HGd10PHB - Special Attacks - Shield

The Shield move requires either a Light or Heavy Shield. A shield move can be made vs a ranged attacks and is comparable to a Parry. However, the Shield move only requires a Secondary Action. The shield move is intended to provide focused cover against ranged attack. A successful Shield move protects from most incoming physical ranged attacks. To complete the Shield move, the defending character:


 * Must have a shield readied.
 * Must have at least a Secondary Action available as a Response in the same turn or 1 second after a physical ranged attack is made.
 * The defending character rolls Perception vs a Standard Difficulty Score to perceive an incoming ranged attack.
 * If the Perception check is successful, regardless of what Standard Action they may have taken or will take, they may raise their shield to attempt to block the incoming ranged attacks in one of three arcs: front, shield-side, above.
 * Front - these attacks are coming from directly in front of the shield-bearer in a 90-degree arc.
 * Shield-side - these attacks are coming directly to the side the shield is worn on in a 90-degree arc adjacent to the Front.
 * Above - these attacks are coming directly from above the shield-bearer in a 90-degree arc.
 * The defender rolls their Shield Combat Skill and adds any bonuses vs Ranged attacks once. This roll will apply to all physical ranged attacks coming from the chosen arc that turn.
 * The Shield Combat Skill roll is compared to all Ranged attacks subject to the Shield move. Those Ranged attacks that are equal to or lower than the Shield Combat Skill roll are considered blocked.  Blocked missiles are either embedded in the shield or deflected depending on the missile and the shield material.  Those physical ranged attacks that are 10 or more lower than the Shield Combat Skill roll miss entirely.

Certain shields may increase the arc of protection.

A character may wield two shields instead of a shield and weapon and double their protection. However, two-handed penalties apply to both shields unless they are Ambidextrous.