Tower shields, also known as body shields or large shields, were a large-sized style of shield in the Realms that were sometimes conflated with kite shields.[1][2][3][4][note 1]
Description[]
Tower shields were big in size[1][2][3][4] and heavy,[3] reaching from the chin down to the toes of a wielder.[1][2][3][8][9] For many races this meant an average height of around 4‒6 ft (1.2‒1.8 m),[3][4] width of 2‒3 ft (0.61‒0.91 m),[4] and weight of 15 lb (6.8 kg).[1][10] They were typically made of either metal or wood.[1][2][3] Ironwood saw usage throughout much of the Sword Coast, as the material made for very durable and lighter weight tower shields.[11]
Due to the massive size relative to their users, wielding a tower shield required fastening it to one's forearm and firmly gripping it with the shield hand at all times.[1][2][3][8][9]
Availability[]
- A number of merchants in Athkatla's market Waukeen's Promenade commonly sold tower shields, including the armorer Arnolinus, the fruit merchant Enge, the merchant Mira, and Ribald Barterman from his store Adventurer Mart. In the Bridge district, one could find them for sale from the innkeeper of Delosar's Inn and at the street-side stalls of Bel Dalemark and Sio'chaire. And in the Wave District, one could find them for sale by the merchant Jahaboam.[2]
- A number of general stores in the southern districts of Baldur's Gate sold tower shields.[12][13]
- Candlekeep Inn.[12]
- Conlan's smithy, a blacksmith shop in Kuldahar, sold tower shields.[14]
- The inn within the hamlet of Friendly Arm sold both mundane and +1 tower shields alongside a variety of armor and weapons.[12]
- A small armaments store in Nashkel was known to sell tower shields.[12][13]
- Pomab's Emporium, a general store in Easthaven, sold tower shields.[14]
- The Tankard Tree, a tavern in Saradush, sold both mundane tower shields and ones with generic +1 or +2 enchantments.[15]
- Thunderhammer Smithy, a blacksmith shop in Beregost, sold tower shields.[12]
- The Ulgoth's Beard inn's owner sold tower shields on the side, alongside a variety of general adventuring equipment.[16]
- The Zephir's owner Zakee Rafeha sold tower shields in his inn on the side, alongside a variety of general adventuring equipment.[15]
Beyond Faerûn[]
- In the many bazaars of Zakhara, body shields could generally be bought for around 7 to 15 gold pieces.[10]
Notable Tower Shields[]
- Blightguard, a tower shield enchanted by the Wood Man of Rashemen.[17]
- Bulwark of the Great Dragon, an enchanted tower shield made from the bones and scales of an ancient dragon.[18]
- Flame's Forge, a particularly large tower shield with fire resistance enchantments.[19]
- Gorm's arm, a variety of enchanted tower shields.[13]
- Mage protector, a variety of tower shields enchanted by Imaskari artificers for use by their elite warriors.[17]
- Rhino beetle shield, a variety of enchanted tower shields made from the carapaces of giant rhinoceros beetles.[14]
- Shield of dawn, a variety of enchanted tower shields that were created by Lathander to arm good clerics against the undead.[11]
- Shield of the Dragonslayer, a variety of enchanted tower shields that were designed for combat against dragons.[11]
- Shield of the falling stars, an enchanted tower shield blessed by Ilmater.[12][2]
- Shield of lightning protection, a variety of enchanted tower shields that repelled lightning.[20]
- The Wall, a holy relic of Helm that was arguably one of the most powerful enchanted tower shields in the Realms.[21]
Notable Owners[]
Individuals[]
- Beresh, a werewolf on the Isle of Balduran, wielded a tower shield.[12][13]
- Charissa Maernos, a priestess of Tyr, wielded the enchanted Shield of the Maimed God.[22]
- Hastsezini, a law-abiding mercenary from Riatavin, wielded the enchanted Hastsezini's shield.[11]
- Lazaapz wielded an adamantine tower shield.[23]
- Mulahey, a Cyricist cleric, wielded a tower shield.[12][13]
- Thibbledorf Pwent.[24]
Races & Sentient Creatures[]
- Helmed horrors were sometimes equipped with tower shields.[12][13]
Regions & Settlements[]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ Some sources, such as the Baldur's Gate series and Icewind Dale series, refer to kite shield as being another name for tower shields. Other sources, such as Player's Option: Combat & Tactics, contradict this claim. Because the two are distinct types of shields out-of-universe, it is assumed the two were lumped together due to being similarly large shields.
Appearances[]
Novels & Short Stories
Video Games
Menzoberranzan • Baldur's Gate series (Baldur's Gate • Tales of the Sword Coast • II: Shadows of Amn • II: Throne of Bhaal • Enhanced Edition • II: Enhanced Edition) • Icewind Dale series (Icewind Dale • Heart of Winter • Icewind Dale II) • Neverwinter Nights series (Neverwinter Nights • Hordes of the Underdark • 2: Mask of the Betrayer • 2: Storm of Zehir • 2: Mysteries of Westgate • Darkness over Daggerford) • Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms
Gallery[]
External Links[]
- Large Shield article at the Baldur's Gate Wiki, a wiki for the Baldur's Gate games.
- Large Shield article at the Icewind Dale Wiki, a wiki for the Icewind Dale game.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Black Isle Studios (August 2002). Designed by J.E. Sawyer. Icewind Dale II. Interplay.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 BioWare (September 2000). Designed by James Ohlen, Kevin Martens. Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn. Black Isle Studios.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Grant Boucher, Troy Christensen, Jon Pickens, John Terra and Scott Davis (1991). Arms and Equipment Guide. (TSR, Inc.), p. 36. ISBN 1-56076-109-1.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Richard Baker, Skip Williams (1995). Player's Option: Combat & Tactics. (TSR, Inc), p. 150. ISBN 0-7869-0096-2.
- ↑ David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 69. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
- ↑ David "Zeb" Cook (April 1995). Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised). (TSR, Inc.), p. 92. ISBN 0-7869-0329-5.
- ↑ Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 123. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 76. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 David "Zeb" Cook (April 1995). Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised). (TSR, Inc.), p. 101. ISBN 0-7869-0329-5.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Jeff Grubb and Andria Hayday (April 1992). Arabian Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 92. ISBN 978-1560763581.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 BioWare (June 2002). Designed by Brent Knowles, James Ohlen. Neverwinter Nights. Atari.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 12.7 12.8 BioWare (December 1998). Designed by James Ohlen. Baldur's Gate. Black Isle Studios.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 Beamdog (November 2012). Designed by Philip Daigle, et al. Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition. Beamdog.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Black Isle Studios (June 2000). Designed by Matt Norton. Icewind Dale. Interplay.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 BioWare (June 2001). Designed by Kevin Martens. Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal. Black Isle Studios.
- ↑ BioWare (May 1999). Designed by James Ohlen. Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast. Black Isle Studios.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Obsidian Entertainment (September 2007). Designed by Kevin D. Saunders. Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer. Atari.
- ↑ BioWare (December 2003). Designed by Brent Knowles. Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark. Atari.
- ↑ Ossian Studios (June 2018). Neverwinter Nights: Darkness over Daggerford. Beamdog.
- ↑ DreamForge Intertainment, Inc. (1994). Designed by John McGirk. Menzoberranzan. Strategic Simulations, Inc.
- ↑ Ossian Studios (August 2019). Designed by Luke Scull. Neverwinter Nights: Tyrants of the Moonsea. Beamdog.
- ↑ Ossian Studios (April 2009). Designed by Luke Scull. Neverwinter Nights 2: Mysteries of Westgate. Atari.
- ↑ Codename Entertainment (September 2017). Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms. Codename Entertainment.
- ↑ R.A. Salvatore (June 2004). The Lone Drow. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 26. ISBN 978-0786932283.
- ↑ R.A. Salvatore (July 2003). The Thousand Orcs. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 2. ISBN 978-0786929801.