War Shields.

As a Realm we need battlefield recognition. I know the Royal Army will eventually have Sashes and uniforms, etc. But as a Realm, as Barad'dun, we should be identifiable on the field when we engage other realm's or units that we visit or are visiting. This includes the Royal Army as well as the Mercenaries that fight beside us. Garb is one key to recognition, but another is shields, specifically War shields.

I think we should decide on a type, size and design of a war shield that we can use for inter realm fighting. If we all stand behind a wall of the same type of shield, in the same colors and patterns, we are then a recognizable unit. The Royal army cold be further identifiable by an emblem on their shields, while mercenaries would be free to have no emblem or their own personal emblem's. But the shields would be uniform and standardized as far as size and colors and pattern. Here are two images demonstrating the different shield types and color patterns.





The size, type and its cover are what would be standardized. The construction would be up to the individual, weather with a core (Plywood or Plastic) or coreless (dense foam or layered closed cell) and the grip would be up to the individual as well, Strapped or Center grip (Called a punch shield).

PRO's and Cons: (Feel free to add more if you wish)

Large shields are better at protection, but tend to weigh more and may hinder some offensive moves as well as close in fighter's can use your shield for cover.

Strapped shields evenly distribute the weight and thus do not tire the arm out as quick as punch shields.

Strapped shields can only stay close in to the body, Punch shields can be moved everywhere, close or farther out.

Strapped shields are more solid if hit, run into, kicked, etc. Punch shields flop around.

Heavier shields (Those with cores) tend to absorb hits and not flop around more than coreless shields.

Cored shields still use some Historical techniques in construction. Coreless are purely modern sport designs.

Rounds and Doors are the easiest to make.

Doors give great passive and active coverage but are heavier to move around and carry. Door can be rested on the ground.

Ovals are an attempt to make a shield with as much coverage as a Door without the added weight.

Heater and Teardrops are attempts to make the round cover better on the legs without adding weight.

Kite's were the last great innovation of the Shield. They give better protection to the legs than the teardrop or Heater but were more of an invention for cavalry than Infantry. Infantry may find them a little cumbersome.

Colors for shields need to be decided as well as designs.

I was thinking we could make the next Weapon's build day a Shield Build and build standardized Realm war shields once we have decided on the shape, size and colors.

I will write up how I put together my round shield because it has solid foam construction on front and back and edges. I will describe grip types as well, but this will have to wait til tonight, after work. So I must be off.

To be continued.....

Konradr

Awesome.... Ill throw up a design in a bit.

i personally believe that people should be able to use whatever type of shield they want to use. whether in the royal army or not. the trials were designed to promote whatever fighting style you want to use, other than the dagger being mandatory. as for the emblem being on the shields, thats a great idea and should be on them if they are in the army.

Hey Surt! Glad you posted on the shields. If you don't think we need standard shields then that is fine. As for an emblem. I was thinking of the Red six pointed star (open center) with A golden 'stratosphere' type tower in the center for Barad'dun. But we can plan all that out when you are home.

Konradr

Perhaps we can have a standardized emblem in the center, then each person could add a smaller personal emblem on the lower half? Similar to the way my shield is designed, I have the Boar's head in the center then on the lower edge I put my maze design.

Just a thought, maybe we can have different covers for each shield, one's with the same color patterns etc. Then at national events we can swap out our regular covers for the realm covers.

K-

Switchable covers, that is a good idea.

We still need more shields in the realm, big shields. I still think a shield build day would be a good idea. We have lots of loaner weapons, mostly blues but only about 5 big shields including my Oval Raven, Round wolf, Kilanos green Heater, heretic's black Teardrop and the Loaner Blue round. That's it. Then 5 small bucklers.

We could make covers for those 5 big shields and put them on when we have visitors or go a visiting. We should make probably 4 or 5 more big shields.

Konradr

Heres a simple design:




Should have what we need, added the area to add rank and stuff, Colors are easily changed.


Give me some feed back and i can throw up Mk 2 design

i have a acquired a new kite shield.

Do you like the design? Any changes that you can think off?

Nice design Knubbs.

While we're on the subject of emblems to promote awareness and unity during events, maybe we can have a badge that we can sew on our garb, so even off the field we can be identified. Maybe some sort of stylized "B"?

Actually we have Rank Sashes that we'll be getting for both mercenaries and Royal Army Members.


Ill have my Fancy Codex Printed out for Saturday and we can go over it as a group since we have alot of new members and its about time to start making this chapter a chapter.

thats a good idea knubbs and a good design. i don't want to finalize any images until i'm back in vegas but keep up the good work! and yes definitley bring people up to speed on the codex.

Ive Printed out a scroll colored copy ill bring to practice regularly.

I cant wait to talk to you about some ideas ive had and what the others have as well.

Should be sweet.

cya next saturday!