[RPG] How quickly can I switch to two-handed weapon use with a heavy shield equipped

dnd-4eshieldweapons

Consider a character with a heavy shield (equipped) and a versatile weapon (equipped one-handed). I'd like to know whether they can, in the course of a single turn, forgo the shield and attack with the weapon two-handed; even if it means not having the shield equipped for some time after, or even if there's some other penalty involved.

The Player's Handbook (p289) says that equipping or stowing a shield is a standard action, which rules out stowing the shield and then attacking. The same page also says that dropping "held items" is a free action, but does an equipped shield count? Or is there some other way to achieve this?

Best Answer

Unequipping your shield is a standard action, according to the Rules Compendium's section on Shields (p267):

To use a shield, a creature must strap it to the forearm. Doing so is a standard action unless otherwise noted. Removing a shield is also a standard action.

Unfortunately, this means you won't be able to use a standard action for an attack in the same turn unless you spend an action point.

Once your shield is removed, your options are these:

  1. Drop your shield (free action), equip your weapon (minor action). If you want to attack, spend an action point for another standard action. This, however, risks someone else stealing your shield if you leave it unattended.
  2. Stow your shield (standard action), and equip your weapon (minor action). That's a second standard action! You'll need to bust out action points to make this quick, or prepare yourself to use this method over the course of two turns.

I'm not aware of any feats to speed up this swap!

Getting the shield back after dropping it

If you do #1, you'll need to recover your shield at some point. Picking something up is a minor action - this does not equip it. Once it's in your hand, it will take a standard action to either stow it away on your back (or somewhere out of the way) or equip it. Being a shield, it seems you can't simply stow it away as easily as other items, which normally take a minor action.

Where is this all from!?

This is sourced from various excerpts from the Rules Compendium's explanation of a Standard Action, particularly these sections:

  • Equip or Stow a Shield (standard action)
  • Draw or Sheathe a Weapon (minor action)
  • Drop a Held Item (free action)
  • Pick Up an Item (minor action)
  • Retrieve or Stow an Item (minor action)

You should pick up that book, since it contains the most recent version of all of 4e's rules, complete with all errata and updates released since.

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