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A lot of forces in 40k have shields. Lychguard have dispersion shields, plenty of space marine terminators or HQs have shields. Do they count as an additional melee weapon for the purpose of extra attacks? I just realized I have no idea. I haven't until this point played my Lychguard that way, but it seems to make sense: the shield bash is a time-honored tactic of melee fighters, so why would 40k be any different? So, does a shield of some kind count as having a weapon in your model's other hand, such as an additional CCW or a pistol? and if so, do you get a bonus attack with it? (Please say yes )

If it has the "melee" type then yes.
If not, no.

 grendel083 wrote:
If it has the "melee" type then yes.
If not, no.

hmmm... I don't think I've ever seen any shields that have 'melee' in their profile... and I've at least glanced at every codex in 40k this edition. They're usually just a description in the wargear section, or if it's specific to a unit, like Lychguard, it gives the description right there. Are you saying that because it's not listed under a melee weapon it can't grant an addtional attack in CC? On that note, can you think of a shield that does have that type in its description?

Something that might sway this conversation; I read that "a model with a storm shield can never claim the +1 bonus attack for being armed with two weapons in the assault phase" Does this mean that models with other shields do gain the bonus attacks for being armed with two weapons?

 nickron wrote:
Something that might sway this conversation; I read that "a model with a storm shield can never claim the +1 bonus attack for being armed with two weapons in the assault phase" Does this mean that models with other shields do gain the bonus attacks for being armed with two weapons?

Other shields have the potential. But again they need the melee rule in order to qualify, since you need two melee weapons to gain the bonus.

 nickron wrote:

 grendel083 wrote:
If it has the "melee" type then yes.
If not, no.

hmmm... I don't think I've ever seen any shields that have 'melee' in their profile... and I've at least glanced at every codex in 40k this edition. They're usually just a description in the wargear section, or if it's specific to a unit, like Lychguard, it gives the description right there. Are you saying that because it's not listed under a melee weapon it can't grant an addtional attack in CC? On that note, can you think of a shield that does have that type in its description?

Correct, if it is not specifically a melee weapon (in its weapon type) it does not grant an additional attack, as per the 2 CCW bonus attack rules. And no shields (that I am aware of) are considered a melee weapon.

Something that might sway this conversation; I read that "a model with a storm shield can never claim the +1 bonus attack for being armed with two weapons in the assault phase" Does this mean that models with other shields do gain the bonus attacks for being armed with two weapons?

This simply means they cannot ever gain the +1 bonus for 2 CCW's. It does not infer that other shields are considered an extra CCW, only that you may gain the bonus if you have 2 CCW's.

 nickron wrote:

 grendel083 wrote:
If it has the "melee" type then yes.
If not, no.

hmmm... I don't think I've ever seen any shields that have 'melee' in their profile... and I've at least glanced at every codex in 40k this edition. They're usually just a description in the wargear section, or if it's specific to a unit, like Lychguard, it gives the description right there. Are you saying that because it's not listed under a melee weapon it can't grant an addtional attack in CC? On that note, can you think of a shield that does have that type in its description?

Something that might sway this conversation; I read that "a model with a storm shield can never claim the +1 bonus attack for being armed with two weapons in the assault phase"

Storm shields don't typically restrict you from also taking two other melee weapons, so it's quite possible to take, say, a storm shield and a pair of lightening claws. However, it prevents you from getting the +1 attack the pair of claws would give you.

So if you are using the lightning claws (both of them) in the assault, would you get the 3+ save from the storm shield?

 milkboy wrote:
So if you are using the lightning claws (both of them) in the assault, would you get the 3+ save from the storm shield?

You don't even get the option of using both claws. If you have a Storm Shield, you can't use a second weapon, even if you aren't 'using' your shield. Just like you can't choose to run in mega-armour even if you choose not to use it.

 milkboy wrote:
So if you are using the lightning claws (both of them) in the assault, would you get the 3+ save from the storm shield?

You only ever use one weapon at a time. If you have 2 ccw you gain +1 attack. If you have a ss, you can not claim the 2ccw +1 attack bonus. There are no choices involved. The rules are solid on this matter

So you do not get to choose whether you are using the SS? As in, if the player felt attacks were more important, he cannot sling the shield and claim the +1 attack? Sorry, I started with WHFB so I have some rule mix ups.

No. Simply having a ss means you can not gain the bonus attack

 milkboy wrote:
So you do not get to choose whether you are using the SS? As in, if the player felt attacks were more important, he cannot sling the shield and claim the +1 attack? Sorry, I started with WHFB so I have some rule mix ups.

Simply owning the ss stops you ever getting the +1 attack

For reference in eight ed fantasy with AHW you cannot ever use a shield in cc either.

It has been too long since I played fantasy. I don't think it was 8th Ed though. It was an edition just before parry saves. I remember swapping out my clanrats to either have sword and shield or spears.

Stopped playing for quite a while and only started again with 40K at 6th Ed.

I'm going to ask something people usually hate me for asking: have you actually once fought with a shield yourself? I know from experience that usually you won't shieldbash until a proper opportunity arises, as usually the big chunk of death-preventing metal is needed to serve exactly that purpose. Even if you do decide to throw caution to the wind and use your shield as nothing more than a big flat club, you simply cannot output the same amount of damage as when you're using two weapons (that is, if you're trained to dual-wield. If not, you'll actually deal less damage with two weapons than if you're only using one, as you're only hindering yourself).

Now, I know this is a game and not a simulation, but here's the real-life perspective to your question

So, basically what i'm hearing is that, storm shield shenanigans aside, shields don't count as an extra attack in CC, unless you actually HAVE something else in the shield hand.

There's no unless.
The only thing that counts as CCWs are things tagged as Melee. There aren't currently any shields that are tagged as Melee, but there could be in the future.