foot soldiers run at the same speed, no matter whether they "right-click (defend button)" to get their shield up and keep it up or not.
thats unrealistic. as you can see, when you run with your shield (not up) the character uses both hands to run, so that would only slow him down a bit compared to no shield (maybe reflected by the 2 or more encumbrance points a shield gives...).
BUT, when the character has his shield up, he/she only uses one hand to run, that should slow him down. try running with a heavy rucksack in one of your hands. you have to balance and that will eventually slow you down, apart from the weight.
so, in order not to be too lengghhhtyy here, ill give you just one more reason to make shield "up" slow down more:
its unfair otherwise, example: a crossbowman (yeh, we love them all) shoots at you, you run to mow him down, and as you are a true (1h) knight, your codex disallows you to use ranged weapons
you run with your shield up, and given only one crossbowman, your shield should take all the hits - and also should not break - you reach that crossbowman, say, after 10 secs, mow him down in 0,1 secs.
so, lets say you are a true (2h) knight, your codex...(you know what im going to say dont you?).
so you have to get close to send him to nirvana.
but not matter, if you forget to put any (oops) cloth on, so nervous before your first true battle, or are dressed in so much plate as to allow to build a small house with it, you will not see your next sunrise.
so, summing up,
(light armoured) (2h) soldiers should remain more agile than others, that is: ones with shield. maybe even ones with longer weapons?
that would also make knives/daggers better, coz you could run like hell, hehe.
so, what are your views on this?
hey!
wake up!

thats unrealistic. as you can see, when you run with your shield (not up) the character uses both hands to run, so that would only slow him down a bit compared to no shield (maybe reflected by the 2 or more encumbrance points a shield gives...).
BUT, when the character has his shield up, he/she only uses one hand to run, that should slow him down. try running with a heavy rucksack in one of your hands. you have to balance and that will eventually slow you down, apart from the weight.
so, in order not to be too lengghhhtyy here, ill give you just one more reason to make shield "up" slow down more:
its unfair otherwise, example: a crossbowman (yeh, we love them all) shoots at you, you run to mow him down, and as you are a true (1h) knight, your codex disallows you to use ranged weapons
so, lets say you are a true (2h) knight, your codex...(you know what im going to say dont you?).
so you have to get close to send him to nirvana.
but not matter, if you forget to put any (oops) cloth on, so nervous before your first true battle, or are dressed in so much plate as to allow to build a small house with it, you will not see your next sunrise.
so, summing up,
(light armoured) (2h) soldiers should remain more agile than others, that is: ones with shield. maybe even ones with longer weapons?
that would also make knives/daggers better, coz you could run like hell, hehe.
so, what are your views on this?
hey!
wake up!