With this skill, a character becomes able to wield a shield and gives that character ability to block damage with a shield. Without this skill, if a character is holding a shield and the shield is struck, the character takes damage as if they were not holding the shield. A shield must be wielded to be effective; the character must hold it by the handle with a hand and arm that is not impaired. If the character holds it incorrectly or the hand or arm is impaired, then any blows struck on the shield effect the character normally, just as if they did not have the shield.
Shields are not weapons and cannot be used to attack under any circumstances. No martial skill can be used with a shield regardless of the skill. However, if the character purchases the Shield Parry skill, they may then use any of their defensive martial skills with their shield.
A shield worn on the back affords the character no protection. A character cannot block an attack effectively simply by wearing multiple shields, even if they have the appropriate skill.
Shields of quality – Dwarven crafted, mythril, and magic shields – can stop the damaging spells of the elemental schools of magic. The spells that do not cause damage but have an effect such as the Pin, Ice Cast, Shatter, or Blast spells cannot be stopped by shields.
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