Hi! I’ve got a question about shields. Sorry if this would go better in kit rather than rules.
The safety rules say a little bit about shields being made of hard materials, and they recommend that all shields be made of foam and latex rather than hard materials. Is this a hard ruling? I’m having an easier time finding metal and wood shields that are either cheaper or easier to apply designs to than latex LARP shields.
Afaik a wooden former is currently ok, but may not be in future. I doubt a metal and wood shield would pass weapon check.
https://www.profounddecisions.co.uk/empire-wiki/Weapon_checking#Shields
Have you considered a fabric cover for your shield with a design appliqued or painted on? Iy would also mean you could use the shield for other characters
Shield covers are quite easy to make and mean you can have as many designs as you like. Basically a sheet of cloth with a drawstring or elastic round the edge, and occasionally a extra tie across the middle depending on the shape.
You can either then get a custom design on the actual shield and cover it up for monstering or other systems, or buy a plain one of a standard design and add a shield cover for your empire livery.
I would recommend contacting a LRP supplier and purchasing direct if you have the money. Makers will ensure that their shields fit the requirements of the system.
I also think that a foam shield (even without latex) is more than suitable for Empire, and shouldn’t need a rigid layer inside. Lighter too! 
Thanks for the responses! I think I will go for a foam/latex shield I found which has a nice wood deco on it, and then make a cloth cover for the heraldry. I’ve nevertried sewing before but I guess there’s a first time for everything, and a sheet to cover up a pretty flat bit of equipment seems like an easy enough starting point. 