Posts: 1,576 Location: Bergen, Norway
Mon 18 May, 2009 3:07 am
Archers and polearm-men can have
shield hanging on guiges around the neck, in the same fashion as mounted knights, who have this kind of suspension so that they can have one hand free for the reins.
This works ok for polearms, but probably not very vell for archers. I have fought quite a bit with polearms and a shield on the shoulder, but for archery it would probably be to much in the way. (though arab horsearchers would carry shields, as far as I remember)
As for the question of cutouts, they are mostly found either on anticent hoplite-style dish-shaped shields, or on small tournament shields.
On the hoplite shields these are probably to compensate for the "exessive" width of the shield. In order to cover you propperly in a shieldwall, a shield has to be about 90 cm+ tall, but only 60 cm wide.The "excess" width can be in the way when for instance using a one handed spear, so a cutout would compensate for this. (so would an oval or, later, kite/heater shaped shield) The shields you show are "infantry heaters" and as such would not need a cutout.
The other kind is the small tournament heater. In this case my guess is that the cuttout is simply a view slith. The shield is attatched to the upper arm, and when the arm is raised, it covers the side of the head. However, this blocks your view. Unless you have the cutout...
Overall, the kind of shield you show CAN be supsended on the shoulder, but would not need cutouts.
But then you are a filthy chaos worshiper, and do no belive in logick. (and, sooner or later, Sigmar will strike you down...no matter the shape of your shield.)