D&D 5E How do you handle a shield bash?

[overgeeked]

It’s purely descriptive, really. You can deal non-lethal damage with your sword by using the flat of the blade and still deal full damage. Using a shield instead is describing it differently and engaging with the game world. You shouldn’t penalize the player for either. Full sword damage and just have it be blunt instead of slashing damage.

 

[Flamestrike]

Its an attack with an improvised weapon. You cant TWF with a shield as improvised weapons are not 'melee weapons' and even if they were, they lack the [light] property.

 

[Quartz]

Say a barbarian with a sword and shield wishes to do blunt damage so he smashes a skeleton with his shield. How do you handle this? Are there explicit 5e rules for this?

Thanks.

Being proficient with shields allows you to use it as a weapon. How much damage the shield does depends upon the shield. Naturally, you lose the shield bonus to AC if you are using it as a weapon.

 

[Necrozius]

It’s too bad that the game designers for D&D over the years never took more inspiration on how shields were really used throughout history. They definitely did more than passively made you harder to get hit.

I’d allow those proficient with them to use them as a d4 bludgeoning weapon while still earning the AC benefit. And circumvent the “light” prerequisite for off-hand bonus attacks. Because I feel that Fighters need a bit of a boost, honestly.

 

[jasper]

A lot of ibuprofen and some gauze, mostly.

You forgot the Gatoraid.

 

[Sithlord]

I would like to see a well balanced fighting style with shield bashing allows and keeping the defense. Just because it was how the shield was used. I am yet to see anything like that. And the action economy may not allow for it. Interesting thread. Lots of good thoughts.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Two-weapon fighting usually results in an off-hand attack doing 1d6 damage. I do not care in the least how the player wishes to fluff that 1d6. If they want to use their shield to bash, then they get the 1d6 (and doesn't get the bonus to AC that round as they wouldn't if they had a normal weapon in the off-hand.)

 

[Sithlord]

Two-weapon fighting usually results in an off-hand attack doing 1d6 damage. I do not care in the least how the player wishes to fluff that 1d6. If they want to use their shield to bash, then they get the 1d6 (and doesn't get the bonus to AC that round as they wouldn't if they had a normal weapon in the off-hand.)

That is really a good way of doing that does not imbalance anything. Pretty reasonable to me. I would also negate the benefits of the duelist fighting style for the round.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

I would like to see a well balanced fighting style with shield bashing allows and keeping the defense. Just because it was how the shield was used. I am yet to see anything like that. And the action economy may not allow for it. Interesting thread. Lots of good thoughts.

How about:

FIGHTING STYLE
Shield Basher
When you take the Attack action, you can make an off-hand melee attack with your shield as a bonus action.
On a hit with your shield, the damage is 1d6 bludgeoning.

 

[Sithlord]

How about:

FIGHTING STYLE
Shield Basher
When you take the Attack action, you can make an off-hand melee attack with your shield as a bonus action.
On a hit with your shield, the damage is 1d6 bludgeoning.

I would add plus your ability modifier to damage. The only problem is why would one take two weapon fighting style