RE: [HoE] Shields in combat in HOE

["Patrick Phalen" <pphalen@gti.net>]

>   I asked this question informally earlier, but now I want to make it a
> formal rules question:
>
>   How does a shield work in HOE?  I'm talking a classic "gotta block
> the sword blow" shield.
>
>   Is it armor?  Is it partial armor that protects the upper body? One
> of my players is putting together a Templar.  He and I poured through
> HOE,WW,the rad screen, and we can't find anything.
>   My thoughts were to treat it as a barrier that interfers with an attack
> on a percentage basis.  (Stops the blow,bullet,claw,etc on a 1 on a
> 6-sided die) Poor example I know, but you get my drift.

Here's what I would do:

1) Against bullets (and other projectiles) I would have it work as Armor
(2?) for any part of the body that it covered.
2) In HtH I would give it a Passive defense bonus (+1 or +2 depending on the
size shield) if the shield wearer was using his usual fightin' aptitude to
add to the attacker's TN.
3) If the shield wearer was ACTIVELY using the shield, I would create a
fightin: shield skill.  This would be the fightin aptitude TN to use.
Alternatively, the shield user could make a dodge attempt using his fightin:
shield aptitude.

Patrick