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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jdsivyer" data-source="post: 4540831" data-attributes="member: 78336">Okay, there's one thing that's always niggled me about D&D in any shape or form, and that is shields.  In true combat (real life stuff <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />), shields are a very effective form of protection.  However, in 3.5 I don't think they still fully address the problem.The Buckler and Light Shields give AC +1 and -1 penalty.  The buckler costs 15gp, and the other 2 light shields 3gp and 9gp.  The 2 heavy shields give +2 to AC and -2 penalty, and cost 20gp and 7gp.  Now, I know the steel ones cost more because they have a better chance of surviving a SAVE against fireballs, etc.  Then there is the Tower Shield: +4 and -10.  Now, I don't know about your campaigns, but these stats don't give a lot of incentive for PCs to purchase shields.  Some do, I know, but I also know people would sometimes rather get a two-handed weapon in their grips then receive an Armour Check penalty for the sake of a shield.Personally, I think it could be something simple like this:Light Wooden shields cost 5gp (+2 AC; -1 penalty)Light Steel shields cost 10 (+2 AC; -1 penalty)Heavy Wooden shields cost 15 (+4 AC; -2 penalty)Heavy Steel shields cost 30 (+4 AC; -2 penalty)(For every 2 points of AC bonus the wielder has -1 AC penalty check...this could be used as a guideline when creating/introducing other shields.)A Tower Shield is a specifc type of shield and is a flat 90gp for a wooden version, and a flat 150gp for a steel version.  The AC bonus is +8 (have you ever seen these things!? <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":]" title="Devious    :]" data-shortname=":]" />) and an armour check penalty of -4.Of course, there are feats that can offset Armour Check Penalties, and that's fine.  I think the incentive should be for the PCs to get a shield - or, at least some of them.  How many pics do we see of fighters etc with shields in the D&D books but rarely do we (in my experience) have PCs who purchase/use them?Now...all of this is just off the top of my head, so feel free to rip it apart, make suggestions, etc <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /></blockquote>

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