Shield Sconce

A shield sconce is a metal frame made to hold a torch on the front of a shield. It can be strapped to a light, heavy or tower shield, allowing a bearer to carry a light source without giving up the shield hand.

Practical Use

The main advantage is simple: the shield bearer can illuminate a passage while keeping the other hand free for a weapon, rope, tool or door. It is especially useful in tunnels, ruins and night marches where the party needs light but cannot spare a hand.

Drawbacks

• The light clearly reveals the bearer’s position.
• Smoke and flame may be troublesome in confined spaces.
• A sudden fall, impact or strong movement can make an exposed flame hazardous.
• The sconce does not make the torch immune to wind, water or being extinguished.

Adventure Use

A shield-mounted torch can become more than illumination. It can mark the front rank in darkness, signal allies or make a heavily armoured guard easy to identify. The same visibility can also make the bearer an obvious target.

Source

The original equipment reference appears in Adventurer’s Armory. Use the shield and light-source rules of the edition being played for any mechanical interactions.