[MA] Shield Techniques

[the_matrix_walker]

If a shield's primary use is to defend, and using it as a weapon is secondary, is it reasonable to allow Techniques for Shield Rush and Shield Bash?

[Miles]

Not in my book.

After all, the primary purpose of a sword is to kill people with it. That doesn't mean you can raise your skill for Parrying with a technique.

[gilbertocarlos]

No, if it was possible, it would become a main weapon.

[simply Nathan]

Originally Posted by Miles

After all, the primary purpose of a sword is to kill people with it. That doesn't mean you can raise your skill for Parrying with a technique.

I was pretty sure you could buy parrying as a Technique for up to +5 relative to base skill.

Still agree you shouldn't be able to buy a basic attack as a Technique above Shield skill.

[gilbertocarlos]

Originally Posted by Kenneth Latrans

I was pretty sure you could buy parrying as a Technique for up to +5 relative to base skill.

Still agree you shouldn't be able to buy a basic attack as a Technique above Shield skill.

Maybe on 3e, on 4e you have enhanced parry.

[DangerousThing]

Originally Posted by gilbertocarlos

Maybe on 3e, on 4e you have enhanced parry.

They are not techniques, they are advantages. And it is possible to raise shield parry and dodge with Enhanced Parry and Enhanced Dodge.

[Dinadon]

Originally Posted by the_matrix_walker

If a shield's primary use is to defend, and using it as a weapon is secondary, is it reasonable to allow Techniques for Shield Rush and Shield Bash?

For Shield Rush I would be inclined to say yes since not every shield can do it, but it is clearly defined by shield skill. (By extension this would also apply to slams with long weapons).

For Shield Bash though I would say no, since Main-Gauche is similar. Both are skills for weapons used primarily defensively, just Main-Gauche happens to more clearly behave like other melee weapon skills with regards to strikes, so Shield should too.

[Mathulhu]

I don't see why shield should be any different from any other weapon skill, the offensive/defensive split seems needlessly complicated, the kind of thing I would expect to hear from a player trying to rationalise "kewl powas" beyond the accepted.

i would not allow someone to improved Broadsword (parry) or Broadsword (Swing) techniques so I wouldn't allow someone to improve similar abilities just because they were using a shield.

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by the_matrix_walker

If a shield's primary use is to defend, and using it as a weapon is secondary, is it reasonable to allow Techniques for Shield Rush and Shield Bash?

If you're proposing to be allowed to buy up an attack roll to above unmodified skill, you should think very, very hard about whether you should really go there.

[oneofmanynameless]

Originally Posted by the_matrix_walker

If a shield's primary use is to defend, and using it as a weapon is secondary, is it reasonable to allow Techniques for Shield Rush and Shield Bash?

I'd say that a shield's Primary use is to Block, Rush, or Bash, just like most weapons include attacking and parrying. I don't think I've ever had a lesson on shield, witnessed a lesson on shield use, or seen someone talk functional shield use that didn't at least touch on shoving and bashing. Even with small shields and bucklers shoving is a common "aggressive defense" tactic. I wouldn't allow a technique for these things.