[Low-Tech] Caged Bucklers

[Prince Charon]

There's a YouTube video (a bit over eighteen minutes long) of modern re-enactors or HEMA enthusiasts testing this rather interesting historical buckler that I don't recall from the book (maybe I missed it). It does seem pretty effective, so I'm wondering what the crunch for that would be in GURPS (write-up, special rules, techniques if any, et cetra).

[Polydamas]

I would not try because GURPS does not have a concept of engagement (in the fencing sense) and because points can also get stuck in normal wood-core shields. You might check if there are rules for sword breakers or jittes/sais trapping weapons.

[Varyon]

Originally Posted by Polydamas

I would not try because GURPS does not have a concept of engagement (in the fencing sense) and because points can also get stuck in normal wood-core shields. You might check if there are rules for sword breakers or jittes/sais trapping weapons.

There are indeed such rules - it's the Bind Weapon Technique from MA67-68. The Caged Buckler would probably wind up with comparable stats to a buckler that has been given Prongs (LTC2:15).

[Donny Brook]

Has the buckler trapped a sword, or has the sword trapped the buckler?

[Pursuivant]

Based on grip placement and size, it's obviously a buckler, pushing the limits of what GURPS calls a Small Buckler.

Its design is absolutely brilliant, in that it naturally catches any thrusting bladed weapon it blocks.

Unfortunately, it's also really good at hanging on to any thrusting bladed weapon it blocks, potentially creating a situation where the user of a one-handed weapon can bind the buckler and come in with an off-hand weapon.

Alternately, someone using a spear or similar weapon can try to wrench the buckler away. Conceivably, they can drop the weapon turning it into the equivalent of a Pilum, back off and draw a secondary weapon.

That said, it's probably pretty effective as a surprise against people who haven't figured out decent defenses against it.

According to a knowledgeable comment to the YouTube video (normally an oxymoron, but the commenter accurately cites period sources so it's the shining exception) sword trappers were an add-on for all sorts of 16th c. Italian shields, not just the fancy metal targa in the video. That means we're dealing with a new form of TL4 military tech.

You'll also notice that the targa also had an unusual shape and had a "lantern hook," which were both discussed in passing during the video.

My arrogant opinions as to rules:

Blade Trapper (TL4): Some 16th century Italian shields mounted lightweight frame made from metal straps or rods on the weapon's face which was used to trap opponents' blades.

This is an option for any Small or Medium Buckler or Shield which allows the user to use the Bind Weapon (GURPS Martial Arts, p. 67) technique using the relevant skill, but only against narrow-bladed weapons used to make Thrust/Impaling attacks and only following a successful Block defense. Weapons affected include all Fencing weapons as well as Spears, Swords and Polearms with spear points.

If the Bind Weapon attempt is successful, on the user's same turn they can also attempt to wrench the weapon away using Buckler- or Shield-based Disarming (MA, p. 70) technique, without the normal -2 penalty to use a non-Fencing weapon, but with an extra -2 penalty if attempting to disarm someone using a weapon wielded two-handed.

Success wrenches the weapon away, but leaves it stuck in the shield, making the shield Unready and adding its weight to the user's Encumbrance until they can use two hands and make a ST roll to pull the weapon free. This requires dropping the shield and each attempt requires a Ready maneuver. The defender can also voluntarily drop their weapon, which has the same effect. On a critical success, the user can make the weapon drop in any adjacent Front hex.

If the disarming attempt fails, however, the shield and the opponent's weapon remain bound. Both the shield and the trapped weapon become Unready until one of the fighters can make a ST or skill roll to disentangle them. Both fighters can attempt rolls to diseangle. Roll once per turn. If one fighter rolls a critical success or their foe rolls a critical failure, they can also make a ST roll to force the other fighter to make a Step into an adjacent hex within the weapon's Reach, including forcing a foe to Step into Close Combat.

If the shield user continues to intentionally bind their foe's weapon, roll a Quick Contest of their Bind Weapon technique vs. the opponent's ST or weapon skill to maintain the bind instead of the normal rules for the Bind Weapon technique. If they win the Quick Contest with a critical success, or if their foe rolls a critical failure, they can shove their foe into another hex as described above.

A critical failure means that their opponent disarms them! This has the same effects on the foe's weapon as disarming using the shield has on the shield. The weapon remains unready until it is dropped and someone uses two hands, takes a Ready maneuver and makes a successful ST roll to pull the weapon loose.

Statistics: 1.5x Cost Factor. 1.1x Weight Factor.

Corrugated Shield (TL4): Some 15th to 17th century shields and bucklers added a corrugation, giving them a sinusoidal "W" shape when viewed from above. In addition to slightly strengthening the shield it also allowed better deflection of thrusting weapon attacks by diverting them away from the user's body. Treat this as a Fine-Quality Buckler or Shield which gives a +1 bonus to skill and which increases shield HP by 10% after multipliers for shield composition and other factors.

Cost: 3x CF. No effect on weight.

Lantern Hook (TL4): Some Renaissance bucklers and shields mounted a short, L-shaped hook on the front. While its exact purpose is debated by modern scholars, it one known use was as a method of mounting small lantern on the shield's front, allowing the user to carry a lantern while also keeping their weapon and shield ready.

It the lantern isn't mounted, the hook can be used to perform the Bind Weapon or Disarming techniques using Buckler or Shield skill but with a -2 penalty for using a non-Fencing Weapon. Bind Weapon maneuvers can only be performed following a successful Block defense and Disarming can only be performed after a successful Bind Weapon technique. Use the rules for Blade Trappers, above.

If used to carry a lantern, the lantern adds its mass to the shield's mass, possibly increasing the minimum ST required to use it. Any successful block hits the lantern on roll of 1-2 on 1d, potentially damaging it or extinguishing its light.

Cost: $5, 0.1 lb.

(Theoretically, the hook's placement might have also prevented the lantern's light from blinding the user while also potentially dazzling foes, but we're talking about light sources powered by a single olive oil lamp or tallow candle, probably with the light filtered through a sheet of translucent horn. That's a "barely visible glow" rather than a "blinding glare.")

Putting it all together:

Duelist's Targa (TL4): A 16th century Italian Light Buckler with the Iron (p. B287), Blade Trapper, Corrugated and Lantern Hook options. It is a Fine-Quality weapon (+1 to skill, +10% HP) which can attempt Bind Weapon attacks using Buckler skill against thrusting-impaling blade and blade-like weapon attacks following a successful Block defense and which can attempt Disarming using Buckler skill immediately after a successful Bind Weapon attempt. The lantern hook can used to make Bind Weapon attempts against any weapon at -2 to skill following a Block defense, and can also attempt Disarming at -2 to skill following a successful bind attempt. Alternately, the hook can be used to mount a lantern, which adds to the shield's mass and which is hit on 1-2 on 1d following a successful Block defense. DB 1, $162, 6.3 lb. 8/44 HP, LC4

[DanHoward]

Low-Tech Companion 2, p.20. Disarming Spikes.

Also has specs for lantern hooks.

[RGTraynor]

Originally Posted by Donny Brook

Has the buckler trapped a sword, or has the sword trapped the buckler?

I was wondering much the same. That bit in the video where the buckler snagged the spear? What went through my mind was that it wouldn't take much for the spearman to have ripped the buckler right out of the fencer's hand ... or if the fencer was so stupid as to try to hang on, would yank the fencer badly off balance at the least.

[FredrikJ]

Originally Posted by RGTraynor

I was wondering much the same. That bit in the video where the buckler snagged the spear? What went through my mind was that it wouldn't take much for the spearman to have ripped the buckler right out of the fencer's hand ... or if the fencer was so stupid as to try to hang on, would yank the fencer badly off balance at the least.

Then again, holding the buckler you know exactly where the opposing blade is, and your next move is probably to close and cut/thrust, so if you get a little help being pulled closer it only serves to deliver that cut/thrust a fraction of a second sooner.

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by RGTraynor

I was wondering much the same. That bit in the video where the buckler snagged the spear? What went through my mind was that it wouldn't take much for the spearman to have ripped the buckler right out of the fencer's hand ... or if the fencer was so stupid as to try to hang on, would yank the fencer badly off balance at the least.

Mentioned in passing in the video is that fact that the Partizan used in the demo has a nylon blade, so it's thicker than a steel blade would be. A well-made, highly flexible blade (e.g., any decent 16-17th c. rapier) is going to really get stuck, especially if it's got the combined forces of a deadly blow against a full-speed Block pushing on it.

In the half-speed duels used to test the targa, you can see how blades bind with the shield occasionally pulling fighters off balance as they try to break the bind.

In my proposed write-up for the Blade Trapper I think I got the problems of the weapon and shield getting bound together about right. They're loosely adapted from the rules for Pilums from GURPS Low Tech/Martial Arts.

I also hold that shields with blade trapping frames are an improvement over earlier blade trapping spikes, since they grip a trapped weapon more firmly and might have been easier to mount than a whole bunch of spikes.

[Sorenant]

Originally Posted by Pursuivant

I also hold that shields with blade trapping frames are an improvement over earlier blade trapping spikes, since they grip a trapped weapon more firmly and might have been easier to mount than a whole bunch of spikes.

There's no risk of stabbing yourself as the disarming spikes, too.

In a duel, trading your buckler for the enemy's sword or spear sounds like a good trade if it comes to that.
As a self-defense tool in an urban setting, perhaps one could expect help from a friend, concerned third parties or, hopefully, guards as you lock the assailant's weapon defending yourself.