The colonist handbook has a riot shield as new melee weapon. Let's say I want to hold a blaster pistol in one hand and the riot shield in the other. I would only be attacking with the blaster, the shield merely bolsters my defense rating. Would I still need to apply the two weapon penalty to any attacks made with the blaster?

Only if you're attacking with two weapons (page 210). If you're defending with the shield, you're cool. The penalty only comes into play if you're wanting the benefits.

-EF

What EF said

That'd be a cool character concept though, bashing with a shield and then shooting pistols. Super cinematic.

You could do it anyway, the dual wielding rules allow for it. It's two different skills (melee and ranged) so the base difficulty is increased by 2, and the shield might be an "improvised weapon" of small or medium size (depending on shield size) with whatever penalty that applies (AFB at the moment).

You could do it anyway, the dual wielding rules allow for it. It's two different skills (melee and ranged) so the base difficulty is increased by 2, and the shield might be an "improvised weapon" of small or medium size (depending on shield size) with whatever penalty that applies (AFB at the moment).

The shield wouldn't be an improvised weapon. It's listed in Far Horizons as a weapon, rather than as armor.

Then you only need to follow the two weapon fighting rules if attacking with both. Pick highest difficulty, lowest skill and increase difficulty by two (2).

Captain Empire to the rescue.

Or a riot clone trooper.

You could do it anyway, the dual wielding rules allow for it. It's two different skills (melee and ranged) so the base difficulty is increased by 2, and the shield might be an "improvised weapon" of small or medium size (depending on shield size) with whatever penalty that applies (AFB at the moment).

The shield wouldn't be an improvised weapon. It's listed in Far Horizons as a weapon, rather than as armor.

Odd, but that works. Don't have my copy yet...

You could do it anyway, the dual wielding rules allow for it. It's two different skills (melee and ranged) so the base difficulty is increased by 2, and the shield might be an "improvised weapon" of small or medium size (depending on shield size) with whatever penalty that applies (AFB at the moment).

The shield wouldn't be an improvised weapon. It's listed in Far Horizons as a weapon, rather than as armor.

Odd, but that works. Don't have my copy yet...

Yeah, I thought it was an odd choice, too… but they gave it Defensive 2 and Deflection 2 to make it seem more armor-like, so that's okay.

I don't see a problem, but I haven't gotten my copy yet. so actually no idea.

If you just shoot with your pistol and cower behind your shield no problem. don't forget the encumberance total though - guessing shields don't weigh like paper.

Does the shield have cumbersome? aaaand what are the other stats for it?

ed: taking one hour to post comment makes one ask partly redundant questions

Actually it has encumbrance (*edit: i meant cumbersome) 3. While you may not be attacking with it, you are holding it in one hand as you shoot your pistol with the other hand. It may not be a two weapon setup, but it does feel like there should be some kind of restriction on the pistol while using a shield.

I am confused, the fluff text of the shield says it can be used as a improvised weapon, not that it is a weapon before being "a shield". I think the exact words are improvised, somewhat awkward weapon. Hence the damage of +0.

I think "when using it as a weapon" dual weapon rules would apply. When using it just as a shield, like say a Roman Centurion would, it would not be counted in. So the Defensive/Deflection would be part of the "shield" and the Disorient is part of the weapon aspect. The cumbersome quality would affect any attack be it single or dual though.

Its encumbrance is actually 5, clarifying what Garomo typed.