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Old 01-19-2021, 07:28 AM   #1
DemiBenson
 
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Default Two Shields

What are the rules for dual-wielding shields? Assume these shields have bosses, spikes, razor edges, and anything else needed to perform well as weapons.

For two-handed species, at a first guess, I’d give passive Defense Bonus equal to largest, and another +1 if they are the same size. Blocks get the full DB of each shield.

Thoughts?

Now, what about 4-handed species? Anything different when dual-shielding?
How about when quad-shielding?
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Old 01-19-2021, 07:33 AM   #2
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Default Re: Two Shields

The only rule I would add is that you can't get more than DB 3 from all combined shields. Fully covered is fully covered, and that's DB 3.
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Old 01-19-2021, 07:40 AM   #3
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Default Re: Two Shields

Per RAW, the only benefit is covering another side hex.

I might go with:
DB = largest + sum(applicable to that hex)/5
A peshkali with 6 large (DB 3) shields would get DB 3 + (5*3)/5 = DB 6.

But Anders is right that it should probably max out at 3.

You won't need OHWT, since shields are commonly used in the off hand, so just the DWA technique for dual shield bashes, etc.,

They are heavy so you're not likely to be too agile.

You do get an extra block, though. Per RAW, it's just one per shield, but I think MA has rules to make it -5 per block after the first with the same shield. Halve that for WM (Shield) I'd guess.
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Old 01-19-2021, 07:44 AM   #4
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Default Re: Two Shields

Quote:
Originally Posted by Anders View Post
The only rule I would add is that you can't get more than DB 3 from all combined shields. Fully covered is fully covered, and that's DB 3.
I wouldn’t say that a DB3 shield covers your entire body - to resist horizontal wide-area attacks (like dragon breath), you need to crouch and hunker behind your shield.
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Old 01-19-2021, 07:45 AM   #5
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Default Re: Two Shields

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gumby Bush View Post
Per RAW, the only benefit is covering another side hex.

What page and book is that, if you don't mind me asking?
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Old 01-19-2021, 07:45 AM   #6
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Default Re: Two Shields

I think it's been stated the DBs don't add.

I'd let you block with each shield once without a incurring a multiple block penalty. i.e. the multiple block penalties would track with each sheild separately

Practically speaking shields don't just hang at your side but actually move about a lot so I could see 2 medium or larger shields would get in each other's way (so maybe apply the DB penalty that everyone takes the shield wall perk to negate). I think at best you'd end up just overlapping your medium+ shields a lot.

2 medium or larger shields could get pretty heavy.

For attacking you could use the duel wielding rules
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Old 01-19-2021, 07:53 AM   #7
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Default Re: Two Shields

Quote:
Originally Posted by DemiBenson View Post
What are the rules for dual-wielding shields? Assume these shields have bosses, spikes, razor edges, and anything else needed to perform well as weapons.
But would they still count as "only" shields?

As GM, I would demand that a player would take a special melee weapon skill for them.
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Old 01-19-2021, 07:57 AM   #8
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Default Re: Two Shields

No, the Shield skill counts for attacks with shields per RAW. In fact, they're superior weapons for very, very strong characters since they do not have a Min ST and thus the x3 rules does not apply. Fear the giant who has picked up a human-sized shield with a sharp edge - it does sw-2 cutting with no upper limit.
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Old 01-19-2021, 08:00 AM   #9
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Default Re: Two Shields

This is discussed in "The Shield-Bearer" (Pyramid #3/118, pp. 4-9); see Two-Shield Fighting, p. 6. While strictly speaking for the Dungeon Fantasy Roleplaying Game, the logic is transferable to GURPS. There's a lot there, but briefly: Use only the best applicable, available DB – but this benefits even blocks with a second shield of lower DB.

Think about that last part this way: Yes, two shields cover more of your body than one, but they get in the way of one another and generally block two completely different lines of attack. I suppose you could scrunch them up together to hide from just one foe . . . that sounds like All-Out Defense (Increased Block) for +2 to Block or, more interestingly, All-Out Defense (Double Defense) allowing you to block once and, if that fails, block again with the other shield, both blocks using the best DB.
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Old 01-19-2021, 08:00 AM   #10
DemiBenson
 
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Default Re: Two Shields

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gumby Bush View Post
Per RAW, the only benefit is covering another side hex.

I might go with:
DB = largest + sum(applicable to that hex)/5
A peshkali with 6 large (DB 3) shields would get DB 3 + (5*3)/5 = DB 6.
I like this. Makes it so a peshkali with 6 DB0 bucklers gets nothing extra. Also, a peshkali with 6 large shields should be incredibly well covered.
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