Shield vs Buckler

Imperial · 08-04-2014, 03:36 PM

Hi, I wanted to know what are the differences of having a shield strapped to your arm and holding it in a buckler grip ( assuming you have both options from Low Tech C2 )

The differences I found of the top of my head are:

Shield
-1 to Feint
Harder to take away
Harder to target Arm

Buckler
Less Dmg on Shield Rush
Ready action to ready no matter the size (DB)

If these are the main ones then the buckler grip is better for DB2+ , because not needing multiple ready maneuvers is really a big deal.

So if some-one could confirm this and list the differences I missed, that would be great.

Thank you.

Ulzgoroth · 08-04-2014, 04:04 PM

If you often need to ready your shield in combat, yeah, you absolutely want a buckler...I'm dubious about this being a common problem. There's also the flip side of needing to drop the shield fast because you've been grappled.

I don't see anything else right off, though I wonder if there might be something in Martial Arts pertaining to he difficulty of making you drop something that's strapped to your arm.

vierasmarius · 08-04-2014, 04:12 PM

I was pondering the differences between Shield and Buckler after watching this video. From that, it sounds like they had more significant differences in usage than are represented in GURPS (though certain things may still be below the system's resolution). For example, a Medium or Large Buckler could have a longer Reach when striking with the edge than a Shield of the same size.

gilbertocarlos · 08-04-2014, 05:04 PM

Remember that if stunned you may drop your buckler, but not your shield.

vicky_molokh · 08-04-2014, 11:22 PM

Can you buckler-slam at all?

Imperial · 08-05-2014, 12:35 AM

"However, it is difficult to put your full weight behind a
buckler – damage is at -1, relative to a shield, in a rush."

vicky_molokh · 08-05-2014, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imperial

"However, it is difficult to put your full weight behind a
buckler – damage is at -1, relative to a shield, in a rush."

Ah. That's actually significant. Shield slams are brutal, but only when you can get every +1 you can imagine.

sjard · 08-05-2014, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

Can you buckler-slam at all?

Depends... there's an i33* set play that involves a bind at the buckler, where one person then shifts his sword to his buckler hand, grabs his opponents buckler, twists it out of his grip, and then slams his opponent over the head with his own buckler so... make of that what you will.

*if my memory serves correctly, it may not as it has been a decade since I was doing anything with sword and buckler.

Ulzgoroth · 08-05-2014, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjard

Depends... there's an i33* set play that involves a bind at the buckler, where one person then shifts his sword to his buckler hand, grabs his opponents buckler, twists it out of his grip, and then slams his opponent over the head with his own buckler so... make of that what you will.

*if my memory serves correctly, it may not as it has been a decade since I was doing anything with sword and buckler.

In GURPS terms that's got to be a bash, not a slam.

Imperial · 08-05-2014, 11:39 AM

So i guess it's safe to say, if you have time to prepare for combat strap it on. But if you get jumped in an alley, better to have a center grip.

08-04-2014, 03:36 PM	#1
Imperial Join Date: May 2009	Shield vs Buckler Hi, I wanted to know what are the differences of having a shield strapped to your arm and holding it in a buckler grip ( assuming you have both options from Low Tech C2 ) The differences I found of the top of my head are: Shield -1 to Feint Harder to take away Harder to target Arm Buckler Less Dmg on Shield Rush Ready action to ready no matter the size (DB) If these are the main ones then the buckler grip is better for DB2+ , because not needing multiple ready maneuvers is really a big deal. So if some-one could confirm this and list the differences I missed, that would be great. Thank you.

08-04-2014, 04:04 PM	#2
Ulzgoroth Join Date: Jul 2008	Re: Shield vs Buckler If you often need to ready your shield in combat, yeah, you absolutely want a buckler...I'm dubious about this being a common problem. There's also the flip side of needing to drop the shield fast because you've been grappled. I don't see anything else right off, though I wonder if there might be something in Martial Arts pertaining to he difficulty of making you drop something that's strapped to your arm. __________________ I don't know any 3e, so there is no chance that I am talking about 3e rules by accident.

08-04-2014, 04:12 PM	#3
vierasmarius Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Oregon	Re: Shield vs Buckler I was pondering the differences between Shield and Buckler after watching this video. From that, it sounds like they had more significant differences in usage than are represented in GURPS (though certain things may still be below the system's resolution). For example, a Medium or Large Buckler could have a longer Reach when striking with the edge than a Shield of the same size.

08-04-2014, 05:04 PM	#4
gilbertocarlos Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Caxias do Sul, Brazil	Re: Shield vs Buckler Remember that if stunned you may drop your buckler, but not your shield. __________________ I've revised the Low Tech weapons table: http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread.php?t=112532

08-04-2014, 11:22 PM	#5
vicky_molokh GURPS FAQ Keeper Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kyïv, Ukraine	Re: Shield vs Buckler Can you buckler-slam at all? __________________ Vicky 'Molokh', GURPS FAQ and uFAQ Keeper

08-05-2014, 12:35 AM	#6
Imperial Join Date: May 2009	Re: Shield vs Buckler "However, it is difficult to put your full weight behind a buckler – damage is at -1, relative to a shield, in a rush."

08-05-2014, 11:39 AM	#10
Imperial Join Date: May 2009	Re: Shield vs Buckler So i guess it's safe to say, if you have time to prepare for combat strap it on. But if you get jumped in an alley, better to have a center grip.