Firstly, Though I appreciate The responses... I didn't come posting to have the game system explained to me, (I am a veteran GM of Rolemaster since the Mid 80s) Nor to have attempts to talk me out of the change or why it should be this way. We have decided We want it changed.
I came Asking for opinions and Help in what would be the best resolution method for what we want to do. Aid in tweaking said method and what other "changes" might need to be made to help keep the balance. Please help with that.
Were not talking about weapons making defenses obsolete or vice-verse.
Nor are we talking about the occasional glancing off the shield affecting the direct hit.
My experience with Sword and Board in the SCA was that Most blows hit the shield, Those that didn't hit the shield were either Parried or connected (whether solidly or not). Rare was the Time that a Blow "Glanced" off a shield and connected in any effective way with the opponent.
The Shield Did what it was meant to do, Block Blows so that they DON'T hit you.
This isn't what happens in Rolemaster, even when you do have players that Parry, Mostly it just makes the hit less severe rather than actually making the Hit a Miss.
ARMOUR is what Makes you take less damage from a Blow.... this is not the intent of a Shield.
This is Our belief and experience and what we wish to more correctly simulate in our game.
I come to you not to be argued out of it because you feel that the game system as is can't be wrong and shouldn't be changed, But instead come to you as Fellow Gamers with a Love for the same game to aid in a Change I and My players Want to make.
After all... One of the BEST parts of Rolemaster.... one of it's Iconic standards, has been the plethora of Optional rules presented not just int he companions, but in even may of the core books.
So please... Let us stick to and address the OP