Small characters and Shields

[Schmoe]

I've looked through the books but have been unable to find an answer anywhere. How do shields work for small characters?

Can small characters use small versions of the shields as listed, simply reducing the weight by 50%? Thus, a gnome could have a small-sized Large Steel Shield with an armor bonus of +2.

Or must small characters use a Small Steel Shield with an armor bonus of +1? If so, how would you justify a buckler for a small character?

 

[AGGEMAM]

All characters regardless of size can use any type of armor and/or shield, this is because armors, unlike weapons, is scaled towards the wearers size.

 

[Someone]

Shields dont come is sizes like weapons. A medium character can use a buckler, a small shield, a large one or a tower shield; a small character can do just the same, save his ones weight only 50%.

(Now, notice that small shield weight roughly half as much al large shields. As a house rule, you can state that a small shield for a medium size character counts as a large shield for a small size character and so on)