Shields
A shield affords extra protection at the loss of use of one hand.
Shields serve two useful functions: first, they provide a bonus to AC against the hexes you are facing, either one or two as per the rules of Facing. This bonus only applies as long as at least one point of Combat Ability is spent on BDB.
Second, a shield is the best defense against arrows and other ranged attacks. When a character is aware of an incoming arrow or other ranged weapon (he does not need to actively observe its being fired, merely be aware that the person who is firing it is present), he may spend 2 AP and make a shield check. If successful, the arrow is blocked and negated. A shield check is:
D20 + Dex + Reflex modifier + BDB + Facing
Each shield has a different DC to successfully block an arrow, representing the difference between shields with which it is very easy to block (tower shield) and those with which it is nigh impossible to block (buckler).
As an action costing 4 AP on your turn or 6 AP off-turn, you may hunker down and gain a +10 on all shield checks vs projectiles. You must remain this way for the entire round, and may keep it or choose to come out of the stance (for 2 AP) at the beginning of your next turn.
Any situation which denies you your Dex also denies you the opportunity to defend against projectiles in this manner, though you retain your shield bonus to AC. Darkness/Blindness does deny you your dex.
Simple Shields
| Shield Type | AC Bonus | Arrow Block DC |
Price(uV) | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I'm a shield | I block swords | and arrows | -- | I cost a bunch | and am heavy lb |
| Cloth Wrap | 1* | Impossible | -- | - | 0 lb |
| Cloak/Cape/etc. | 1* | 35 | -- | - | 0 lb |
| Bracer Shield | 1 | 40 | -- | 10 | 3 lb |
| Buckler | 1 | 40 | -- | 15 | 6 lb |
| Leather Shield | 1* | 50 | -- | 5 | 2 lb |
* See Description
Light Shields
| Shield Type | AC Bonus | Arrow Block DC |
Price(uV) | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Wooden Shield | 1 | 35 | -- | 10 | 5 lb |
| Light Wooden Shield | 2 | 30 | -- | 15 | 10 lb |
| Light Metal Shield | 3 | 35 | -- | 15 | 20 lb |
| Banded Wooden Shield | 3 | 30 | -- | 15 | 15 lb |
* See Description
Heavy Shields
| Shield Type | AC Bonus | Arrow Block DC |
Price(uV) | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Wooden Shield | 4 | 20 | -- | 20 | 25 lb |
| Round Metal Shield | 4 | 25 | -- | 30 | 30 lb |
| Metal Kite Shield | 4 | 25 | -- | 35 | 35 lb |
| Tower Shield | 5 | 15 | -- | 40 | 45 lb |
* See Description
Masterwork Shields
To come...
