Something I see a lot in TTRPG forums or reddit or wherever are discussions about rules changes that are intended to solve a non-existent problem. Most often this is about making something more “realistic” or gritty. Which is totally fine – but often the concern seems to miss the point.
Lets give an example – in RQ you can parry an attack with your attacking weapon or with something in your offhand, most likely a shield. A shield doesn’t give any more protection than parrying with your sword – its big advantage is that it if breaks (a common problem in RQ), you still have your attacking weapon.
For some people that is not enough. And so suggestions are made to increase the HP of a shield, or return to having separate attack or parry skills, or eliminate the shield skill altogether, etc.
To me, none of this is necessary. What players do with shields is ultimately resolved just through play style rather than the rules pressing a finger down on a particular play style.
For example, some players might think it is cool to just focus on their Sword or Spear or Axe skill and imagine their character swinging back and forth and parrying with their weapon until it breaks. They deal with that how they want. Now it means they only need to focus on one skill, but ironically that might make becoming a rune lord slower.
Other players might think it is cool imagining their character attacking with one weapon and parrying with another. Two skills might advance slower than one (at least if training is a key part of that), but it means that they will have two rune lord qualifiers faster. And if the shield breaks they can always switch to the above.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter. Let the players imagine their character acts the way they want. Both have historical basis, both have literary basis, and both are compatible with Glorantha.
And neither approach “breaks” the rules engine. So if you want to know the approach that the new RQ rules will take, you can likely infer it here.
Don’t shields have advantages against missile weapons? yes they do. Which is another reason to use them.