Armor and Shields

[SmootRK]

Buckler presents an interesting case alongside two-weapon fighting. As-is, it's a melee blocker, useless against missiles. The other common route is to make it only good for one attacker.

Now when you add two-weapon fighting,one-hit bucklers become obsolete. You get +1AC vs. 1 opponent if you use your off-hand weapon defensively. There is a slight advantage for bucklers if you allow them to be used against a single missile strike.

I would keep the 1 opponent AC bonus, whether missile or melee... and to simplify, the first such attack gets the bonus to AC, then all the others get by the buckler... unless the wielder specifically declares he is holding out the bonus for a particular foe's attack.

[Solomoriah]

Nah, I'd allow blocking multiple attacks from the same guy. It shouldn't be a problem, since it's mostly animals that get more than one attack anyway.

[SmootRK]

I prefer Smoot's shields. That's how I'd do it if I did multiple shield types.

The only other issue I can see needing to be covered, is the concept of shield material with respect to those Shield Sundering rules. Clearly a reinforced metal shield will hold up better than a shield of wood or one of those stretched skin ones like Native Americans sometimes used.

However, I am not sure I "get" those shield breaking rules yet (but mostly from lack of really trying). Somebody else might have better insight.

[SmootRK]

Nah, I'd allow blocking multiple attacks from the same guy. It shouldn't be a problem, since it's mostly animals that get more than one attack anyway.

I agree... what I was trying to convey that if there were multiple attackers in play, the buckler deals with the first such attacker unless specifically declared by player whom he is trying to exclusively block.

[LibraryLass]

I prefer Smoot's shields. That's how I'd do it if I did multiple shield types.

The only other issue I can see needing to be covered, is the concept of shield material with respect to those Shield Sundering rules. Clearly a reinforced metal shield will hold up better than a shield of wood or one of those stretched skin ones like Native Americans sometimes used.

However, I am not sure I "get" those shield breaking rules yet (but mostly from lack of really trying). Somebody else might have better insight.

You'd be surprised, a metal shield does have to be light enough to be used effectively. It probably is a bit tougher but I think that it's potentially handwaveable.

I've used shield splintering for many years, I can hopefully answer any questions you're unclear on.

[artikid]

I'm out of town and AFK for a week or so, keep posting I'll read it all when I'm back home and think it over for a new unofficial release (in this and other threads)
cheers
artikid

[Dimirag]

Another take on Bucklers: +1 AC against "light and medium weight" weapons. The thing here is how to determine if a weapon is light, medium or heavy...

[Joe the Rat]

Another take on Bucklers: +1 AC against "light and medium weight" weapons. The thing here is how to determine if a weapon is light, medium or heavy...

Small/medium/large?

[Dimirag]

I prefer weight rather than size otherwise the buckler wouldn't work against a staff or a lance...

[Dimirag]

How about some Shield Bash/attack rules? Any ideas for that?