Shields

[Esko Halttunen <esko.halttunen@luukku.com>]

I'm compiling a comprehensive weapons and armor chart from all sources I 
can lay my hands on, and this issue came up when looking at the 1st edition:

In 1st Edition shields are listed as having a Prot rating, but no 
defense (it reads Defense rating, but explicitly states shields absorb 
damage like armor). It'd make sense for shields to have a protection 
rating (in addition to the def rating they now have in 2nd/3rd Edi), 
since when a character avoids being hit and the opponent's to-hit roll 
is more than his modified SC, *but* less than his SC if you disregard 
shield, the blow obviously hit the shield, and there's a chance the 
shield might be damaged, and in some cases damage might seep through 
(not normally, but when you just took a hit from that storm giant's axe, 
it sure will feel more than just a simple tap...) Maybe the 
shield-bearer should lose a point or two of fatigue, or have reduced MD 
for a few pulses, or *something*, and if the damage dealt was great 
enough (compared to the shield's prot rating) and the attacker satisfied 
some minimum strength requirement (e.g. PS of 21 or greater or 
something), the shield might actually be rendered useless and/or there 
might be more damage in addition to or instead of the shield breaking.

I haven't worked this idea through, I'm just typing some rough 
suggestions as they occur to me. Would greatly appreciate input.

Edi