Shields

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.

Extraordinary Materials

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

Construction

Ideas:

• Shield spike
• Damage type specific resist

Enchantments

Ideas:

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