10-05-2018, 09:12 AM | #11 |
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: behind you
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Re: Shieldwall?
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10-05-2018, 10:12 AM | #12 |
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Seattle
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Re: Shieldwall?
Not at all. I was thinking of this very thing last night. I think your solution is great! I don't think there's a need for anything more. This is the solution I'm going to go with.
However, there's still room for something like a shield wall talent that makes this more effective, if someone wanted to create something like it. It would naturally increase the incentive to train this way, but it would probably be something seen more in professional militaries than "ordinary" adventurers.
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10-05-2018, 10:42 AM | #13 | |
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: behind you
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Re: Shieldwall?
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10-05-2018, 01:11 PM | #14 |
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: London Uk, but originally from Scotland
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Re: Shieldwall?
The other danger with making the Shieldwall too powerful is that it could become the default combat tactic. That's something I wouldn't want to happen.
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10-05-2018, 02:47 PM | #15 | |
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: behind you
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Re: Shieldwall?
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And those are just the non-magical methods. |
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10-07-2018, 11:41 AM | #16 | |
Doctor of GURPS Ballistics
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Lakeville, MN
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Re: Shieldwall?
Quote:
Even so, what I've found is that if you can form up, the key bit with properly-employed shields is that it's REALLY REALLY hard to find an opening. Also, you don't necessarily need to "engage" the guy directly in front of you, because your shield-partners can do that. Effectively, and especially if you've got local numerical superiority, any time a foe attacks one guy, two others get free shots, if they can take them. Seeing and reacting to that opening without breaking the wall/formation line might make a nice talent benefit. Effectively playing around with who's engaged and "pinned/anchored" in a fight, and who's free to do whatever they want. I imagine this gets quite ugly with spears.
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10-09-2018, 12:41 AM | #17 | |
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Alsea, OR
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Re: Shieldwall?
Quote:
Where the viking shield flexes, the targe absorbs the impact energy by being more massive. Different routes to the same effect. I made mine from an expedient material - 1/2" plywood - and even with no face nails (because if it had them, then I couldn't use it in SCA Fencing), it absorbs a lot of energy - equally as much as the plastic bucklers some of the ARMA guys are using absorb by flexing. (Locally, ARMA guys show to SCA Fence practices, and vice versa.) |
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10-09-2018, 08:47 PM | #18 | |
Doctor of GURPS Ballistics
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Lakeville, MN
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Re: Shieldwall?
Quote:
So viking shields are a terrible example of "what to do in a shield wall," since the answer seems to be, in most cases "don't do that." Other shields and formations of heavier infantry, both before and after the viking era, clearly have documentation - extensively so - of tight shield formations. My intro point was just stating the limits of my knowledge. The second - that shields and walls of shields is remarkably hard to find an opening through - is my real point, and speculating that mucking around with who can be considered engaged and not might be a way to mechanize these concepts.
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