A shield is a piece of personal armor held in the hand, which may or may not be strapped to the wrist or forearm. Shields are used to intercept specific attacks, whether from close-ranged weaponry or projectiles such as arrows, by means of active blocks, as well as to provide passive protection by closing one or more lines of engagement during combat.
Shields vary greatly in size and shape, ranging from large panels that protect the user's whole body to small models (such as the buckler) that were intended for hand-to-hand-combat use. Shields also vary a great deal in thickness; whereas some shields were made of relatively deep, absorbent, wooden planking to protect soldiers from the impact of spears and crossbow bolts, others were thinner and lighter and designed mainly for deflecting blade strikes. Finally, shields vary greatly in shape, ranging in roundness to angularity, proportional length and width, symmetry and edge pattern; different shapes provide more optimal protection for infantry or cavalry, enhance portability, provide secondary uses such as ship protection or as a weapon and so on.
A buckler is a small shield, up to 45 cm (up to 18 in) in diameter, gripped in the fist with a central handle behind the boss. While being used in Europe since antiquity, it became more common as a companion weapon in hand-to-hand combat during the Medieval and Renaissance periods. Its size made it poor protection against missile weapons (e.g., arrows) but useful in deflecting the blow of an opponent's weapons, binding his arms or hindering his movements.
Targes are generally round shields between 18" to 30" in (45–76 cm) in diameter. The inside of the targe was formed from two very thin layers of flat wooden boards, with the grain of each layer at right angles to the other. They were fixed together with small wooden pegs, forming plywood. The front was covered with a tough hide or metal, which was often decorated with embossed, symbol-ridden style patterns. This was fixed to the wood with many brass, or in some cases, silver, nails, and occasionally brass plates were also fixed to the face for strength and decoration. Some targes had center bosses of brass, and a few of these could accept a long steel spike, which screwed into a small "puddle" of lead that was fixed to the wood, under the boss. When not in use, the spike could be unscrewed and placed in a sheath on the back of the targe
To compensate for their awkward nature, kite shields were equipped with enarmes, which gripped the shield tightly to the arm and facilitated keeping it in place even when a knight relaxed his arm; this was a significant departure from most earlier circular shields, which possessed only a single handle. Some examples were apparently also fitted with an additional guige strap that allowed the shield to be slung over one shoulder when not in use. Byzantine soldiers frequently carried kite shields on their backs, sometimes upside down. At the time of the First Crusade, most kite shields were still fitted with a domed metal centerpiece (shield boss), although the use of enarmes would have rendered them unnecessary. It is possible that shields may have been fitted with both enarmes and an auxiliary hand grip.
A typical kite shield was at least three feet high, being constructed of laminated wood, stretched animal hide, and iron components. Records from Byzantium in the 1200's suggests that the shield frame accounted for most of the wood and iron; its body was constructed out of hide, parchment, or hardened leather, similar to the material used on drum faces.
A pavise was an oblong shield used during the late 14th to early 16th centuries. Often large enough to cover the entire body, it was used by archers and infantry soldiers. Of European origin, the pavise was large, square and convex. A smaller version for hand-to-hand combat and for wearing on the backs of men-at-arms was also made. The pavise is characterized by its prominent central ridge.
The pavise was primarily used by archers and crossbowmen in the Middle Ages, particularly during sieges. It was carried by a pavisier, usually an archer, or, especially for the larger ones, by a specialist pavise-bearer. The pavise was held in place by the pavisier or sometimes deployed in the ground with a spike attached to the bottom. While reloading their weapons, archers and crossbowmen would crouch behind them to shelter against incoming missile attacks.
Pavises were often painted with the coat of arms of the town where they were made, and sometimes stored in the town arsenal for when the town came under attack. Religious icons or Kingdom colors were typically featured on the front of pavises.
| Shield Type | Size | Weight | Strike AP | Push AP | Strike/Push Attack Dice | Block/Deflect AP | Defense Dice | Damage Dice | Increment |
| Buckler | 18" | 4 lbs. | 65 | +1 Attack Dice | +.5 Damage Die | 90 | |||
| Targe | 30" | 8 lbs. | 50 | +1.5 Attack Dice | +2 Damage Dice | 60 | |||
| Kite Shield | 30"W to 42"L | 12 lbs. | 75 | +1 Attack Dice | +2.5 Damage Dice | 70 | |||
| Pavise | 30"W to 60"L | 20 lbs. | 100 | +.5 Attack Die | +1 Damage Dice | 80 |
The shields ability to absorb damage and prevent injury to the wearer, was the prime reason that soldiers all over the world were required to wear them. They essentially form a small wall between you and your enemy.
Wood:
Steel:
When a shield is struck and it reduces damage coming into the shield bearer, there is a chance that the shield can be damaged or destroyed. Each time that the Breakaway has been met by an attack, of any kind, then you must reduce the Damage Reduction of the shield by 10%. This is turn reduces the Injury Reduction and Breakaway.
Wooden shields provide an additional Injury Reduction bonus to the shield bearer equal to 10% of the total Damage Reduction number.
Steel shields provide an additional Injury Reduction bonus to the shield bearer equal to 30% of the total Damage Reduction number.