So I have a cleric and a fighter in my campaign. both are using a shield and a one handed weapon (mace and sword respectively). Fighter has hand axes and cleric has a crossbow. Both have been switching between weapons freely. I have no problem with the fighter shearing his sword and throwing an axe but the cleric has a two handed crossbow. Wouldn't she have to put her mace and shield away to draw crossbow and fire? and if she was attacked next turn she doesn't have her shield out? I've been looking around and haven't found a suitable answer. Would love some input on this. and I'm not trying to be a ******* DM, just wanting to apply rules correctly.
Donning or doffing a shield takes an action, as does interacting with more than one object in a round, and you can't use a two-handed weapon and a shield at the same time. However, you can drop something without using your object interaction.
Those are the official rules, but I normally ignore the object interaction limitation.
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"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
So I have a cleric and a fighter in my campaign. both are using a shield and a one handed weapon (mace and sword respectively). Fighter has hand axes and cleric has a crossbow. Both have been switching between weapons freely. I have no problem with the fighter shearing his sword and throwing an axe but the cleric has a two handed crossbow. Wouldn't she have to put her mace and shield away to draw crossbow and fire? and if she was attacked next turn she doesn't have her shield out? I've been looking around and haven't found a suitable answer. Would love some input on this. and I'm not trying to be a ******* DM, just wanting to apply rules correctly.
Donning or doffing a shield takes an action, as does interacting with more than one object in a round, and you can't use a two-handed weapon and a shield at the same time. However, you can drop something without using your object interaction.
Those are the official rules, but I normally ignore the object interaction limitation.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
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Chapter 9 of Players Handbook discusses actions during combat.
As I recall, you can draw a weapon as a Free Action on your turn. However sheathing and drawing a separate weapon exceeds that action I believe.
Doffing a shield is even more time consuming, Chapter 5 covers donning and doffing shields and armor. It takes an action to remove or equip a shield.
And yes, you have to either drop or stow your currently held items to draw or equip other items.
Perpetually annoyed that Eldritch Knights can't use Eldritch Blast, Eldritch Smite, and Eldritch Sight.