Shields on your back?

[GM_Chris]

How many people feel they can carry a shield on their back and that makes you immune to hits inthe rear?...well hits that hit the shield?

Chris

[McEwan]

not I

[Midnight]

Why not? I haven't been playing it that way, but it *should* be that way. It works that way IRL.

[Kidwynn]

If I rig it up correctly...I probably could carry one on my back.

Ok, yep I think I'm being a freak here. I figured if I can haul around a 10lbs paintball gun for a day and play all out aggressive, I can do pretty much anything.

[WayneO42]

Why not? I haven't been playing it that way, but it *should* be that way. It works that way IRL.

Sure, A shield properly strapped to your back would probably defend against certain blows, but at that point, with the strapping involved and the shields lack of mobility it becomes armour. Part of the power of a shield is turning aside blows and actively intercepting strikes. They also keep strikes away from your body.

[Ug]

Hmm, this'd be an interesting rule. Allow a shield on one's back to deflect blows, however it shatters at half the normal damage it takes to shatter a shield. 1 backstab and you don't take the damage, but your shield is toast

[Nelkie]

It is my opinion that a shield on the back should not protect you. I agree with what Wayne said. It adds to much complication is plain chessy. A shield is used for blocking , not becoming a turtle.

[Nelkie]

With shields on ones back backstab would be worth less!

Defensive matrix would become better as would hold ground.

booms less than 15 would be more or less worthless.

arrows would be less powerful, more area to protect against arrows.

Also, with shields on the back you could use a 2 handed weapon and swing 3 damage, but still have the advantage of a shield.

Does any one see a problem?

[Onimaster]

Could have the shield become armor when it is strapped on...

for example: Large shield adding 15 armor points but when they take that 15 the shield is broken no matter what and no matter what direction the blow comes from, only carry one shield at a time max, and doing so ups your armor weight category by 2 not 1.

Or say that every damage the shield takes reduces the amount of damage it can take before it breaks permanently.

[Kidwynn]

If people do the shield thing I can see backstab still working since it is vorpal anyway or at least that is what I'd recomend doing if it isn't and that shield thing would be implemented.

As we have learned from the ants...lots of armor points = those that do vorpal can.

I don't think adding more armor points is a good idea at all.

Hey GMs, why is this shield carrying question being brought up?

[Peace420]

A shield on your back should be considered just another peice of "flair" or such. Like a pouch or cloak, it shouldn't add any protection at all and should be a spot that if it gets hit you take any damage that is appropriate. It should definitely not add any armor pts or keep you from being struck in that area. Like Aaron said it's a shield not a shell and unless you're a turtle druid and have had it approved as armor by the GM's it shouldn't offer protection.

[GM_Chris]

LOL I was not suggesting that a shield will be add protection..I was simply wondering how many people thought it did based on the fear discussion.

Also backstab isnt vorpal and if it were vorpal then a shield WOULD protect you. (Just want to make sure everyone understands the rules and that we didnt goof somewhere in the wording)

Chris

[WayneO42]

Hey GMs, why is this shield carrying question being brought up?

I think Chris just wants a clarification on the perception of the players. As far as I am concerned, and I think I speak for the rest of the GMs, a shield strapped to your back affords no protection. Whether or not it is realistic to rule as such does not matter. It is better for game play. Just see Aaron's post above for some examples.

If someone is intent on wearing a shield on their back, we may be persuaded to give armour points. It would be concidered heavy armour so 3 armour points would be awarded. After it was unstrapped to use as a shield, the armour points would be destroyed. It would also have to be upkept like armour (More on this later). The use of a shield in this manor would be dealt with an an individual basis and need the approval of the GM staff.

[Kidwynn]

I know backstab isn't vorpal. It was an idea in case that shiled on back added protection idea was going to be used or something. Sorry I didn't make myself clearer, but I was typing really fast on my way to lunch.

That will teach me to check this out when I don't have a lot of time to spare.

[Dallid]

It's all ready difficult to get a legal hit on a player carrying a mondo shield. Such hits become nigh impossible if they're allowed to carry two.