This is why I believe that there logically needs to be a Shield skill to allow "active parrying" with it rather than just providing db being an inert barrier (like a wall or other types of cover).
The trouble is the abstract combat round being defined as a single attack being the application of OB in an offensive and defensive manner, is that it allows the users OB of the "weapon" uesd to determine what in effect should logically be the users "active" use with a shield. Yet, unlike TWC, being untrained in a shield doesn't affect the user adversely in any way.
Realistically, it is significantly more difficult to use a shield and a single weapon together than it is to use a single weapon by itself..yet no weapon skill penalty is levied aganist the use of the weapon which is why I think the shield/weapon should also suffer in the same manner as a TW combo. So this is what I personally would do, this obviously requires considering the effects of my suggested solution as a whole rather than as individual points
![Smiley :)](https://ironcrown.co.uk/ICEforums/Smileys/default/smiley.gif)
1. Create a Shield skill.
(I'd suggest it uses the same DP cost as 2nd lowest Weapon Category, if a shield is worn passively then any skill penalty is appled directly to the weapon skill. It probably would be appropriate to assign an additional penalty equal to the DB it provides.)2. Reduce the overall skill bonus of whatever item is being used in the "Off-hand" by the off-hand penalty as normal, this includes shields.
3. To determine "Active Use"
Average the skill bonuses (as modifed in 2) when weapons & shield or 2-Weapon combinations are being used. This provides the overall OB available to the character for the round.
4. The current DB provided by a Shield is still added with the same effect to the characters DB as normal regardless of whether its use is Active or Passive.
5. A "Parrying weapon" may add its DB bonus against one opponent only if an element of the OB has been dedicated to parry with it.
6. The "Active use" of a 2-weapon combo allows the attacker to attack a single target which halves the effect of the defenders parry OR equally share the offensive bonus over an additonal target with no additional penalty.
7. Allow the single weapon armed attacker to normally
share its offensive OB equally over any number of adjacent combatants with a cumulative -20 past the first.
8. Allow the attacker to evenly spread any OB dedicated to parry across as many targets as it wishes.
9. "Active" use of a shield in combination with weapon attacks allows it inherent DB to be applied to one additional attacker over the normal amount if the effective parry against that opponent exceeds the shields DB bonus.
10. The combatants positioning relative to the character acts as a penalty to the OB applied to either attacks or parries.
How this effects what is currently done, is that it eliminates the need for a seperate TWC skill by inherently incorporating penalties.