Shields

[David]

Only fighters may specialize in combat-based proficiencies (including HIGH level rangers and paladins, etc).

Any class capable of using a shield may learn the weapon-skill "shield use" granting an extra bonus to AC depending on the size of the shield.

[aaronthecow]

So now can I ask how tower shields work? Game balance aside, it would make sense that you get about AC 0, but that is ridiculous.

I was thinking that you would need to have shield use to use a tower shield. Then, I think it would give you +3 or +2 AC (including shield use), but you could give up an or all your attack(s) or take a penalty to get cover. This could be used when running up to a bad guy or whatever.

What do y'all think?

Edit: Just read over this and realized it wasn't very clear. My thoughts were that tower shields would be like long bows, in that they are only better in military and other specific instances and this is made up with because there are very few magical tower shields/long bows. So the benefits of tower shields are that when you are closing a long distance, you can hide behind it (ex. when a squad of orcs charge up to dwarfs with crossbows, they get bonus AC, but can't attack.).
Maybe with lots of specialization/whatever you can attack from behind the shield like the romans did with their spears/short swords.

[viking]

Good stuff. Little different than what we did in the Highlands game way back when with Hamish, but easy to make the switch.

Back then it was Shield Use - +1 AC, +2 Save and Double Shield Use +2 AC +1 Save. (For a total of +3 AC/+3 Save).

Of course, given he uses a large shield, this just makes for a higher overall bonus from the same two weapons.

Good deal :-)

[David]

Actually, all of that is still available, Viking. BASIC shield use (comparable to being proficient in using a shield), give a bonus that's a function of the size (and shape) of the shield. What you're referring to would be shield specialization, comparable to being specialized in a weapon (and you might note that the numbers are the same, too!