[thejeff]

If you've got no/little Nature, you're just looking for a shield to block arrows.
Constr 2, you've got E1 Black Steel Tower, A2 Weightless Tower, E2 Lead, E1A1 Valor, N1 Raw Hide.
Lead Shield's probably the best, if you're swimming in Earth gems. The weight is not important since he's encumbrance 0 and not a caster.

Eye shield is by far the best, if you can.

Of course, if you're using him against PD without missiles, don't bother with a shield, except for the eye shield.


Shield of Gleaming Gold is good, especially with Horror Helm, but it's also Constr 6.
Even without it Horror Helm is nice and only Const 2.

Still it's all about efficiency with these cheap little thugs. What's the cheapest you can get away with using? 5D for the Servant, 5S for Luck, 5/10E for armor 10N for the eye Shield. It's already 25 gems for a PD raider, likely to be killed if he hits any real resistance, especially a mage or 2.