Shield Wall Training - Excactly which hexes are "beside" you?

[Gnaskar]

     1
6         2
     C
5         3
     4

Fig 1: Ascii art representation of a hex grid, with "C" denoting the position of the character, and 1 being the hex he is facing. He is carrying a shield in his left hand.

Is it:

1. Hex 3 and 5. This reads "beside" as meaning "in your side hexes".
2. Just hex 5. As above, but also notes that the shield cannot reach hex 3.
3. Hex 5 and 6. This reads "beside" as meaning "on your shield side".
4. Hex 2,3,5, and 6. This reads "beside" as meaning "any hex you can move sideways into (Exploits 34)".
5. Hex 2,5, and 6. As above, but also notes that the shield cannot reach hex 3.
6. Hex 1,2,3,4,5, and 6. This reads "beside" as meaning "adjacent".

[Þorkell]

My hunch is 5 and 6, possibly 1. 2 and 3 are your weapon side.

[evileeyore]

The only manner in which a shield has a 'side' is for the DB. There are no restrictions on which side you can Block as far as I can see in DFRPG... so.... by "RAW" it's probably 3 and 5 (RAW* being no actual rules stating you may only block attacks from one side).

With Sacrificial Block being its own Perk, the RAI is clearly meant to not allow blocking into all adjacent hexes.

Personally... if the PC has both Sacrificial Block and Shield-Wall Training I let them block into all adjacent hexes... it just saves the headache and 'rule of cool' and all.


*I'll note that in GURPS, it is intended only to allow blocks into hex 3. Also the restriction on one-handed weapon Parries being limited to only the 'weapon side' is also lifted.

[Expy]

Originally Posted by evileeyore

The only manner in which a shield has a 'side' is for the DB. There are no restrictions on which side you can Block as far as I can see in DFRPG... so.... by "RAW" it's probably 3 and 5 (RAW* being no actual rules stating you may only block attacks from one side)

Dungeon Fantasy Exploits pg 47: Attacks from the Side and Back disagrees with you, but I also think it's 5 and 3 regardless. I would argue that the attack still needs to come from your front or shield side, however.

Say, if you have your shield in your left hand in the OPs example, and a spearman in your 3 or 4 hex attacks an ally in the 5 hex, I wouldn't allow a SWT block. But anywhere in the arc from 2 to 5? Go ahead.

[evileeyore]

Originally Posted by Expy

Dungeon Fantasy Exploits pg 47: Attacks from the Side and Back disagrees with you...

That's annoying. Why is it under Attacking and not Defending?

...but I also think it's 5 and 3 regardless.

I no longer agree. Apparently I've been doing it wrong... sigh.

I'll probably just keep ignoring as it's easier than changing things now...

I would argue that the attack still needs to come from your front or shield side, however.

I'd allow a block versus an attack that crosses that arc though, as long as the person you're defening is in the side or back (SWT or SB respectively).