Shields nerfed in D&D?

[Mouseferatu]

Be nice if there were some decent shield feats, other than Phalanx Fighting.

I've an axe-and-board dwarf fighter in our Eberron game, and while she does have a consistently high AC, it'd be nice to get it higher.

Brad

It would, indeed.

I keep meaning to propose a Class Acts (or perhaps a pair) to Dragon, on this exact topic. Maybe I should go do that. Right now.

 

[Crothian]

Be nice if there were some decent shield feats, other than Phalanx Fighting.

There are if you have and are allowed to use the right books

 

[Nyeshet]

I'm not sure you could properly model shields in the D&D system. Perhaps if you decreased the AC bonus to armor and compensated by increasing the AC bonus to Shields? Or perhaps if you stated that shields granted DR, each attack slowly whittling away at its hp until it sundered (presuming it wasn't repaired between quests). Or perhaps the Shield bonus counts against Touch attacks? No, that does not make sense. Or if it counted double against confirming criticals? That could make it a little more useful, perhaps, and it would be in flavor, I think. I'm just brainstorming right now. Does any of this work for you?

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

It would, indeed.

I keep meaning to propose a Class Acts (or perhaps a pair) to Dragon, on this exact topic. Maybe I should go do that. Right now.

Yes, please do.

I remember reading here that whoever wrote most of the Breland section for Five Nations came up with a passel of shield feats, reasoning that, you know, it's bloody hot in the southern areas, maybe they'd use more shields? Pity it was cut.

Brad

 

[Stalker0]

In dnd, don't look for realism, look at the mechanical balance between THF, Sword/Board, and TWF...these are the mainstayes of the game.

If you feel that sword/board is weak compared to the other styles than that's something, if not though it should not be increased.

 

[Umbran]

Is it just me, or does anyone else think that the D&D rules dramatically underestimate the effectiveness of shields?

The rules dramatically underestimates their effectiveness, but dramatically overestimates their durability - insofar as unless someone specicirfally attempts to sunder your shield, it comes through without a scratch.

Oh, and the rules don't worry about fatigue while toting that big plate of metal on your arm while trying to frantically manuver and someone's whacking it as hard as they can with a deadly weapon. Let's not forget that.

Nor do the rules cover all the ways to defeat shields - like hooked polearms, lodging spears in them, and so on.

Beware the can of worms that is "realism".

 

[rounser]

It becomes less of a problem at high level, when they become another platform to put "+4" in front of.

 

[Turjan]

In dnd, don't look for realism, look at the mechanical balance between THF, Sword/Board, and TWF...these are the mainstayes of the game.

If you feel that sword/board is weak compared to the other styles than that's something, if not though it should not be increased.

That's exactly my take. That's what I wanted to express with my Drizzt comment . If you want to have "cool" two-weapon fighting in the game, forget about realism. If we go for realism, we'd also have to think hard about the role of the sword in D&D. But who really wants that?

 

[Banshee16]

That's why we have feats. A shiled in a slightly trained hands is not that great, but someone like a spartan that is skilled in the shiled (ie with feats) really can take advantage of it.

The Cavalier's Handbook from Green Ronin has a series of feats that improve the utility of shields. 2 feats, each improves the AC of a shield. They're called Shield Focus and Greater Shield Focus.

Banshee

 

[William Ronald]

It would, indeed.

I keep meaning to propose a Class Acts (or perhaps a pair) to Dragon, on this exact topic. Maybe I should go do that. Right now.

As I recall, there are also some shield feats and rules for better shield use in Nyambe. I don't know if any of this is OGL, but it would be worth checking out.