Shields

Shields

Shields are treated differently in Dustriders than D&D 5e, where they must be either raised or lowered once per turn as a free action. Raising a shield grants a bonus to evasion, while a lowered shield grants a reduced bonus. Moving while a shield is raised reduces your movement speed by a specified amount dependent on the shield. To use a shield, you must be proficient in shields.

A shield cannot grant an Evasion Bonus at the same time that you are benefiting from High Cover, but can raise your Cover by a factor of one or two, depending on what Cover the shield provides. In essence, if you have a full ballistic shield raised, and you are behind High Cover, you benefit from one or the other, not both. If a target flanks you while you are behind cover, in essence removing the cover bonus, you instead gain the benefits from the shield being raised. Shields cannot have their cover benefits neutralized while they are raised.

In another scenario where Cover provided is combined, if you are behind Low Cover and have a Personal Ballistic Shield equipped, you gain the benefits of Medium Cover while the Personal Ballistic Shield is raised, as the Personal Ballistic Shield provides Low Cover.

It is possible to attack using the Personal Ballistic Shield and the Full Ballistic Shield as an Unarmed attack if you are Proficient with shields. This is referred to as a Shield Bash. Instead of the base 1d4 Bludgeoning damage of an unarmed attack, the shield instead deals 1d6 Bludgeoning damage plus your Strength modifier. When you use the Shield Bash attack, you may choose to push the target you attacked up to 5 feet away. The shield can be raised or lowered when you make this attack.

Armguard

Rarity: Common

Effects

While lowered, gives no additional benefits

Can be raised as a Reaction if the owner is to be hit by an attack

While raised, adds +1 Evasion but reduces movement speed by 5 feet (1 space)

Allows for a free hand to be utilized since it's attached to the arm.

Crafting Requirements

2 Mundane Cloth materials

4 Mundane Metal materials

2 Mundane Plastic components

Personal Ballistic Shield

Rarity: Common

Description

A medium-sized ballistic shield that can be easily carried with one hand, this polymer-based design has a small window towards the upper portion made of bulletproof glass that acts as a viewport.

Crafting Requirements

2 Mundane Cloth materials

6 Mundane Metal materials

4 Mundane Plastic components

Full Ballistic Shield

Rarity:Uncommon

Description

A durable, purpose-built ballistic shield that offers better coverage and protection than any other shield. It is also quite heavy and large, despite using advanced materials such as aramid and other lightweight polymers. This particular design comes with something like a 'kickstand' where it can be propped up and placed in a chosen location.

Crafting Requirements

2 Common Cloth materials

8 Common Metal materials

12 Common Plastic components

Weapons Shield (Mod)

Rarity: Uncommon

Effects

While lowered, grants no additional benefits.

Requires a Bonus Action to raise or lower instead of a Free Action.

While raised, grants Low Cover but does not allow the user to use it to stabilize a weapon.

Adds extra weight to the weapon but does not require a free hand to operate.

Can only be attached to Light Machine Guns and specified weaponry.

Crafting Requirements

2 Common Cloth materials

2 Common Mechanical components

4 Common Metal materials

4 Common Plastic components