Shields

This article is about shields and how they function across multiple systems.

D&D 5e
Shields in D&D 5e are subject to house rules. See D&D 5e House Rules for more info on the remaining house rules.

Shield Abilities
All shields have some unique properties, and some properties are shared between many, if not all shields.

Designating Target
What ever direction a PC is facing, is the direction their shield-bonus applies to. As a free action, if not surprised, a PC can turn around when attacked, provided they have not already applied their shield-bonus in a different direction, against a different attack.

Negate Flanking Bonus
Using a shield prevents others from attacking with advantage obtained from flanking, unless the user of the shield is double-flanked.

Buckler
The buckler's AC bonus applies only against the first opponent to attack the character, but against all attacks made by that character. The buckler can be worn on the forearm when fighting, even if using a two-handed weapon or an off-hand weapon. A character doing this, can opt to retain their AC bonus, but make attacks with the off-hand or both hands (if using a two-handed weapon) with disadvantage, or alternatively forego the AC bonus from the shield.

Shield, light
This shield can be slung over the shoulder at no penalty or can be dropped and retained with the use of a retention strap (no extra cost). When doing so, the AC bonus is dropped. Dropping an item is a free action.

Shield, medium
This shield can be slung over the shoulder at no penalty or can be dropped and retained with the use of a retention strap (no extra cost). When doing so, the AC bonus is dropped, and so are all disadvantages. Dropping an item is a free action.

Shield, Heavy
This shield cannot be slung over the shoulder, but must be carried by the side, possibly with a strap, but the AC bonus (and therefore, the disadvantages) cannot be negated. When carried passively, the shield grants an AC bonus of only 1, but when deployed, it grants the full AC bonus of 3, but reduces movement speed by 10.

Shield, tower
This shield cannot be slung over the shoulder, but must be carried by the side, possibly with a strap, but the AC bonus (and therefore, the disadvantages) cannot be negated. When carried passively, the shield grants an AC bonus of only 2, but when deployed, it grants the full AC bonus of 4, but reduces movement speed by half (rounded down). This shield can be placed on the ground, and used as full-cover. The moment that someone using a tower-shield as full cover decides to make an attack, they immediately reduce their cover rating to three quarters. One cannot hide behind a tower-shield.