Shield bash, a proficiency question

[candidus_cogitens]

First of all, are there penalties that apply when using a shield as a weapon? The rules call it an "off-hand" attack? Does that really mean anything, or is it just extra verbage?

Secondly, if I use the weapon group feats variant from Unearthed Arcana, can a character ever be proficient with the shield as a weapon? It is not mentioned in any of the weapon groups.

 

[Hypersmurf]

First of all, are there penalties that apply when using a shield as a weapon? The rules call it an "off-hand" attack? Does that really mean anything, or is it just extra verbage?

Look up 'off-hand' in the PHB Glossary.

-Hyp.

 

[Darklone]

Wohoooo, again!

Edit: See here and here and here.

 

[shilsen]

Wohoooo, again!

Edit: See here and here and here.

Troublemaker

 

[Darklone]

Some of these links may have been helpful o

And two shields bonuses don't stack... just in case there's some guy with two spiked shields!