Medium character, small shield

[Voadam]

I can't seem to find any rule references to when a medium character picks up a shield designed for a small character.

I found the small weapons rules but nothing for shields as shields.

Any rules references I'm just missing?

Thanks.

 

[irdeggman]

IMO they fall under the same rules as armor.

Basically a character can't use inappropriately sized armor, so a character can't use an inapproriately sized shield either.

 

[Space Coyote]

I would just make the shield one category different. For example a Heavy shield for a small person would be a light shield for a medium, a small light shield would be a buckler for a medium person and a small buckler would not help a medium person at all.

 

[mvincent]

I can't seem to find any rule references to when a medium character picks up a shield designed for a small character.

I found the small weapons rules but nothing for shields as shields.

Any rules references I'm just missing?

The rules don't really cover this, but for attacking purposes (shield bash etc.), the standard oversized weapon rules would be applicable.

For AC purposes, most DM's would at least allow improvised shields. Improvised shields would likely involve increasing the shield’s armor check penalty and/or applying the penalty for nonproficiency.

For incorrectly sized shields however, I would likely apply a -2 nonproficiency penalty per size difference (i.e. applys to on attack rolls and on all Strength-based and Dexterity-based ability and skill checks) and alter the shield's effective category by one:
light>heavy>Tower

Other DM's may simply adjust the armor check penalty by 2 per size difference (without any mandatory nonproficiency penalties if you are already proficient with shields).