A shield is one way of potentially turning attacks aside. Characters might use anything to keep blows from connecting: a medieval buckler, a riot police shield, even a garbage can lid.
Using a shield in battle can be tricky. In game terms, a character wielding a shield and a weapon in combat finds that her attacks suffer at the cost of additional Defense. All attacks made while holding a shield are done at a –2 penalty. Characters with the Ambidextrous Merit reduce this penalty to –1.
In close combat, a shield adds to a character’s Defense score. If the character chooses not to use a weapon in combat while wielding the shield, she can figure in an additional +1 bonus to her Defense as she concentrates on avoiding harm, hiding behind the shield and using it to counter attacks.
In long-range combat, a shield isn’t particularly useful. Bullets punch right through most shields and into a character’s soft body. Unless otherwise specified (such as the “Ballistic Shield,” below), shields do not offer bulletproof protection. However, all shields allow a user to claim bare concealment. In most cases, ranged attacks against someone holding a shield up are done at a –1 penalty.
Shields also have a Strength requirement. A character with insufficient Strength to use a given shield can’t bring it to bear quickly enough, and it provides her no Defense bonus, though she still benefits from the concealment penalty to ranged attacks made against her.
Characters can attempt to attack with a shield. Shields are heavy and can be used to bash or batter an opponent. Generally, attacks made with a shield are done at a –1 penalty, and cause bashing damage if successful.