed as a weapon as much as a shield
+1 AC being a shield plus light weapon 1d4 + Str bludgeoning damage. Can be used as an offhand weapon without the feat since its light, along with another light weapon. Now +1 AC is probably stronger than an extra point of damage from a 1d6 weapon or to the option of range from a dagger or light hammer but I'm ok with that since two weapon fighting is a touch weak anyway

Next up I'm thinking of creating a few interesting codified options to do with the free hand from the dueling class ability since with my shield rules it doesn't work. Same applies for versatile weapons.

 

[Soul Stigma]

As someone's who's done some sword and shield fighting, if you are using your shield as a weapon, it's not protecting you... I will also note that a shield takes a lot of room, and will interfere with your other weapon while you are attacking with it.

We might use the shield as a "weapon" to be shoving someone away, but the goal wasn't to cause damage, just gain a momentary positional advantage.

This is really (IMO) the best way to approach it. Shields were used in combat as an improvised weapon, especially when a warrior was otherwise disarmed, but it did not feature (to my knowledge - someone can correct me here) as a true "second weapon" that would, in game terms, be a regular secondary attack.

A shield bash would be used in an opportune moment to unbalance an opponent, for instance, but its primary purpose was always defense.

 

[LapBandit]

This is what I did:

When you take the Attack Action and you are wielding a Shield you can use your Bonus Action to Shield Punch, losing your shield AC bonus until the beginning of your
next turn. The damage for this is attack is 1 + STR bonus (min 1 dmg) unless stated by the shield (Lizardman Shield for instance). If you have proficiency with improvised
weapons or have the Shield Master feat, then it is 1d4 + STR bonus.