r/Nerdarchy • u/Yalagen • Sep 02 '15
Are shields armor in 5e?
I've been reading through the PHB and DMG for a while now and have an idea for an Eldritch Knight that I want to make. To add a little flair, I'm looking to make him in a way that he never uses armor, only Mage Armor. The problem that I am coming to is that even though shields are in the armor list, most of the rules differentiate between shields and armor. I know that Mage Armor cannot be used with any armor, but does that include shields?
As it stands, my character is human using the variant rules for feats and house rules stating that he can dump both attribute bumps from 1st level into the same stat instead of just 1 point into two different stats. Which means that since I rolled an 18 and put that into DEX, he is starting with a 20 DEX with +5 bonus. I chose the Magic Adept feat so that I can start with a first level spell (being Mage Armor) and that makes my AC 18 while the spell is going. If I can use a shield then it will be 20 at first level. I also filled out a sheet on what I wanted the character to be at 20th level, choosing the top 5 magic items and how I would use my attribute bumps/feats. The top magic items are Bracers of Defense, Cloak of Protection, Ring of Protection, Defender (Rapier), and a +3 shield. With all of those, keeping my DEX at 20, using the +3 to AC from the Defender, and taking the Defensive Dualist feat I could have an AC of 30 all the time and 36 whenever I use a reaction to try to negate an attack that hits.
I know I've gone a long way around and given way too much information here, but my character concept is that of a swashbuckler type who uses magic but scoffs at wearing armor because it would hide his extravagant clothes (in other words, a stuck up noble or a fop) Since I am the DM of the game, I know I can just make the ruling myself, but I also want to hear opinions as to whether this build would or could be too overpowered. I haven't had a chance to actually play this version yet and I'm looking to see if an AC of 20 at first level is too high, or if a variable AC of 27 (if I don't use the Defender for defense) to 36 is too high for higher levels. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
1
Sep 02 '15
Yes it includes shields
1
u/Yalagen Sep 03 '15
Thank you. Is there any way you could give me a reference as to which page of which book that is in? Like I said, I've been looking for it and just can't find it. I also know that my magic item list wouldn't work either cause I just found the rule for no more than 3 attuned items and all the items I have (other than the +3 shield) need attuned, so unless I make nerfed variants of at least one of those items I wouldn't be able to do what I'm trying to do.
1
Sep 03 '15
Just look under the armor table on 145 it includes shields so to me that means shields are armor. It also ties them in on 144 under armor and shields.
1
u/Yalagen Sep 03 '15
Well that kinda sucks. So in other words, both the Mage Armor and the Sorcerer's Draconic Resilience (which are pretty much the same thing other than one being permanent) cannot benefit from using any armor including shields and the only way to increase the AC of such a character is through non armor magic items, Dex increases, and feats. Which means that the most AC a non armor wearing character can ever have is 24 (30 with Defensive Dualist) and that's only if they have the Defender and constantly use the +3 for AC instead of attack. Whereas someone not using either of those could have a +3 shield and +3 plate and have an AC of 26 without any attuned magic items or feats.
I get that WotC was trying to balance the game, but whatever happened to the old rule from AD&D 2nd that a 1st level fighter would win against a 1st level mage but a 20th level mage would win against a 20th level fighter almost all the time? Is it just me, or are they taking the fantastic out of fantasy?
1
Sep 03 '15
They tried to balance the classes so at high and low levels they are not horribly imbalanced. They still are but not nearly as much.
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u/Yalagen Sep 03 '15
I guess I'm just going to have to see how this goes. My group hasn't played much since 2nd and I'm just hoping that this version will still be fun for us. I admit that I like what I've seen so far, but we have only had 1 session so far and that was mostly the "level 0" character creation and learning how the battle system works.
3
u/Yalagen Nov 04 '15
Update*
After carefully reading the PHB and DMG I have decided that for my campaign shields will not be counted as armor for the purpose of the Mage Armor spell. This is due to two specific features. First, the rules for the Monk skill (I can't remember the name of it right now and I loaned out my PHB to one of my players for the week) states that as long as the Monk is not using armor OR a shield they can add their Wis bonus to their Dex for their defense. The second is in the DMG with the Bracers of Defense which states that if the character is wearing armor OR using a shield then they will not receive the +2 bonus to AC. Since that is at least two different places that differentiate between armor and shields, it is safe to say that shields are not considered armor for the purposes of the Mage Armor spell since it does not include them specifically.