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Message: <blockquote data-quote="aramis erak" data-source="post: 6434466" data-attributes="member: 6779310">A shield is often metal edged, has mass to make up for the lack of sharpness, and (ignoring bucklers for the moment) doesn't need wrist strength, and uses the upper arm and upper torso. Further, many shields have a boss - a metal protrusion in the center. A shield punch with the edge is easily capable of breaking an arm; that's part of why the SCA (and other, similar groups, such as Acre) ban the use of shields against anything but shield or weapon. It's just too easy to get aggro and hurt someone. Also, the arm behind is often angled up; a straight punch with that arm catches with a corner of a heater. 2-3kg on a 1x15mm contact patch is directly comparable to a battleaxe.  The Same energy is imparted to the weapon, and the same contact area, resulting in similar penetration.The lighter, greek and roman linen and wood frame shields are faster still, and could had metal edging, as well. (usually bronze, if used.) They usually had a bronze boss, as well. Now, steel bucklers go WAY back... and at about 1kg, they're 1-handed, have a 2mm to 7mm edge, and are much more easily swung; you flip the fingers out and punch... absorbing the shock on the pad of the palm... and get a nifty 50mm by 3mm blunt contact patch. Not so good vs armor, but hurts like the dickens against merely padded flesh. (Yes, I've accidentally gotten whacked with one... hurts almost as much as a rebated rapier.)And shield movement is part of historical use, including shoves with the face of the shield, thigh stabs with the base-point of heaters and kites, chest and face hits with the corner of heaters and lozenges, arm and leg whacks with the edge of rounds, heaters, kites, lozenges, and ovals.There is no good rational reason to not allow a shield worn ready to be used for a d4 bludgeoning. Not to mention that many historical leather, reed, or linen shields had spikes on the edges specifically for gunging opponents with...</blockquote>

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