Shieldsvärde

Shieldsvärde is a fictional statistic used to describe the protective capacity of a shield in certain Swedish-language fantasy settings and role-playing games. It is a numerical value that indicates how much damage a shield can absorb before it ceases to function or before the bearer takes damage.

Mechanics and interpretation vary by system, but a common model treats Shieldsvärde as the amount of damage the shield can negate per strike. For example, a shield with Shieldsvärde of 25 can absorb up to 25 points of damage from a single hit. Any damage beyond that threshold may spill over to the bearer or reduce the shield’s durability, depending on the rule set. Shields can gain higher Shieldsvärde through better materials, craftsmanship, and magical enchantments, or decrease in value due to wear and trauma.

Interactions with other defenses are typical in many systems. Shieldsvärde often works alongside armor class, hit points, and shield durability. Enchantments or temporary buffs can temporarily raise Shieldsvärde, while weapons designed to bypass protection may reduce its effectiveness. Some editions separate Shieldsvärde from durability, treating the stat as a measure of instantaneous absorption while durability tracks the shield’s structural integrity over time.

Origins and usage: the term appears in fictional lore and game manuals to convey the idea of a shield’s strength and reliability. It is primarily a world-building and balancing concept rather than a universal, real-world metric.

See also: shield, armor, durability, enchantment.