Board Thread:Suggestions forum/@comment-27179278-20160127025124/@comment-26172435-20160128211038

Note that the durability of shields doesn't have to be as high as that of armour, assuming they will be repairable and they are lighter and less expensive. Thought of recipes yet? I could imagine: All with unique set of attributes like absorption, durability, zone of impact reduction (if possible to code) and possibly weight. In case of armour & shield weight vs. movement speed, carrying a shield may be a cheap alternative for combat protection and in case you may want to flee. Just throw away (press Q) the relatively cheap shield and run off without the burden of having to carry the shield. Getting rid of heavy armour when under intense arrow rains is a lot more difficult. :)
 * Wooden, reinforced, bronze, iron and steel shields made from a wooden base frame which gives a basic wooden shield.
 * Wooden shield = 2 planks + 2 pieces of leather or (lion/gemsbok) hide.
 * Reinforced = wooden shield + 2 iron or steel bars.
 * Bronze, iron and steel = wooden shiel + 3 bronze, iron or steel ingots, on factions crafting tables for faction shields.

On second thought, I think the chance of this to be implemented (if ever, there has been quite a lot of discussion on this already), will increase, if you'd propose a shield to be an item held in one of the normal inventory slots. Would that be an acceptable alternative for your original proposal, where you suggest a 'unique shield slot'? What would be the need to code a dedicated slot?