Buckler

“I can’t find a use for that thing. But just because I am used to a larger shield, it doesn’t mean that the buckler is entirely worthless, by Swafnir!”
-Erlgard Swerfildsdottir, warrior of the Fortress of Prem, 1037 FB

The buckler, sometimes called a punch shield, is a dinner plate sized shield primarily used like a parrying weapon. As such, it is less suited to defending against ranged attacks, and only the most skilled fighters rely on it when facing archers.

Except for its size, the buckler functions much like a larger shield. Its handle is a metal rod that spans its entire surface, adding strength. Besides serving as a parrying weapon, the buckler has the advantage that a fighter also can use it to strike an opponent, hence the name punch shield. Bucklers have their limits as well, and cannot protect against the mighty blows of an ogre or contribute to a shield wall.

Technique	Damage	P+T	AT/PA	Reach	Weight	Cost	Complexity
Shields	d6	STR 16	-3/0	short	1 stn 2 lbs	40 S	simple

Note: 20 Structure points, parrying weapon (+1 bonus to PA for primary weapon) The AT penalty applies when attacking with the shield but not when using a shield and a primary weapon together. Bucklers cannot parry projectiles. Bucklers receive an additional -1 penalty to PA vs ranged attacks, in addition to all other applicable modifiers (see Core Rules, page 243).

Weapon Advantage: On an AT critical success, the target receives 1 additional level of Stupor.

Weapon Disadvantage: Cannot perform the maneuver Shield Cover (see Aventuria Compendium, page 163). Cannot parry attacks from enemies of size large or greater.