DeathFromAbove:
Breakage system is bad. I would even say it is broken
Never used it as it is a chore and slows the game down too much. I have been thinking of making some kind of simple rule of my own for this.
We have used a simple rule of adding to defence - if you want ONLY to defend and you have free space of at least 3 meters to go backwards you can add + 10 to DB (maybe I will adjust that up). If you are back against a wall you cannot get this bonus, but then nobody can you hit you from behind. Simple but works. You still have to make that +0 attack roll. Making a separate defence roll would slow things too much IMO.
OB/DB system works well I think. We write down OB/DB to paper every round and reveal it as it is our turn to hit. That I think brings dynamic feel to combat. "Oh, you decided to make an all-out attack too this round!? Gasp!! Ok, let's see who wins initiative!"
If you want your players to develop a shield skill then why not make one? Would you have shield as a separate weapon with its own OB and DB? It is true that some fighters are better with shields than others. Would you give more development points to cover this new need? Magic users would get more DP too even if they wont use shields?
If you are tired of old crit tables make your own tables or remove lethal results from A's and B's if you like. Your game is your game - modify it as you like. We others would be happy to know about your modifications.