Oh God, am I the Mannis now? - GoT/SI

[LordCassius]

Okay just had my farmhand put on a spare set of pauldron, vambrace, and gauntlets and holding a medieval European tower shield. Posing everywhich way you can hold the thing the shield just out two inches past his elbow. My farmhand is 6 foot 2 inches tall. I'm getting weird looks from my crew and my grandkids lol.

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Dedication. When you absolutely need to prove that someone on the internet is wrong, accept no substitutes.

 

[Tyrell]

@Louis Dabout one thing you are forgetting. A competent scutum user has a nigh impregnable defense a longsword wielder cannot penetrate.

@Sir Rabby how in the hell was your elbow sticking out? Unless Stannis has mutant long arms a scutum or tower shield is 1.5 times the width of the user's shoulders. So unless Stannis has abnormally long arms or the shield was made for a smaller man Stannis losing his arm is bullshit. Along with chopping through the metal shield.

In cannon it took a dozen full powered swings of a Valerian steel bastard sword on the same spot to penetrate steel plate. Even the the blade was nicked, cracked and damn neat broke. A gladius doing the same with less blows. Blows landing on different areas of the shield at that, it is impossible for Stannis to have cleaved the shield. He does not have the Mountain's strength nor the leverage to do it.

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I was under the impression he was using a hand pavise style shield. You're right if that's not the case... My recollection of using a few hand pavises' was that they're unwieldy and uncomfortable to use though, I know that when I've versed the few I've met to use them that often enough a buckler and arming sword bested them. Mostly becuase they're not agile enough. I'd just hold my blade and use the crossguard to catch their shield and pull them of balance while moving to the side away from their own sword. Normally it takes too long for them to re-establish their guard and my hilt's knocked them silly.

 

[Tasoli]

IF tower shield is anything like this one it is impossible to get hurt in the elbow that is holding the shield.

 

[Tyrell]

IF tower shield is anything like this one it is impossible to get hurt in the elbow that is holding the shield.

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But you wouldn't aim for there. Just use your crossguard to pull their shield, let them go forward into your pommel and then move to their side and brain them with your hilt.

 

[Tasoli]

And that wold hurt his elbow how?

But you wouldn't aim for there. Just use your crossguard to pull their shield, let them go forward into your pommel and then move to their side and brain them with your hilt.

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[Tyrell]

And that wold hurt his elbow how?

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You can aim for it later when he's knocked out entirely. I have no clue about why the elbows a thing since its of no importance to beating him.

I'm mentioned because Arimai was discussing how to beat a tower shield user. The part about elbows is regarding Sir Rabbys descrip of the fight.

My point is that you don't need to aim for the elbow, just pull him of balance and send his centre of gravity forwards and he'll probably trip over his own shield (Because your literally pulling it towards you and down to the ground).

My point to Arimai was then that I thought Stannis was using a hand pavise which doesn't have as much width and thus can concievably lead to him being hurt there.

 

[KnightofTempest]

But you wouldn't aim for there. Just use your crossguard to pull their shield, let them go forward into your pommel and then move to their side and brain them with your hilt.

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Ideally you wouldn't be using a sword to fight someone with a tower shield, you'd use an axe. Hook the top of the shield away with the arch of the axe and pull the guy off balance before finishing him.

 

[Arimai]

This is a scutum (Roman Legion tower shield)

Heavy legions usually wear steel greaves to protect the legs. Some specialised units used longer scutum. Scutum can be oval, or rectangular depending on the unit and type in question. Cavalry usually used oval shields.

Medieval tower shields are somewhat similar in size. However some of them have odd shapes that compromise the protection they offer. Medieval shields also tend to be heavy slabs of hardwood with a metal boss and rim.

While scutum are lighter the construction of the shield does not compromise on protection. It is made of three laminated layers of wood that is then glued together, then encased in leather and canvas. With a spindle shaped boss in the middle. The rim and boss are of metal. Depending on the era and the legion in question it could be steel or bronze or gold leaf on steel.

This combined with steel greaves and sabatons would make you damn near impossible to hurt, unless you are incompetent.

@Sir Rabby mentioned wearing plate and carrying a tower which is why I kicked up a fuss on the Fossoway striking his elbow. While heavier the Medieval tower shields are usually of similar width. So unless the shield he used was for made for Tyrion, that whole scene should not have occurred.