Keep your shields, you cowards!

[The Celtic Viking]

Okay, so I was playing another of my Arverni campaigns, and I realized one thing: I'm a shameless admirer of shields. It doesn't even have to be an exceptionally looking one - just about anything from the big white shields of the Gund-i Nizagan to the small, brown ones of the iaosatae: all are great in my eyes (even though I of course think some are nicer than others). In fact, it's gone so far to me that, whenever I have a unit with an especially good looking shield, I'm incredibly reluctant to send them into combat, for fear of losing them. Many times have I caught myself disregarding the battle, just staring myself blind on the shields of my Leuce Epos, imagining it in combat (rather than actually sending them into it ), how it is brought back when the rider strikes with his spear etc. And their shields aren't even my favourites...

Am I really the only one who does this? Am I really alone in my affection for this particular piece of protective gear? It can't be so. No, you must love them just as much as I do - or at the very least nearly so - and for that matter, I ask you now: who do you think have the best looking shields? Which shields are your favourites? Share it with your brother Celt! I want to see all the goodies from all over the EB world!

To share with you my own favourites, meet the Noricene Gaecori:




Just look at that and tell me it isn't beautiful! Of course, if you do that I'll just take you as a liar, because no one can not appreciate a shield like that, or I don't want to live in this universe any more. The yellow, the white, the red, all together with the fine strokes of awesome shape... it's ecstasy of art. A great kudos to whomever made it!

[DaCrAzYmOfO]

Well....I don't know where to get the images, but so far my favorite have to be the pontic-themed kelto-hellenic hoplites, and the normal hoplites.

Another one thats pretty good to mension (and rather unique looking mind you) has to be the gaeroas for the getai.

Although if you just want all out creepy...give me any shield with the toothy guy mocking you with his tongue.....man I wouldnt be scared that, I would be ANGRY! lol

[A Terribly Harmful Name]

I like the Scutum, particularly the Camillan one. Somehow I can't stop thinking on how they can die if their body is almost fully covered by such a huge shield.

The best Celtic shield is from the Arverni Arjos and the Milnaht & Batacorii.

[||Lz3||]

you shield-phile ... <.<


I love the Indo-greek noble hoplites' shields

gorgeous... and also the early baktrian bodyguards shields

[satalexton]

xD I bet they're fapping to one right now =P jkjk

[HitmanIRL]

Well i think the Aedui Solduros looks pretty funky
And so does the Mori Gaesum (Helvetti Phalanx)looks really cool and kind of like the Gondorian tree found on their shields except for what looks like roots on the bottom...

[Tartaros]

i most like the shields of carthaginian version of neitos!
grizzled gaul-veterans, looks used in many battles

[The Celtic Viking]

Is it just a coincidence that the majority are from Celtic units (granted though some are in non-Celtic faction versions)? It's not that surprising to me, though - there are plenty of good shield choices to be found there.

HitmanIRL, I agree completely with both of your examples. It's too bad that the Mori Gaesum shield you show was left behind in 1.0 - it looks better than the new one they got (though the new MG looks better as a whole now).

you shield-phile ... <.<

I'm gonna have to plead guilty as charged on that one. I just can't help it!

Some more shields to gauge your eyes at:



I know, another Celt. I'm so biased. But look at it! Seriously! Can you spell beautiful?



Same unit again, but the shield is different and that's what matters. I dig that shape.



Oh, this is bad. It's Roman, and I like it. I must really be slipping, 'cause I can't just deny it. They do look good.

[||Lz3||]

how da hell can I post unit screenies... I want to be able to put shiny unit screenies!!

[A Terribly Harmful Name]

Go to the EB website and the list of factional units, right click one of them and select "Copy Image Location". Then add an IMG tag for your post with the address you just copied, and there you go.

[Dutchhoplite]

Just click on and copy the url in it :)

[||Lz3||]

yay!

thanks! I edited my first post in the thread

[Megas Methuselah]

Shields are a sign of cowardice.

[Rilder]

Shields are a sign of cowardice.

Tell that to a hoplite.

[Megas Methuselah]

Tell that to a hoplite

Oh God no, he'd spear me right there. Afterwards, he'd spit on my face and kick my corpse, all while calling me an uncivilized, long-haired barbarian.

Bastard hoplite.

[The Celtic Viking]

Shields are a sign of cowardice.

No, the lack of a shield is a sign of cowardice. What do you think is the first equipment to be ditched by routers?

[Olaf The Great]

No, the lack of a shield is a sign of cowardice. What do you think is the first equipment to be ditched by routers?

Pants?

[Che Roriniho]

No, the lack of a shield is a sign of cowardice. What do you think is the first equipment to be ditched by routers?

The contents of their bowels and bladder?

*hmmmm... bladder and bowels... sounds like a 70's english folk band...*

[The Celtic Viking]

Pants?

No, you've got it ass backwards. You're caught with your pants down, so logically you pull them up when you run.

The contents of their bowels and bladder?

*hmmmm... bladder and bowels... sounds like a 70's english folk band...*

No, silly! By the time you run away, your bladder and bowels have already been emptied. Try again!

[Dutchhoplite]

I like these ones:

[Titus Marcellus Scato]

Okay, so I was playing another of my Arverni campaigns, and I realized one thing: I'm a shameless admirer of shields. It doesn't even have to be an exceptionally looking one - just about anything from the big white shields of the Gund-i Nizagan to the small, brown ones of the iaosatae: all are great in my eyes (even though I of course think some are nicer than others). In fact, it's gone so far to me that, whenever I have a unit with an especially good looking shield, I'm incredibly reluctant to send them into combat, for fear of losing them. Many times have I caught myself disregarding the battle, just staring myself blind on the shields of my Leuce Epos, imagining it in combat (rather than actually sending them into it ), how it is brought back when the rider strikes with his spear etc. And their shields aren't even my favourites...

What are you, an Athenian?

Honestly, you'd be a hopeless warrior - shuffling along at the rear of the formation because you don't want the enemy to bleed all over your lovely polished shield.... ;)

[satalexton]

pfft, we spartans DECORATE our shields with blood, OUR OWN if need be.

[Celtic_Punk]

I like the spartan shields, they just look baaadass. if i made my own custom shield it'd be a hoplon with celtic knottery around the edges

[Conqueror]

Baktrian generals carry the bestest of shields.

[Che Roriniho]

Baktrian generals carry the bestest of shields.

Yes. I for one would like porn on my shield. It's a lot easier to kill an enemy when he's fapping.

Incidently, my first skinning attempt was to put porn on a shield. Admittedly it was on the most-marian legionary shield, but hey, there's more space.

[The Celtic Viking]

Dutch, yes, that first one is gorgeous. In fact, looking through the Baktrian units page, it's dawning on me that there are some nice pickings there too.

Just in case someone, like me, hadn't seen the Baktrian FM shield before, here it is:



Another nice one:



I think I might start a Baktrian campaign after I'm finished with my current one...

Oh, and Titus, if you'd think I'd even risk any harm to my shield by being near a battle, you're not getting me at all.

[Maion Maroneios]

How abou the carthaginian general's shield?

Maion

[Tellos Athenaios]

Seleukid Peltastai... Seleukid Pezhetaioroi... Seleukid Thureophoroi... Ptolemaic Thureophoroi... Ptolemaic Agema (phalanx)... Makedonian Hypaspistai... Makedonian Argyraspides... Galatian Klerouchoi!

Heck... my sister's favourite shield is the Seleukid (of course!) Peltastai Makedonikoi. Did I mention the Seleukid & Epeirote Hypaspistai have nothing to feel bad about on their shield either? Or what about the Indian Guild warriors? Did I mention the various Pantodapoi phalangitai yet? Actually the Pantodapoi got some pretty nice fabric touches to their shields themselves... And how about the Lonchphoroi? And indeed the various Hoplitai (my favourites: Epeiros and KH in that order) aren't too bad off either. Hippeis, Hippeis Tarantinoi, some Aspidophoroi too...

Noticed some of the Indo Saka units? Those Agema sure got the shield-looks... And how about Skythian noble cavalry? Or the Dacian version of the Rhomphaiaphoroi? Or the Taxeis Triballoi (my favourites are Makedon & Dacia)? Or the Eleutheroi Thrakioi Peltastai? Aspet Hetzelazor (spelling?) -- those Armenian medium cavarly. Armenian noble infantry. Baktrian eastern axemen; Cappadocian hillmen; Epeirote Sphendonetai... Parthian eastern slingers...

And to give the Western parts their due credit also: various Druhtiz units (Hattisku, Haubiska if I spelled 'em correctly), the Sweboz bodyguard; the Caledonian noble cavalry; the Brihentin; Arjos; Gaesatae; Arverni Naked Spearmen; Massilian hoplites; virtually all Lusotannan troops; all high end Carthaginian troops... Regional (not merc) Tindanotae!

Are there actually ugly shields in EB?

[Ibrahim]

Are there actually ugly shields in EB?

yes, sure! the skudagangaz! what a foolish question...



I just don't like it being so...contrastive. the black shield with orangy rings just looks..sickeningly scary. it doesn't help that the owner is but-naked, and blackened all over like a raven.

then again, I guess the skudas wanted that look.

I love the eleutheroi sulduros though:

[Che Roriniho]

I love the eleutheroi sulduros though:

OMFG that's gorgeous. I have now become a sheildophile.