Small shield

A small shield is affordable protection for a hero who needs to increase physical defense while keeping the other hand available for a suitable weapon. In Elaria, it may have a plain surface, a personal emblem, or a guard's colors. Decoration often expresses ties to a family or group without automatically changing its effectiveness in play.

Its lower strength requirement allows use by some heroes for whom a larger shield is unsuitable. They must still hold it in one hand; this does not solve the problem of using a two-handed weapon at the same time. Having a shield grants no additional special parrying ability or magical resistance. Its listed bonus and how the rules apply it determine the effect.

The catalog lists the type as "shield" and the base physical defense bonus (PDEF) as +1. Required Strength is STR4. The price is 8 sp. Final defense also depends on the hero's attributes and the rules for the equipment in use. A shield is held in one hand; that hand must be available for its use.