My grandmother can pick up a shield and hold it steady for awile

[Arkonor]

Make it so you can pick up any shield around you. It can be done so it is realistic and balanced.

Example change :
Make it so you can hold every shield in the game but if your shield skill is not sufficient the speed rating will be half-ed (or have a fixed low rating for all shields that are being held without proper skill).

Situations this will help :
The end of the round when there are 3 archers left on one side and 3 melee on the other. Melee's have to stay in cover and wait for the flag timer even though there are 500 shields lying around. (This happens so often and is so boring for all the dead people to watch).

[FRANK_THE_TANK]

No.

[Bjord]

Realism =/= Balance.

How many times does it need to be stated?

[BlackMilk]

+1

[Cup1d]

Remove forcefield from all shields, and I can live with your suggestion.

[Wraist]

Remove forcefield from all shields, and I can live with your suggestion.

I tried a shield/polearm hybrid once, and with shield skill 3, arrows kept going through my shield fairily regularly. I'm a 1her no shield right now, and I could hit shielders regularly when they try to attack, or from their sides [it sucks for polearms because they sometimes hit the shield when the shielder has an attack chambered but ashwell].

And no, I don't like fighting shielders unless they're tking or being tked.

[ArchonAlarion]

Just make strength the difficulty of shields like melee weapons. Why do you need to be agile to use a huscarl or board shield? Why are shields the only equipment (besides horses) in which the difficulty is derived from agility and not strength? All it does it make shielders a ridiculous agi class. Bucklers and smaller shields are for high shield skill and agility, board shields, kites, and huscarls are for non-skilled utility. Make slight stat and price adjustments accordingly.

[obitus]

does 12 shield skill still give over 100% damage reduction?  (invincible shields)

[Vibe]

does 12 shield skill still give over 100% damage reduction?  (invincible shields)

13 shield skill gives over 100% damage reduction (invincible shield)

[Kenouse]

If you have a problem with archers - either get in cover behind a house or a tree....
If every1 can carry a shield you will take away the advantage of the 1h build.

Btw, if you had your speed altered when you picked up a shield... How in earth would you be able to chase the archer?