Shields, man, how do they work?

• Your Block Rating is equal to:
  • Fortitude skill modifier + bonus from gear + circumstance bonuses
• Circumstance bonuses:
  • Wielding a no-handed shield, or blocking without a shield (i.e. using both hands for weapons or spells): +0
  • Reserving one hand to block with a shield or offhand weapon: +5
  • Reserving two hands to block with a two-handed shield or two-handed weapon: +10
• Blocking process:
  • You may Block attacks coming from your front arc, if you are aware of the attack and the attacker
  • You may Block attacks that are targeted, or area damage centered on a location in your front arc
  • There is no roll required; you simply reduce the damage done by your Block Rating
• Stamina costs:
  • Each time you Block, you must spend 1 Stamina.
  • Each time you Block, you may spend more than 1 Stamina. Each extra point grants +100% Block Rating to that one Block attempt.
  • For each hand you are reserving to Block, all stamina costs are reduced by 1, to a minimum of 0.
    • Yes, that means if you are wielding a tower shield in two hands, you can always double-block, gaining effective DR of 2x Fortitude plus 40. Yup.
• Shield stats:
  • Hands: number of hands required. You must reserve exactly that number of hands to use that particular shield.
  • Heft: minimum Strength score. If your Strength isn't high enough, your Block Rating is cut in half.

Smithed items (weapons, armor, and shields) can be made from normal materials, or from a variety of extraordinary ones.

Ideas:

• Shield spike
• Damage type specific resist

Ideas:

• Floating (self-wielding)
• Throwing/returning
• Spell reflect