Shield HP

Shield HP is something which has seen some significant change between Basic Set and Low-Tech.
B287 for example with 5/6/7/9 DR shields weighing 2/8/15/25 had 20/30/40/60 HP.
B484's Damage to Shields rule acknowledged Shields as Homogenous since they only add 1/4 their HP as cover DR.
B558's Object Hit Points Table (under B557's HP and DR of Objects and Cover section) suggested:
*10 HP for 2 pounds
*16 HP for 8 pounds
*20 HP for 16 pounds
*24 HP for 27 pounds
*40 HP for 125 pounds
*66 HP for 343 pounds
The "GM may alter HP for unusually frail or tough objects" allows deviation, and B287's massive HP (and resulting huge cover DR and durability in general) is a generous application of that.
LT116 introduced lower HPs such as:
*only 15 HP for a 6lb shield
*only 17 HP for a 9lb shield
*only 21 HP for a 16lb shield
*27 HP for a 22lb shield
The first 3 are chosen because they have 5/13/19 fewer HP than shields 1lb heavier in Basic Set.
Although LT hit points still fall slightly higher than the B558 range (21 instead of 20 hp for 16lb, for example) they're much closer and mean shields are now easier to overpenetrate with arrows/crossbows.
It also means that now they would produce less collision damage if dropped on somebody from above.
category:rules