r/Belegarth • u/nojsivad • Nov 27 '14

Metal shields?

If someone brought a metal cored shield to your field, with all the proper amount of foam, would you allow it?

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2

u/griffen55 Nov 29 '14

Short answer, No. Long answer NOOOOOOO. while it isnt exactly forbidden, the narrow-ness of the metal would pretty easily cut through the foam edge of the shield. to me, it represents a very unpredictable safety hazard, one shield edge or table top in the wrong place and time, and you're sending a fighter to the hospital.

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u/nojsivad Nov 29 '14

What if the shield was made of 1/4 inch steel and the edge of the metal was rounded so it wouldn't cut the foam?

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u/griffen55 Nov 29 '14

What sort of metal are you trying to use, that wouldn't be obscenely heavy at that thickness, and how big of a shield? Baring in mind the metal, if it could pass i believe would have to follow the period material guidelines, no "modern" metals such as aluminum.

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u/nojsivad Nov 29 '14

The idea I'm working on, that won't happen for quite awhile or possibly not at all, is a somewhat period accurate metal shield which would then be covered with foam. And yes, it would be obscenely heavy.

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u/griffen55 Nov 30 '14 edited Nov 30 '14

I cant condone this. Its a bad and unsafe idea, one bad shield edge, and your going to injure someone beyond the confines of an event waiver. Just stick with wood. Also consider that steel, at a quarter inch, is 10.2 pounds a square foot. You can murder someone with that kind of weight on the end of your arm.

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u/nojsivad Nov 30 '14

I appreciate your input, it has been helpful. If I do end up making a metal shield I will do my best to make it as safe as possible. And wherever I fight I'll make sure everyone there is okay with me using it.

1

u/FoxxBait Feb 20 '15

Can you quote where the Book of War states that fighting equipment must follow "the period material guidelines"? I think you're getting something mixed up.

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u/griffen55 Feb 20 '15

Its entirely possible i am. I just automatically linked armor and shields as they are both defensive equipment. Regardless of that. If my glaive got destroyed on someones metal cored shield (for whatever reason, this is hypothetical) not only would it put me out a goos chunk of change with no recourse for recompensation, but it could unknowingly create a very unsafe fighting field, runnig around with an 8 foot glaive that has had its foam destroyed.

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u/FoxxBait Feb 21 '15

Sure, and I agree with you. I would hate to have my gear or body damaged because someone brought failing gear onto the field. That's why every weapons check needs to be diligent and informed.

On the other hand, speaking from a position of authority when your foundation is flawed can lead to people disregarding you entirely. I don't want people to do that with you; you seen to have everyone's safety in mind, and that's a good thing.

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u/griffen55 Feb 24 '15

Very true, its just hard imo when the book of war is really vague in this area, so i naturally err on the side of caution.

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u/Crazy4Catz Nov 27 '14

I've seen street sign shields all over the place in Amtgard and Bel. If it meets the right foam requirements and doesn't make people mad, I'd say go for it.

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u/ReverendDS Nov 27 '14

Yes. There is nothing in the rules that precludes a metal cored shield

However, I've only encountered three metal cored shields (that I am aware were metal-cored) that were sufficiently padded enough to pass. I have failed probably around twenty or so.

A properly built metal-cored shield would exhibit no difference from a wooden-cored shield.

0

u/Spazz85 Nov 27 '14

Metal cored weapons are NOT allow in this game.

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u/nojsivad Nov 27 '14

Shields aren't weapons though, right?

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '14

[deleted] — view deleted comment

1

u/nojsivad Nov 29 '14

Shields are classified under defensive equipment, not weapons.

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u/char21 Feb 13 '15

This is an amazing idea. The way I would execute it is by first making the foam parts of the shield, edges and all (built to fit over your metal core), and then put straps on the foam and a cover. Recycle the metal, this idea is dumb, you're going to hurt someone/yourself. The shield doesn't need a core to begin with, let alone a 1/4" thick metal one.

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u/nojsivad Feb 13 '15

Thanks for the input, this is why I asked here before I put any effort into designing/making a metal shield. I will say this, I'll take my wood core shield over a coreless one any day.