Fortress Shields are limited to Duskwood Materials due to being implemented as modified Tower Shields

[MoritzGr]

The 2023 GM Core Book says under the Shields Section of Chapter 5:

Precious Material Shields Shields made of precious materials are more expensive and have different durabilities. You can make bucklers and most shields out of any of these precious materials, but only duskwood can be used to make tower shields.

This restriction of materials currently extends to Fortress Shields which, however, are not specifically named in this and which are described as "Like tower shields, they're typically made from wood reinforced with metal, but many are made from larger amounts of metal or even stone." and therefore should not be restricted in their possible precious materials.

I think this is an error due to them being implemented as modified Tower shields.

[stwlam]

They are a kind of tower shield, else you would not be able to take cover behind them. That said, I agree there is tension between that and the material description. We'll keep this open at least until we can get some clarification.

[MoritzGr]

I think its ultimately up to GM fiat whether its allowed, but the way its currently implemented does not even allow for a GM to say it's okay. The only way to work it into the current system is to frankenstein a steel shield with different base stats.

[stwlam]

That's fair. We'll look at loosening it up.

[LJSmith066]

"Like tower shields, they're typically made from wood reinforced with metal, but many are made from larger amounts of metal or even stone."

Description of the fortress shield. It seems pretty clear that it would allow for both wood or metal precious materials.