Yes, there is such a thing as being over prepared. But making sure one is at least familiar with the vocabulary isn’t what I would call “over preparing.” Creating those members of the City Watch as homebrewed monsters in DDB might be over preparing, googling the word “truncheon,” not so much.
Mechanically, 5e doesn't distinguish between shield types. A tall wall-style shield is exactly as functional as a hand-held buckler. A truncheon is, mechanically, a Club.
The designers chose to list all weapons as generic catch-alls and leaves anything beyond that up to flavoring. I guess it saves ink when printing the table of available weapons.
1) You're right. You're 100% right.
2) Then why are scimitars a thing? Okay, that's actually just my own personal rage at the equipment list. It's the second worst part of the PHB.
@Yurei: At my table, Bucklers allow you to use your reaction to gain a bonus to your AC equal to your dex mod until end of turn... but ultimately it's the same mechanic.
@RubixCubed: We also have a Palvis which gives the shieldly +2AC and as an action can be planted, providing cover, which is great for archer and crossbowmen.
2) Scimitars are a thing because way back in the depths of time when they were sorting out Druid weapons, they wanted to give them sickles. But those are not particularly good as weapons and they wanted to give druids something more, so it became 'curved blades are ok.' Thus the scimitar's importance as a 'better than a sickle' curved blade.
Mechanically, 5e doesn't distinguish between shield types. A tall wall-style shield is exactly as functional as a hand-held buckler. A truncheon is, mechanically, a Club.
The designers chose to list all weapons as generic catch-alls and leaves anything beyond that up to flavoring. I guess it saves ink when printing the table of available weapons.
1) You're right. You're 100% right.
2) Then why are scimitars a thing? Okay, that's actually just my own personal rage at the equipment list. It's the second worst part of the PHB.
@Yurei: At my table, Bucklers allow you to use your reaction to gain a bonus to your AC equal to your dex mod until end of turn... but ultimately it's the same mechanic.
@RubixCubed: We also have a Palvis which gives the shieldly +2AC and as an action can be planted, providing cover, which is great for archer and crossbowmen.
2) Scimitars are a thing because way back in the depths of time when they were sorting out Druid weapons, they wanted to give them sickles. But those are not particularly good as weapons and they wanted to give druids something more, so it became 'curved blades are ok.' Thus the scimitar's importance as a 'better than a sickle' curved blade.
2) Also Drizzt...
The scimitars were in game before he was though.
However they were not important before him. I would argue that (o.p..ish) scimitars exist in 5e because people want to emulate their heros.
Edit: To clarify multiple shields aren’t necessary on the equipment list..multiple swords are, until someone writes a compelling story about someone who uses a buckler to save the world.
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Why the hang-up on names?
Buckler
Tower Shield
Shield
Wooden Shield
Boromir's Shield
A Shield that's wooden planks from a rare elven forest surrounding by a wreath
Steel Shield
Roman Shield
Gladiator's Shield
World of Warcraft Shield
If it provides +2 AC and nothing else, it doesn't matter. If the above options allow the player to smile a bit more when wielding, I'm all for it.
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Well, we're more talking about the fact that someone might not know that the term "Buckler" is a name for a type of shield.
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Yes, there is such a thing as being over prepared. But making sure one is at least familiar with the vocabulary isn’t what I would call “over preparing.” Creating those members of the City Watch as homebrewed monsters in DDB might be over preparing, googling the word “truncheon,” not so much.
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Except the OP clearly new what a Buckler is. And if not, googling the word “buckler” would provide that information.
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Gothca.
Thank you
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Oh sorry I wasn't really talking about OP specifically. More just expressing my general sympathy for anyone who might be confused.
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And now you too can play with the amazing art and assets we use in Roll20 for our campaign at Hazel's Emporium
2) Also Drizzt...
However they were not important before him. I would argue that (o.p..ish) scimitars exist in 5e because people want to emulate their heros.
Edit: To clarify multiple shields aren’t necessary on the equipment list..multiple swords are, until someone writes a compelling story about someone who uses a buckler to save the world.