9 hours ago, Tramp Graphics said:No, they don't. The difference between Shields and armor is huge. Armor is worn by a person, like a second skin . By contrast, a shield (whether a physical one strapped to your arm, or an energy shield), is a barrier between the attacker and the defender. That is the difference. For armor to deflect or absorb damage from an attack, the person wearing that armor must first be struck physically . That requires a successful combat check. With a shield, even a hand-held one, you have a large surface area, which expands well away from the body, like a wall . This means that an attacker might hit the shield, potentially even penetrate it, and still not even come close to hitting the defender behind it .
Oh my.
Still ready for that showdown at dawn, in a cold field, ribbons our spouses have tied around our arms, with matched weapons (rattan or otherwise), and all of the ghosts of our forefathers watching.
And with that image in my head, I'll be in my bunk.