I have two optional rules:
Quote:
Optional Rule – Damaging Shields
Shields are not indestructible barriers and can be damaged by powerful blows. An attempt to hit a target with a shield from a facing protected by the shield will hit the shield if the Hit Roll is less than the attacker’s Attack score, but misses because of the target’s Defence score.
A normal shield can withstand any blow that does 5 or fewer points of damage. If a single blow blocked by a shield causes more damage than it can withstand, the blow is still blocked, but the shield loses one point from its maximum damage threshold. When the shield’s damage threshold is reduced to 0, the shield has been destroyed.
Optional Rule - Blunting
Axes and battleaxes can be used to hack locked doors (and other obstacles) to pieces, but at the risk of blunting them.
Battleaxes used in this manner have a 10% chance of blunting, losing 1 from their damage value. Handaxes used in this manner have a 15% chance of blunting, again losing 1 from their damage value if blunted. Axes blunted a second time, drop one die from their armour bypass roll (i.e., a d8 becomes d6, et cetera). Further blunting has no effect. A blacksmith can repair blunt axes at a cost of 1 florin.
I've never really used either rule in practice as it's just more book-keeping. If it makes for a dramatic narrative, then a shield might break or an axe might blunt, but otherwise it's just cumbersome. I'd certainly let a player deliberately target an opponent's shield, tho, and the blunting mechanic could be applied to any weapon striking something that could cause blunting (like the automaton in Kharille's example).