Hi all,

What do you think of these shield degradation rules ?

Decrease shield stucture for each 4-5-6 that were rolled on the damage roll, if the shield does stop some damages.
If number of 6 superior or equal to the solidity of the shield, it is destroyed with a single hit.
Light shield: protection = 3; Structure = 9; Solidity = 2
Medium (standard) shield: protection = 6 ; structure = 16; solidity = 3
Great shield: Protection = 9; Structure = 22; solidity = 4

Regards

We use a slightly more simple method:

For every 6 rolled in damage roll, decrease shield's protective value by one against subsequent attacks (i.e. the shield protects at pre-hit value against this attack). Do count Axe's extra die and of two-handed weapons, but not other weapon bonus dice (i.e. Mace, Hammer), as those reflect more the penetration efficiency than actual damage. Shield is not damaged when it is not interposed to defend against the attack (such as on a failed weapon roll or a fumble, or against a Flail (although in our campaign Flails do not bypass the shield utterly and hence might damage the shield)).

Armor is damaged by 1 point for every two 6's rolled on a single hit that are not absorbed by the shield.

This works well enough for us, and usually is not too arduous to keep track of.

I must be simple, as we simply presume that knights have an extra shield (since they don't cost much) and replace them after battles.

I must be simple, as we simply presume that knights have an extra shield (since they don't cost much) and replace them after battles.


Oh, we do that too. Hence, as soon as the fight is over, we assume fresh shields for everybody. But it is not unheard of for a duel to see one fighter reduced to an almost shieldless state by the shield damage. And of course, the armor damage is something that usually takes money to repair.

Granted, I admit that neither is truly necessary, as usually, the fights are over with 1 or 2 points of shield damage, which tends not to be significant.

@Morien,

I like your rule, thanks.
And then there is damage from arrows/thrown weapons, that should almost not damage the shield at all.

You are quite welcome, cromcrom.

As for arrows and crossbow bolts, yeah, they shouldn't do much damage against a shield. However, a throwing axe or a javelin I can see damaging a shield. And a pilum might have some special rules with it, like if it rolls at least one 6, then it gets lodged into the shield, and gives like -3 to weapon skill unless the shield is discarded.