So you're a paladin and you just hit third level and a holy outsider manifests to join in your cause! Maybe you get a glorious weapon with Returning or Ghost Touch! Maybe you get a mighty celestial warhorse! Maybe you get a shield that breaks after 4 dents instead of 2 before being destroyed.
This seems really weird. You'd want a paladin's Righteous Ally to have some kind of magical ability akin to what you get with the blade version, but unlike the other two (maybe glowing like a torch in the darkness with a continual flame, having a chance to reflect the gaze of monsters in a nod to Perseus, or resisting evil magic). Also in this version of the game, shields are consumables. If you're going to have a shield get destroyed in combat you would it to magically reform and appear bright and shiny at the foot of the paladin's bed every night. Better though, just make it indestructible so long as the paladin wields it. I mean what kind of paladin has a Righteous Ally and just lets them get pummeled to death the first fight they're in?
One day after taking 1 or more Dents, an item made from orichalcum repairs itself completely. It's pretty expensive but the mechanic already exists. Having on top of that more dents to work with is extremely good.
If you're going to have a shield get destroyed in combat you would it to magically reform and appear bright and shiny at the foot of the paladin's bed every night.
I feel it's worth pointing out that the Shield Paladin does (basically) get this... as half of their capstone. So for at most 5% of the game. And the other half (having your shield always raised) the Shield Fighter has basically had access to for the last 6 levels (Shield Paragon + Stance Savant, your shield goes up as part of Initiative and doesn't come down unless you change stances, practically the same thing...) Woops.
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So the upshot of what I'm reading is that the interpretation of folks is that the shield form of Righteous Ally can jump ship when your shield gets broken? Because my read on it, much like with the Righteous Ally mount is that when the ally dies, that's it. Unlike familiars, who you can replace, there's no rule for being able to replace a Righteous Ally. It seems like when they die, that's it.
So happy shield ally takes a troll axe to the face, screams and spirit energy wafts back to Heaven.
Crap.
If it doesn't work like that, it's important to put it in the rules. If it does work like that, they may not want to have it manifest as an item that's basically designed to be destroyed--Righteous Ally magic item maybe? Or armor? Or have it be a shield, but have it reform and reappear at your bedstand every morning.
As it is written, it's pretty unfortunate sounding.