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Message: <blockquote data-quote="lichmaster" data-source="post: 9447368" data-attributes="member: 6683330">I can't tell you if it was officially intended as I wasn't part of the design team.The way I read the rules suggests so.However, I think this needs a small clarification: given the way the "defensive" property is spelled ("When you make an attack with this weapon and are using a shield designed for it, you can use a bonus action to either make an attack with your shield...") , the shove or knockdown performed instead of the shield attack as bonus action only happens during or after the Attack action, not before.So a level 1 character could do the routine attack then bonus attack, not the other way. This has quite some implications as that character wouldn't be able to attempt a knockdown and eventually then attack the enemy with advantage.A character with Extra attack could do one attack from the main attack action, then decide if to take the bonus attack or not, and perform the other attacks with the main attack action.All this of course if the character does not decide to swap one of his normal attacks with a knockdown, as that's always an option.What's cool IMO is not just the possibility of knocking down the enemy and potentially allowing all the party to attack with advantage (barring ranged attacks of course), but also to use the shove basic maneuvre multiple times, potentially pushing the enemy 15+ft towards hazards.If that's the main idea then it's definitely a good choice.Bastard sword is cool in A5E as it's not just versatile but also has the parry property. Doesn't work when using a shield, but makes two-handing it more viable as you can get potentially more AC than a shield against a single attack. And there are combat traditions and maneuvers where being missed may give you extra free attacks (eg Parrying counter)As you see there are tons of options given by the synergies of weapon properties, combat maneuvers, feats and class featuresEdit: I couldn't remember which maneuver was, but if you take for instance Heightened Reflexes you can get extra reactions. That would work very well with a weapon with the parring property. You could also take Flowing Form and just counterattack anyone that misses you. These two maneuvers are respectively an action and a bonus action, so could be activated simultaneously and turn a two-handing bastard sword fighter into a blender to throw into hordes of enemies!</blockquote>

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