Classifying Shields

[Polydamas]

GURPS classifies shields fairly finely, but doesn't explicitly state what sizes of shield each category is expected to represent. Admittedly, shields appear in almost infinite variety, but that makes knowing how to rate a historical example in GURPS terms even more important. How have various people on the boards done this? Does anyone know of a clear statement on this anywhere?

My general impression is that the generic three-foot round shield is medium, that anything a foot in diameter or less is a buckler, that shields about two feet across like the Greek pelta are small, and that a rectangular or oval shield the size of a Roman scutum (four by two and a half Roman feet or so, although designs varied over time) or North African lamt is large. A lot of shields don’t fit within these clear categories, though. For example, is a two-by-three-foot rectangular shield medium or small? Even these basic classifications might be hard to make if I were new to GURPS.

GURPS Fantasy (4e) rates a third-century AD oval Roman scutum as Medium.

GURPS Greece rated both the hoplon and the figure-eight shield as Medium. Elsewhere I believe that the hoplon was rated as Large but with special rules.

GURPS Low-Tech rated the Central American chimalli as Small.

GURPS Compendium 1 had a variety of shields listed on p. 43-5. There are some discrepancies: Saxon shields are Medium, but Viking ones are Large with special rules, for example.

Should weight, surface area, or largest dimension be the deciding factor when classifying? While we keep within the standard GURPS rules (where shield material doesn’t matter) should shields of flimsier materials be rated as smaller than their size would indicate?

[DanHoward]

IMO the only shields that can be classified as Large are those which are used in a particular manner. Examples might include Roman rectangular scutae, Mycenaean Figure-8 and Tower shields, Medieval pavises, etc. Though some had other uses, the primary use of this typology is as a mobile wall to stop missiles.

[Hyrneson]

Originally Posted by Polydamas

While we keep within the standard GURPS rules (where shield material doesn’t matter) should shields of flimsier materials be rated as smaller than their size would indicate?

No, instead use the 'Damage to Shields' rule on page B484.
Any shield can take at least one good hit. In fact some were designed to take only one good hit. That hit may totally destroy the shield, but the area covered and so on should not be adjust for the material. IMO, you are confusing functionality with durability.

RH

[joncarryer]

Originally Posted by Polydamas

My general impression is that the generic three-foot round shield is medium, that anything a foot in diameter or less is a buckler, that shields about two feet across like the Greek pelta are small, and that a rectangular or oval shield the size of a Roman scutum (four by two and a half Roman feet or so, although designs varied over time) or North African lamt is large. A lot of shields don’t fit within these clear categories, though. For example, is a two-by-three-foot rectangular shield medium or small? Even these basic classifications might be hard to make if I were new to GURPS.

You're also conflating size with usage style. There is a note on B287 clarifying that buckler is not a shield that is smaller than a Small shield, but rather refers to the way in which the shield is used; if the shield is strapped to your arm, then it is a shield, whereas if it is held in one hand by a grip in the center of the shield, it is a buckler. Bucklers can be small or medium.

However, I'm in accord with you regarding your main point, being that there are no guidelines concerning how to classify any particular example of a shield. Perhaps this should be noted somewhere as an appropriate issue to be addressed in Low Tech or possibly in Martial Arts (along with customisation rules for bows ;-) ).

I have also had some problems in classifying examples of shields. I treat the Viking round shield as a Large buckler (with specific special modifications) despite the Basic rulebook saying that only Small and Medium shields can be bucklers. Speaking of which...

Originally Posted by Dan Howard

IMO the only shields that can be classified as Large are those which are used in a particular manner. Examples might include Roman rectangular scutae, Mycenaean Figure-8 and Tower shields, Medieval pavises, etc. Though some had other uses, the primary use of this typology is as a mobile wall to stop missiles.

While I might agree with you on the first three examples, I would be of the opinion that pavises no longer qualify as shields of any description and should be classified as portable cover. I would say that the term "shield" should be reserved for any object that can be carried by one man, in one hand, to be used to block attempts to harm the wielder.

Be that as it may, I shall eagerly join the baying mob, howling for the publication of clear guidelines on the classification of shields.

[Polydamas]

Originally Posted by joncarryer

You're also conflating size with usage style. There is a note on B287 clarifying that buckler is not a shield that is smaller than a Small shield, but rather refers to the way in which the shield is used; if the shield is strapped to your arm, then it is a shield, whereas if it is held in one hand by a grip in the center of the shield, it is a buckler. Bucklers can be small or medium.

However, I'm in accord with you regarding your main point, being that there are no guidelines concerning how to classify any particular example of a shield. Perhaps this should be noted somewhere as an appropriate issue to be addressed in Low Tech or possibly in Martial Arts (along with customisation rules for bows ;-) ).
...
While I might agree with you on the first three examples, I would be of the opinion that pavises no longer qualify as shields of any description and should be classified as portable cover. I would say that the term "shield" should be reserved for any object that can be carried by one man, in one hand, to be used to block attempts to harm the wielder.

Be that as it may, I shall eagerly join the baying mob, howling for the publication of clear guidelines on the classification of shields.

You're right about 'bucklers'. I forgot that they were renamed "light shields' in 4e, although I did remember that Shield skill has been split into two styles (a great idea, IMHO).

Concerning pavises, weren't there a variety of sizes and styles? Some were relatively small and mobile for cover on the battlefield, and some were almost mantlets for use at sieges.

As a side note, the Roman Republican scutum was large but seems to have used a single hand grip without a strap. I wonder which skill it would use ...

[Nymdok]

Well, heres the quick answer

Size - Diameter - Thickness
Light - 17" - .75"
Small - 24" - 1.5"
Medium - 33" - 1.5"
Large - 42" - 1.5"

I arrived at the answer like this.

Argument By Similarity:
I assumed that all the stats given were for wooden shields of similar tech and material.
Argument By Density:
I assumed that the Weight, implied the volume of material
Argument By Material Properties:
I used the Materials Table (B558) and the Shiled Properties(B287) being careful not to forget that B558 gives data for 10 square feet.

First I decided on a one to one ratio of Weight to Volume. Weight is in the table, so If i figure out thickness, the area will reveal itself through algebra/geometry.

So I started with small shield and made an estimation of X number of inches thickness and Y number of inches diameter.

Using a spreadsheet I fiddled with the number untill I got values that seemed reasonable for all of them with the understanding that technology would contribute to both the DR and the HP of the shield. Examples of technology at work would be layering, binding, iron rimming, lacquering etc.

What it left me with essentially is
Size - MatDR - MatHP - Thickness - Diamter - Area - Volume
Light - 1 - 8 - .75 - 17 - 226 - 170
Small - 2 - 15 - 1.5 - 24 - 452 - 679
Medium - 2 - 20 - 1.5 - 33 - 848 - 1272
Large - 2 - 25 - 1.5 - 42 - 1414 - 2121

Which imples that most of the ability for shields to take a blow is wrapped up in how its built.

Now that we have a basic size, we can do the thickness for the Iron/Bronze shileds. (4e treats Iron and bronze as same)
Metal Shields
Size - Thickness
Light - 1/16"
Small - 1/8"
Medium - 1/8"
Large - 1/8"

Assuming Iron progresses like this
Iron DR HP
1/32" 1 6
1/16" 3 16
1/8" 6 26
3/16" 9 31
1/4" 12 36
1/2" 25 46
1" 50 58


Nymdok
Lord and High Master of Excel Foolishness

[nik1979]

On the subject of shields

As I am designing NPC packages based on some historical references, i keep finding Small Shields (8lb range) to be the more common shield. I find the DB of +1 being an absurdly small bonuses to Block given that these shields have a surface area that can cover the Body, head and Arms hit location quite easily.

BTW like the description of Dodge, Shields should be able to afford a defense for the character against simultaneous multiple attacks that come from the same direction.

Will the a Shields' Position, being used as Cover or Readied be in Low Tech?

Strangely I've also found that given that that shields are actually quite disposable in battle, that there was a specialized role to refurbish warriors with shields, namely shield bearers. Without waiting for Low Tech are there any handy rules for shields anyone has devised?




Bonuses to Block. I'm surprised that

[Dangerious P. Cats]

The protectiveness of shields and the way they are used tends to be dependent on the size of the person using them. In Italian sword and buckler supposedly any shield whose radius is less than ones fore arm can be used with sword and buckler techniques. I've that a shield I made to use with the techniques from I.33 sword and buckler is too large for shorter people to use in such a way. Mind you they get good hold it in front of you protection from shields I would want to use in the front line of shield wall, so I guess it balances out.

[Nymdok]

Almost Forgot to post different shield shape sizes. Ill take care of that here.

There are alot of different shield shapes, and here are the approxomate dimensions

First the Types.

Round is about the same as Square for dimensions and Oval is about the same as rectangular. THese shields have only a slight curvature to them if any.

Tower shields are defined here as being sort of cylindrical shaped. If you looked at them from the top down they would be shaped like a parenthesis ). If you look at them from the fron they look like a rectangle.

Heater Shields look like the bottom of a clothes iron.

A large shield, by my numbers above, has an area of 1414 square inches. I roughed it out to 1440 cuz it makes the numbers rounder. So here we go

Area are in square inches.
Width and Height are in Inches.

Large Shield
Area = 1440
Round/Square Shield - W:38, H:38
Tower - W:30,H:48
Heater - W:28,H:50
Rectrangle/Oval - W:24, H:60

Medium Shield
Area = 850
Round/Square - W:30, H:30
Tower - W:23, H:37
Heater - W:22:, H:39
Rectangle/Oval - W:20, H:43

Small Shield
Area = 450
Round/Square = W:22, H:22
Rectangle/Oval = W:18, H:25

I assumed all Light shields were round, but if someone wants to further the mateial for smaller creatures and work out the sizes for small or light heater and Tower shields, Im open to it. Just try to keep the area close to the listed.


Nymdok

[hal]

Originally Posted by nik1979

On the subject of shields

Strangely I've also found that given that that shields are actually quite disposable in battle, that there was a specialized role to refurbish warriors with shields, namely shield bearers. Without waiting for Low Tech are there any handy rules for shields anyone has devised?

Sadly, as far as the GURPS rules are concerned, small shields with their DR of 6 and their HP of 30, will generally outlast an ordinary fighter's involvement in any combat. For a ST 10 fighter, the odds of rolling enough damage to bypass the Shield's DR is exactly a 1 in 6 chance. A fighter with a skill 12 in shield, generally has a base 3+12/2 (or 6) = 9 base shield block value. The odds of successfully defending with a skill 9 on 3d6 is 37.5%. The odds of success with a +1 bonus due to the shield raises it to 50%. 50% minus 37.5% = 12.5%. This means then, that a professional soldier with a skill of 12 in shield, will generally have only a 12.5% chance per successfully prosecuted attack against him, of having his shield take a square hit on it.

.125 x .167 = .020

That is, there is only a 2% chance PER incoming hit by an average ST 10 fighter using a broadsword, of doing precisely 1 point of damage to the small shield.

ST 11 fighter using a broadsword will of course, have a better shot at doing damage, but not a whole heck of a lot. The odds jump from 2% to a whopping 4%

Short of the GM just saying "You need to buy a new shield at the end of this major fight", the player is going to realize if he keeps track of damage done to his shield, that it doesn't need to be replaced - at all.

Chances are better for the NPC or PC using a shield will die before he needs a new shield.