Riot Shields..., sword and boarding it Options

[WalksWithWiFi]

So, i have a player who on average carries around a ballistic riot shield, he likes to wade into
battle and pretty much use his 6'5 orkish frame to for all intents and purposes, get everyone on his sorry
ass and 'tank'.
Here is where it gets interesting, said player now has the idea to carry two shields, one on his back,
another in his off-hand.
So, should i slap the player with another -1 mod to all phys actions?

[Draco18s]

I'd slap him with a -1 to all actions and only grant additional armor (equal to half the value of the shield) only when the attack comes from behind. He can't maneuver that shield like the one he's carrying on his arm, so its of limited use, but still causes encumbrance.

[Nightfalke]

Here is where it gets interesting, said player now has the idea to carry two shields, one on his back,
another in his off-hand.
So, should i slap the player with another -1 mod to all phys actions?

I see someone has been playing a lot of Modern Warfare 2...

At least another -1. It's an inflexable backpack at least, and a major annoyance at most. Most riot shields are not designed to be worn on the back, no matter what the folks at Infinity Ward say, and would probably have to be specially modified to do that comfortably.

[Squinky]

My point of view is this:

If he wants additional armor from it, and you agree, trade it off with an appropriate penalty.

If he just wants to have it on him, kinda like some folks carry multiple weapons, and he isn't trying to gain more armor, its all good. Excepting certain physical skill tests (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Kliko]

whack your player for being silly (IMG:style_emoticons/default/talker.gif)

[Machiavelli]

By the way: do ratings exist for an medieval shield from a knight or an samurai?

[BishopMcQ]

I've never seen official stats for a medieval style shield. What I'd recommend is a heater would be +0/+4, a Kite Shield is +1/+5 (with an additional -1 if not on horseback), and a tower shield if +1/+8 (with a -3 for all physical actions when moving with the shield)

[Kovu Muphasa]

As someone who has used Shields in Medieval Reenactment I can tell you this.
-A Shield on the “Back” is a big waste, It is encumbering and unless specifically made for this purpose, very restricting.

I he wants to wear a shield on his back it’s not a shield, It is armor. Apply the Stacking Armor Rules
SR4 pg315
SR4.20 pg 161

Or just say NO! I don’t want to come with rules for that!

[Axl]

I would say "no".

[Mongoose]

Wearing a big flat board strapped to your back is a sure way to get grabbed from behind and effectively immobilized. Once they grab on, you've got and enemy behind you by an enemy you can't reach or even see. That's exactly why the knights went for armor that allowed MOBILITY.

[wind_in_the_ston...]

When I was a teenager and played AD&D, we didn't use encumbrance rules, and we did that. Oh, and I was an 80th level paladin.

But if you want to get serious, ask the guy how well he'll be able to maneuver that shield into the path of an attack. When the guy who's behind him is swinging for his head. I'd go with the armor stacking rules, and also that it only applies to attacks from behind. I mean, how often is someone attacked from behind, and hit in the back? Or... there are still too many cases where that wouldn't make sense. Just no.

[WalksWithWiFi]

Thanks for all the input,
i will talk to the player, if not direct him to this thread and see what he thinks in general towards his idea now.

thanks again.

[Lansdren]

I can speak from experience that trying to walk around with a archers shield on your back is bad enough (mine is abit custom made with a second strap to let me carry it slung over my back when I'm carrying other gear from one place to the other). They are heavy, uncomfortable in that position and only of any use in actual combat if you use them correctly. Whilst I kind of like the idea from a look perspective from a combat perspective its not a very good idea.

I apologise for bring the real world into a discussion about shadowrun

[McCummhail]

If he wants to gain some benefit from it, he can use the ladder eqp on the SWAT shields to use it as stationary cover.
He would be using it as Cover rather than Armor with those rules applicable.
The main drawback is having to set it rather than carrying it.
In the end, the bother of dealing with 2 shields if probably not worth the benefit.
I had a troll hacker that carried a shield almost everywhere and it was a constant hassle.
2 would be a logistic nightmare in most situations.

[CanadianWolverin...]

Stacking Armor rules sounds good enough to me. Let him have his fun and the encumbrance penalties that come with it. *shrug*

[Saint Sithney]

Make him the butt of a bunch of turtle jokes. Everywhere he goes, it's "Cowabunga dude!"

[MikeKozar]

Just out of curiosity, do riot forces ever rig those Troll-stunners to their riot shields? Give 'em a little more punch?

...'cause I think they do in my game now. >:D

(checks his SR4A on the way to the Patent Office) Oh, hey, look at that...pg 327.

[BishopMcQ]

Shock shields were introduced in SR3, SotA 64 I want to say...I had a combat shaman who fought with one. I almost made it a sustaining focus to, but I never got around to it.

[Ophis]

Shock shields were introduced in SR3, SotA 64 I want to say...I had a combat shaman who fought with one. I almost made it a sustaining focus to, but I never got around to it.

Surely throwing it is the next logical stage.

[Draco18s]

Surely throwing it is the next logical stage.

See my signature.

[Neraph]

Surely throwing it is the next logical stage.

Missile Mastery + Power Throw.

[Ophis]

Missile Mastery + Power Throw.

Obviously. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Neraph]

Oh, let's add a smartgun link to the taser shield, then add an explosive self destruct advanced saftey.

[MikeKozar]

Oh, let's add a smartgun link to the taser shield, then add an explosive self destruct advanced saftey.

Self-propelled mod and a pilot system so it can fly back to you.

[Ophis]

Self-propelled mod and a pilot system so it can fly back to you.

I'd suggest Dikote (but its gone) and inhabiting it with my ally spirit. That way it can fly and thus bounce off wall back to me.