| > Quick question on the two-handed weapon/shield trade-off. Does this penalty apply just for wearing/holding a shield or only when the character is stanced to attempt to use the shield? In other words, can I keep my armworn shield on and just stance to parry while using my claymore (to use it without penalty), or do I need to take off the shield entirely?
Good question. For the sake of player convenience, it is based on how you are stanced. If you aren't trying to use the shield, it won't hinder you (beyond any standard burden hindrance to defenses, anyway). If you make any attempt whatsoever to use the shield while using a two-hander (ie stance for shield at all), you will be penalized.
I also want to remind folks that shield has penalized evasion in the past but no longer will in the new system, so the defense penalty is largely a wash. Instead, it will -only- impose a penalty when used in conjunction with a two-handed weapon, and yes, a few "two-handed" weapons will receive reduced penalty due to traditionally used in conjunction with shields -- short piercing pole arms, primarily (spears, javelins). I know this will be an unpopular change for some people, but there needs to be some drawbacks to using two-handers to offset their superior damage, and the most obvious one (aside from increasing the roundtime, which I think would be less popular) is to place limitations (not complete restrictions) on combining them with one of the best defenses.
- GM Dartenian
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