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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ridley's Cohort" data-source="post: 1769133" data-attributes="member: 545">"Shieldless AC" is in 1e/2e.  Not 3e.The RAW for shields is geared towards playability and completely punts on realism.  The measly +2 AC bonus for a large shield gives is laughably small even if the wielder mindlessly lets the shield linger in front of chest.  In the hands of a trained soldier, a shield is employed actively both to aid defense AND offense.  A static bonus is completely wrong here.OTOH I still get my full shield bonus against every single attack even if I am blindfolded, flatfooted, stunned, and set upon by a thousand archers sniping me from every direction as well as 20 goblins with polearms.A realistic option would be complicated and slow (some kind of opposed BAB check, perhaps).  On the balance, the rules as is are close enough to fair and so easy to use that I am not motivated to go for a realistic option.</blockquote>