Great game. quick question about requirments

[mitc1111]

I dont have the requirments to use certain weapons and shields ... but the game lets me use them anyway. I was using a shield that I lacked 5 or 6 strenght points. So I assume there are penalties. But what are they?

[Wanderer]

You might have to experiment. I found that when I failed to meet the attribute requirement for a new shield that I got, I couldn't use the parry move. It gave me a message about failing.

[mitc1111]

I'm surprised the game even lets you use items you dont meet the requirments for. I can live without the special shield function, but ... I bet wtihout the Strenght requirment for something, it's using more energy; maybe alot more energy. I"ll have to check.

[Silas]

All the stats are much lower when you don't meet the requirements. Which implies that the shield uses much more energy, because that depends on one of the stats.
I have not yet noticed that any moves just failed when wearing a piece of equipment I didn't meet the requirements for, but it sounds totally logical to me.
All in all, wearing such equipment is seldom a good decision.

[jackx]

There's some really good bucklers in the game that I found worth using without having the required agility, due to the combination of low weight and good elemental protection, along with 100% physical for taking steps into the unknown with the shield prudently raised.

Similarly, if it doesn't put you over a weight threshold, there's no harm in strapping a greatshield that you otherwise couldn't use effectively to your back while two-handing.
Or one of the afore-mentioned bucklers, for that matter, the size of the shield on your back doesn't really seem to matter when protecting you from attacks from behind.

If you want to actually use the shield to block frequently in combat, then you'll want to mee the requirements.