So here is the setup, character has a shield and is holding a two handed weapon. They drop the shield (free), attack with 2h weapon, then pick up the shield as their one object interaction. As a DM, I don't allow this, but by the rules, and by the clarifications given so far about dropping items, this is legal.
I have not found any subsequent clarification to stop this. Thought I'd check.
You cannot just drop a shield that you have donned. Shields have a Don and Doff time of 1 Action. Sure you can freely drop a shield if you are holding it but not Donning it in which case you will not get the AC bonus conferred by the shield because it is not donned.
Yeah, shields and armor can't be dropped and picked up like other items according to the rules. You can do this with weapons and spellcasting foci, but not shields.
There are perfectly RAW ways to discourage this kind of behaviour. By RAW, a player may be able to drop an item without the use of an interaction, but where it lands is entirely at the discretion of the DM. At my table, it is quite possible for it to bounce into an adjacent square. Similarly, by RAW, the DM can rule that picking up a fallen object in the midst of melee "needs special care or ... presents an unusual obstacle" and so requires an Action.
Anyone may freely drop an held item but a donned shield has a doff time of 1 action. If you have a donned shield and a two-handed weapon in hand, you're limited.
You can attack with the shield as an improvised weapon or drop the two-handed weapon, draw a one-handed weapon and attack with it.
So here is the setup, character has a shield and is holding a two handed weapon. They drop the shield (free), attack with 2h weapon, then pick up the shield as their one object interaction. As a DM, I don't allow this, but by the rules, and by the clarifications given so far about dropping items, this is legal.
I have not found any subsequent clarification to stop this. Thought I'd check.
You cannot just drop a shield that you have donned. Shields have a Don and Doff time of 1 Action. Sure you can freely drop a shield if you are holding it but not Donning it in which case you will not get the AC bonus conferred by the shield because it is not donned.
Yeah, shields and armor can't be dropped and picked up like other items according to the rules. You can do this with weapons and spellcasting foci, but not shields.
Here is the rule: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/phb/equipment#GettingIntoandOutofArmor
There are perfectly RAW ways to discourage this kind of behaviour. By RAW, a player may be able to drop an item without the use of an interaction, but where it lands is entirely at the discretion of the DM. At my table, it is quite possible for it to bounce into an adjacent square. Similarly, by RAW, the DM can rule that picking up a fallen object in the midst of melee "needs special care or ... presents an unusual obstacle" and so requires an Action.
Anyone may freely drop an held item but a donned shield has a doff time of 1 action. If you have a donned shield and a two-handed weapon in hand, you're limited.
You can attack with the shield as an improvised weapon or drop the two-handed weapon, draw a one-handed weapon and attack with it.
Thank you, the donning/doffing rule I had not considered. Thanks so much!