Move Approval V

[Oleander]

Palm Shield [300]
Lesser Shield Manifest Technique
Req: Physical
The Palm Shield is a ten inch diameter, circular shield that appears and hovers just above the palms. This shield is flat and looks like thick, misty glass, even shattering like glass when it is broken. To manifest a single shield takes three seconds and one hand. A shield can be manifested in each hand indifferently of each other, due to the simplicity and size of the shield. During manifestation he can still move and act with a hand that is not manifesting a shield (including maneuvering an already completed shield.) Taking moderate damage can cause the Lesser technique to be lost.

Each shield is capable of outright stopping a few moderately powered attacks with an area of effect smaller than the shield. The shields last indefinitely when no damage is taken and always kept in hand, but doing so makes use of the hand difficult for anything other than holding said shield. If dropped, the shield lasts for one minute before shattering.

If the shield is used to strike an enemy, it imparts less force than a simple punch, making it inadequate as an offensive weapon. A common technique is to use the Shields for deflection instead of outright stopping blows, extending the life of the shield as opposed to outright stopping an incoming attack.

How draining is this on one's stamina to cast? Does this require significant concentration during the cast time or can he be doing other things? Can you clarify the bits about using your hands while the shield(s) is/are active? You mention that holding one of these makes it difficult to do other things, but does that mean he can use other moves and they just suffer a penalty, or does it prevent him from using other moves in just that hand holding the shield?

Occupied clarification: Manifesting usually requires one or two hands. While holding a Palm Shield, the hand is occupied and cannot be used to manifest. The OTHER hand (if empty) can, unless a shield takes BOTH hands, in which it would require dropping the shield.

Stamina: Due to the time required, size of the shield, medium-low power, the energy cost is minor and unless the shields are shattered and manifested repeatedly it usually does not tire him too much.

Concentration: The concentration on "lesser" techniques is small, but because it is localized, he can act normally, except for using that hand to manifest, as mentioned in Occupied above.