D&D 5E Shield Proficiency Question

[maritimo80]

PHB in the chapter on equipment, part of the armor proficiency, says that she is proficient in armor, but not exactly talking shield, but the Fighter class book says she has proficiency in all armor and shields.


A character who does not have proficiency in using a shield and resolve, what exactly happens?



Armor Proficiency.

Anyone can put on a suit of armor
or strap a shield to an arm. Only those proficient in the
armor’s use know how to w ear it effectively, however.
Your class gives you proficiency with certain types of
armor. If you w ear armor that you lack proficiency with,
you have disadvantage on any ability check, saving
throw, or attack roll that involves Strength or Dexterity,
and you can’t cast spells.

 

[cpendlet]

Exactly what it says happens in the text you pulled from the Basic PDF (a shield is a type of armor).

 

[Wolfskin]

Ditto. Shield counts as armor IMO.

 

[Joe Liker]

In other words, if you hold a shield and do not have proficiency, you get the +2 AC, but you also get disadvantage on all STR and DEX attack rolls, saving throws, and ability checks, and you cannot cast spells of any kind.

 

[Plaguescarred]

I am also of the opinion that a shield is an armor. That is why i also think a shield interfere with things like mage armor or draconic resilience.

 

[Croesus]

I am also of the opinion that a shield is an armor. That is why i also think a shield interfere with things like mage armor or draconic resilience.

Not sure what you mean by "interfere with". Per a clarification from Mike Mearls, a character can have multiple different formulas for calculating base AC and gets to choose one of those formulas. A shield then adds to the base AC. So mage armor gives a character 13+Dex base AC, and a shield would add +2. No conflict that I can see.

 

[Plaguescarred]

Not sure what you mean by "interfere with". Per a clarification from Mike Mearls, a character can have multiple different formulas for calculating base AC and gets to choose one of those formulas. A shield then adds to the base AC. So mage armor gives a character 13+Dex base AC, and a shield would add +2. No conflict that I can see.

These game elements works when you don't wear armor, which a shield is. If it wasn't, then there wouldn't be any downside to wear a shield without proficiency!

The barbarian's Unarmed Defense makes a distinct exception regarding shield for exemple.

 

[ccooke]

Not sure what you mean by "interfere with". Per a clarification from Mike Mearls, a character can have multiple different formulas for calculating base AC and gets to choose one of those formulas. A shield then adds to the base AC. So mage armor gives a character 13+Dex base AC, and a shield would add +2. No conflict that I can see.

Exactly. You can only benefit from one feature, spell, item or whatever at a time that says your AC equals, is or is set to something. So Mage Armour and the Draconic sorceror bloodline say your AC is 13. Barbarians have an Unarmoured AC "equal to 10 + their Dexterity modifier + their Constitution modifier". Plate armour sets your AC to 18. You can only benefit from one of those at a time, no matter what.

Shields give you +2 to AC. You can benefit from any such items you find as long as you obey any restrictions they have - for instance, the Shield rules say you can only benefit from one shield at a time.