Shields protect your back.

[Phalanx300]

Look for some videos of Skallagrimm on Youtube showing Viking combat. A shield on the back could be a life saver for someone using a two hander. Also look at the examples of crossbowmen etc.

Ofcourse it should make you slower which would be the downside. And it would take up some equipment space. But it was definately used in history so should be intresting to have in cRPG.

So signed.

[ToxicKilla]

I thought Pavise Crossbowmen only brought shields to stick them into the ground, like rudimentary siege shields. Not carry them on the back while firing/reloading.

And for the argument's sake, I don't see how it would be possible for them to jump around with a heavy polearm and swinging it simultaneously.

They would have turned around whilst reloading their crossbows, which would have taken some time. They then turn back around, shoot, repeat.

[Bjord]

They would have turned around whilst reloading their crossbows, which would have taken some time. They then turn back around, shoot, repeat.

You completely misunderstood my point, and I wasn't even talking about Pavise crossbowmen. It was just a comparison.

[Turboflex]

On one hand, I dunno why people would want a 25% speed reduction from carrying a shield, but on the other hand for game balance reasons there's already enough clowns running around in heirloomed heavy plate who are almost immune to slashing weapons and arrows, and it doesn't really add much to game to let them stack on even more protection.

[Tovi]

Noobs can survive too.