Holding a Large Shield

[Innerwall]

Page 27 of GURPS Lite has a list of Melee Attack Modifiers. Under 'Attacker's Situation' it gives a -2 penalty for holding a large shield. But I can't find any reference to this rule in the core books. Is this penalty due to encumbrance?

Thanks.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Innerwall

Page 27 of GURPS Lite has a list of Melee Attack Modifiers. Under 'Attacker's Situation' it gives a -2 penalty for holding a large shield. But I can't find any reference to this rule in the core books.

Basic 547

Is this penalty due to encumbrance?

I don't think so. I think it's due to the shield blocking over half your body and limiting your options; a large enough shield provides some cover for your opponent.

[Innerwall]

Thanks. Do you know if there is mention of this in the core books? Just curious.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Innerwall

Thanks. Do you know if there is mention of this in the core books? Just curious.

The Basic Set is the core...
What more do you need?

[Not another shrubbery]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

The Basic Set is the core...
What more do you need?

If the question was if the rule is referenced elsewhere in the text of Basic, the answer seems to be "no". The only place I have found it is on the Combat Modifiers Table on p547. Not really an erratum, but it probably should be mentioned on p287 for clarity.

[Kromm]

Yes, it's an "in the way penalty" rather than an encumbrance penalty. Yes, it's only listed in the big list of modifiers at the back of Campaigns. And yes, it would have been nice of us to footnote this on the Shield Table.