Kite shields, also known as body shields or large shields, were a large-sized style of shield in the Realms that were sometimes conflated with tower shields.[1][2][3][6][note 1]
Description[]
Kite shields were long in shape, with wide tops and narrow pointed bottoms, providing their wielders more coverage than a buckler shield. The pointed bottom edge of these could be driven into the ground to provide their users a stable defense against assaults.[7]
Availability[]
- A number of merchants in Athkatla's market Waukeen's Promenade commonly sold kite 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.[1]
- A number of general stores in the southern districts of Baldur's Gate sold kite shields.[8][9]
- Candlekeep Inn.[8]
- The inn within the hamlet of Friendly Arm sold both mundane and +1 kite shields alongside a variety of armor and weapons.[8]
- A small armaments store in Nashkel was known to sell kite shields.[8][9]
- The Tankard Tree, a tavern in Saradush, sold both mundane kite shields and ones with generic +1 or +2 enchantments.[10]
- Thunderhammer Smithy, a blacksmith shop in Beregost, sold kite shields.[8]
- The Ulgoth's Beard inn's owner sold kite shields on the side, alongside a variety of general adventuring equipment.[11]
- The Zephir's owner Zakee Rafeha sold kite shields in his inn on the side, alongside a variety of general adventuring equipment.[10]
Notable Owners of Kite Shields[]
Individuals[]
- Fflar Melruth, a captain of the Akh'Velahr, wielded a stout kite shield.[12]
- The Shepherd of the Damned.[13]
Regions & Settlements[]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ Some sources, such as the Baldur's Gate series and Icewind Dale series, refer to kite shields 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. Also of note, the icons used for large shields in Baldur's Gate and the Icewind Dale series depict a tower shield, while the icons used in Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn depict a kite shield.
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
Novels & Short Stories
The Shattered Mask • Black Wolf • Forsaken House • The Rage • The Rite • Unclean • Realms of War • Unholy
Video Games
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)
Board Games
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 BioWare (September 2000). Designed by James Ohlen, Kevin Martens. Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn. Black Isle Studios.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 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.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 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.
- ↑ Black Isle Studios (August 2002). Designed by J.E. Sawyer. Icewind Dale II. Interplay.
- ↑ Jim Zub, Stacy King, Andrew Wheeler (July 2019). Warriors & Weapons. (Ten Speed Press), p. 132. ISBN 978-1-9848-5642-5.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 BioWare (December 1998). Designed by James Ohlen. Baldur's Gate. Black Isle Studios.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Beamdog (November 2012). Designed by Philip Daigle, et al. Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition. Beamdog.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 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.
- ↑ Richard Baker (August 2004). Forsaken House. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 202. ISBN 0-7869-3260-0.
- ↑ Cryptic Studios (June 2013). Neverwinter. Perfect World Entertainment.
- ↑ Willi Burger (August 1995). “Raven's Shields”. In Duane Maxwell ed. Polyhedron #110 (TSR, Inc.), p. 15.