Colours and Metals

The background of a shield is called the "field" and the symbol shown on the shield is calded "charge". Some shields are divided, while others are not. Traditional heraldry uses only the following colours and metals:

Colours

Gules	Red
Azure	Blue
Vert	Green
Purpure:	Royal Purple
Sable	Black

Metals

Or	Gold (yellow)
Argent	Silver (white)

Another colour designation is "proper", which means in the most common colours found in the nature for that object. A "boar proper" would be redbrown and a "tree proper" would be a green with a brown trunk.

The Metal/Colour Rule

There are special heraldric rules how to assemble the colours of a shield. The basic rule is "metal on colour or colour on metal, but not metal on metal or colour on colour". At the first moment this might be a little confusing but it just means: if the "field" of a shield is a colour (red, blue, green, purple, black) the "charge" should be in metal (gold/yellow, silver/white) and vice versa. This rule is not alway used when the "charge" is "proper".

However, if the background is divided, the colours are considered as being nest to each other, not on each other, so you can use two or three colours or two metals. This rule about colours and metals provides contrast, making the shields bright and easy to see. If you have a shield with a circle and a Grail-symol on it, the to folow the metal/colour/metal or the colour/metal/colour rule. A green shield with a golden circle and a black grail would be correct (colour/metal/colour) while a green shield with a golden circle and a silver grail would be not (colour/metal/metal). Easy, isn't it?

Charges

A charge is what is shown on the base colour of the shield. Animals were frequently used as a main charge. They are often shown in a certain traditional posture, which are not meant t be realistic pictures of the animals. Generally the animals chosen are fierce, and are often shown in postures of combat. Whatever their main colour, fierce animals are often shown with red tongue and claws. Small details on a charge do not have to follow the metal/colour rule.
A silver panther can have red claws on a blue field.

The most comman animals on shields are: Lion, Bear, Boar, Eagle, Horse, Dragon, Griffin, Panther, Basilisk, Cockatrice, Dolphin, Dog, Haphy, Stag

The most common names for the positions in which the animals are shown on shiels are

rampant	standing on hind legs
rampant guardant	standing on hind legs, face turned toward viewer
passant	walking
couchant	lying down
sejant	sitting

But not only animals are used as charges. Symbols like towers, castles, ships etc. can also be used.

Badges

Badges are important for marking an army as opposed to a rabble of random knights. Usually a sign is used everybody can identify (i.e. the Crusaders adopted the Cross).