Are back sheilds legal?

[Dragon.Clan.Leader]

Is it legal to strap a sheild on your back? Does it still countas a sheild or armor? I know its sill to ask but a sheild that can't be easly removed in battle doesn't seem safe

[Derian]

Yes, a back shield is legal.

[Sir Par]

And it still counts as a shield. It can be broken by a red and it blocks arrows.

[Reverend]

And it still counts as a shield. It can be broken by a red and it blocks arrows.

The rules aren't super clear on how continuous damage would be perceived, but I think a dose of common sense can easily apply in this situation.

As it stands now, two red shots and the shield is broken. A third red shot takes the arm and a fourth red shot kills.

Having a "back shield" eliminates some of that. As I would play it (and as a herald, how I'd enforce it) would be; two red shots and the shield is broken. You're now vulnerable to arrows. A third red shot kills you.

Just something to keep in mine.

[Sir Par]

You are correct sir.

[Sir Thurat]

That way I've always played it is once the shield is broken, pretend it isn't there. If you are wearing no armor, and have a back shield that is broken, technically a 1-h stab to that back shield should go through to the next valid target area, which would be the back.

The same, I feel, should apply to armor. I've had discussions with people who believe that even if their armor is broken, it is still immune to 1h stabs, a similarly for shields. Perhaps that requires better clarification?

[Kyrian]

I've found it easier to explain that armor is never actually broken, merely that the body inside the armor has sustained some damage, but not enough to completely render the person dead or incapable of continuing. Because of the armor, a 1h strike does some damage to the person but some of that is also soaked by the armor. After that, since the person has sustained some damage, the next hit would take them out of the fight. In the case of 1h stabs, the armor still remains intact and a 2h stab would have enough force to inflict damage through the armor. For 2h swings, the armor is incapable of soaking up the damage so all of the damage is transferred to the person.

Bottom line: Armor is not compromised, but the person takes "1/2" damage from a 1h strike with next 1h strike inflicting the final "1/2" to render the torso or limb out of action. Red weapons and 2h stabs deliver too much damage for the armor to soak.