lather wrote:Colonel_Tetsuya wrote:Generally speaking, unless we're talking something small enough that it wouldn't really be classified as a true shield (like a buckler), you cant wear a shield on your arm and then use that arm to hold a weapon.
Or unless we're talking about Rifts.
Im not aware of any rule in Rifts that lets you use a weapon in your shield-hand, so.... no.
I think a lot of it also comes from people not realizing just how big most shields really are.
An example, a Targe is only about 18-20" in diameter, or about 314" in area.
A typical Viking shield (common until the mid middle-ages) is 34" in diameter or so - or almost 910" in area - almost THREE TIMES the size of a Targe.
Itll cover a person from chin to knee.
You aren't wielding a weapon in that hand, i assure you.
(Its also held by a centerpoint, not strapped to your arm).
A heater shield is about the same size in terms of surface area (but shaped differently) and IS usually strapped to your arm, but in odd ways that would prevent you from using a weapon in that hand (your arm ends up at an angle, or straight up and down when mounted)
A kite shield is even bigger (1300"+ in area), and is usually both strapped (around the shoulders when on foot, at an angle on the arm when mounted) and centerpointed (for when on foot).
Greek and Roman era shields were both strapped to the arm and around the body (because they were so god-awful heavy in the case of the Greek era shields, and for stability in the shield wall in Roman shields). Roman shields often had centerpoints for when fighting in smaller units or after the wall had broken.
Im loving the Foes list; it's the only thing keeping me from tearing out my eyes from the dumb.