The Holtzman shield was named for the creator of the Holtzman Effect, and, unfortunately, not for his assistant, Norma Cenva, who actually discovered its use before Holtzman took over the project. This effect is used to create a protective field of energy around a person. The shields quickly became commonly used for personal defense. While shields provide incredible protection, they allow slow-moving objects to pass through them—otherwise, the users would suffocate without atmospheric gasses such as oxygen. The evolution of the shields has allowed them to protect one side or one half of the body. To date, no one has been able to have the shields protect only a single limb or appendage. Shields are affordable for most Houses and are commonplace with nobles and their retainers, with even some merchants able to have one. Holtzman shields are the primary reason for the move to more medieval forms of combat involving melee weapons. Their use on Arrakis is limited, as the vibration attracts the sandworms and puts them in a violent rage. As an Asset: Shields are used for defense and can be used to threaten someone with a lasgun if activated. Special: Ranged attacks cannot harm a character protected by a personal shield. If a shield is struck by a lasgun, either the shield or the lasgun (randomly determined) will produce an atomic explosion; using such methods of destruction upon a human population is strictly forbidden.

Atomic, Defense, Protection