Fixed it, I think it works with the FAQ's

This may be the simplest way to reflect that currently. If my suggestion about making shields weapons is where you want to go long term, then in addition to the above note that weapon proficiency with national shields is granted with their Archetype proficiency, but being proficient in both the weapons and the armor doesn't grant proficiency twice, i.e. no instant mastery.

With a sweep of his hat,

Paul

That works.

With a sweep of his hat,

Paul

*Like*

good,

we are done here!

Just a point of clarification... Since no background in either the A:RPG or COH grants weapon training (shield), what you are saying is that only way to start play with Weapon Training (shield) is to explicitly spend a talent on it or select one of those backgrounds that allow you to pick any weapon (or any of your region's weapons and come from a region that gives one or more shields.)

Is this accurate?

Scott

EDIT: Please ignore this post and those that follow. I apparently misinterpreted the errata.

No, backgrounds which gives Weapon Training (Any) or Weapon Training (National Melee) can be used to take Weapon Training (Specific Shield) or Weapon Training (Specific National Shield).

John

I think that's what I said. I just wanted to be clear that this was the intent. The wording makes it sound (to me) like I should expect to see something like "weapon training (Heavy shield)" in a background somewhere. And nothing like that exists.

You have to have a background that gives you a choice of weapons, and you have to make that choice be a shield.

(I don't particularly like it. But I'll live.)


Scott

Sorry I mis-read your note.

I'm curious, why don't you like it?

John

Shields are ubiquitous. I don't understand why a Martial Archetype has to have one of 5 specific backgrounds from A:RPG (assuming that, "any one-handed weapon from your starting nation" is valid to pick a shield or 7 if you play an Elorii) or 1 specific background from CoH in order to be proficient with a shield. That just bugs me. My primary doesn't use a shield. He uses a quarterstaff. But if I decided to switch to my light spear and shield, or my gladius and shield, suddenly I'm in trouble because I didn't either pick a background that allows me to be proficient with a shield or spend a talent to explicitly gain weapon training (shield).

Don't get me wrong, I understand the arguments. The fact that a shield is acting as both a weapon and a piece of armor is causing it to be a target for abuse. But a martial archetype fights with weapons. It's who they are. They know weapons and armor. To have to go out of your way for one of these to be proficient with a shield just bothers me.

Scott