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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[]

Beyond Faerûn[]

Notable Tower Shields[]

Notable Owners[]

Individuals[]

Races & Sentient Creatures[]

Regions & Settlements[]

  • Some of the city guard of Mirabar wielded tower shields emblazoned with the city's royal badge.[25]

Appendix[]

Notes[]

  1. 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[]

Gallery[]

External Links[]

References[]

  1. 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. 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. 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. 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.
  5. David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 69. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
  6. David "Zeb" Cook (April 1995). Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised). (TSR, Inc.), p. 92. ISBN 0-7869-0329-5.
  7. 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. 8.0 8.1 David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 76. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
  9. 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. 10.0 10.1 Jeff Grubb and Andria Hayday (April 1992). Arabian Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 92. ISBN 978-1560763581.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 BioWare (June 2002). Designed by Brent Knowles, James Ohlen. Neverwinter Nights. Atari.
  12. 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. 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. 14.0 14.1 14.2 Black Isle Studios (June 2000). Designed by Matt Norton. Icewind Dale. Interplay.
  15. 15.0 15.1 BioWare (June 2001). Designed by Kevin Martens. Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal. Black Isle Studios.
  16. BioWare (May 1999). Designed by James Ohlen. Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast. Black Isle Studios.
  17. 17.0 17.1 Obsidian Entertainment (September 2007). Designed by Kevin D. Saunders. Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer. Atari.
  18. BioWare (December 2003). Designed by Brent Knowles. Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark. Atari.
  19. Ossian Studios (June 2018). Neverwinter Nights: Darkness over Daggerford. Beamdog.
  20. DreamForge Intertainment, Inc. (1994). Designed by John McGirk. Menzoberranzan. Strategic Simulations, Inc.
  21. Ossian Studios (August 2019). Designed by Luke Scull. Neverwinter Nights: Tyrants of the Moonsea. Beamdog.
  22. Ossian Studios (April 2009). Designed by Luke Scull. Neverwinter Nights 2: Mysteries of Westgate. Atari.
  23. Codename Entertainment (September 2017). Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms. Codename Entertainment.
  24. R.A. Salvatore (June 2004). The Lone Drow. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 26. ISBN 978-0786932283.
  25. R.A. Salvatore (July 2003). The Thousand Orcs. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 2. ISBN 978-0786929801.
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