WTF shields suck

[Bobmuhthol]

Why shields are shittily programmed:
Bobmuhthol, level 24 with 52 ranks in shield, dodge, and weapon use, 42 STR bonus, 9 DEX bonus, 9 AGL bonus, and 5 INT bonus and wearing hauberk has the following defenses (shield + dodge + weapon)

Small shield: 78 DS
Medium shield: 79 DS
Large shield: 74 DS
Tower shield: 69 DS

A level 46 rogue wearing augmented chain, 47 ranks in dodging, shield, and 94 in edged with 25 STR bonus, 34 DEX bonus, 30 AGL bonus, and 14 INT bonus has the following defenses..

Small shield: 91 DS
Medium shield: 91 DS
Large shield: 76 DS
Tower shield: 80 DS


So WTF? Why do shields suck so much?

[Soulpieced]

Is it the shields, or Bobmuhthol's that suck.... hmmmm.

[Xcalibur]

Even if he supposed to be 13 years old, Bob do a good job into banalizing mechanics (making it easier to understand)

I doube he sux for that, but for some others stuff, yes, that's sure. :lol:

[Artha]

haha. Archery rocks.

<---Level 24, 125 unspelled DS in offensive.

[Bobmuhthol]

Actually that DS is without shield or armor enchants, and without adding agility bonus. 4x armor, 4x shield, 10 agility bonus = +50 to what I said.

Edited to ask: Is agility bonus even added anymore?

[Edited on 1-4-2004 by Bobmuhthol]

[StrayRogue]

Lvl 30 Rogue, self-spelled DS in offensive of 189.

[Artha]

Yes, agility bonus is still your base DS.

[Kitsun]

While you see the DS drop, you don't see the hidden block percentages raised.

If your shield use was higher than your dodge training you might see a more signifigant gain with larger shields.

[Soulpieced]

Just get a 10x DB, that will solve all your DS problems. At least that's what I did.

[Bobmuhthol]

3x shield, 2x dodge, level 24 with same scenario as my first post:

Small shield: 86 DS
Medium shield: 88 DS
Large shield: 84 DS
Tower shield: 81 DS

Conclusion: Kitsun is not right. I am.

[Sean]

using all 4x gear my rogue with a small shield at 40 has a 199 self cast DS

[Edaarin]

At lvl 67, Edaarin's DS self spelled with a 5x longbow and cmovement up was 348.

At lvl 70, with a +37 buckler self spelled it's now 330.

3x dodge + ranged = insane DS

[Edited on 1-5-2004 by Edaarin]

[Moist Happenings]

All you people with your need to hold stuff in your hands.

level 63 self spelled holding nothing DS with 4x robes in offensive: 312

suckers.

Also, wasn't it supposed to be less of a DS modifier thing Bob, and more of a block modifier?

[Bobmuhthol]

Tower shields have a 40% shield DS bonus.
They countered it with all tower shields being -2x + enchant.
Also, they have a penalty of 46% dodge DS.

It was supposed to be both, but a tower shield should protect you more than a small shield...

[Moist Happenings]

Hmm, interesting. Also, stop using bash quotes in your sig like you were actually there for them. :P

[Latrinsorm]

Originally posted by Bobmuhthol
They countered it with all tower shields being -2x + enchant.


What are you talking about?

[Bobmuhthol]

Tower shields have an inherent -10 DS in every stance.

[Latrinsorm]

Originally posted by Bobmuhthol
Tower shields have an inherent -10 DS in every stance.

You have proof of this?

(it's not that I don't believe you per se, it's that I don't WANT to believe this particular statement, you feel me?)

[Bobmuhthol]

My proof is Simu said so.

[Bobmuhthol]

3. A -5 melee Defense Strength (DS) penalty has been added for every shield size over medium.

-5 melee DS for large shields

-10 melee DS for tower shields

[Latrinsorm]

I knew I should have learned how to read at one point.

<glances at greatshield with DISDAIN AND HATRED>

[Fallen]

Then what is their advantage? I thought they would be best for overall defense, and hinder your dodging most.

[Kitsun]

Taken from the official site...

A character with 1x shield training and a medium shield will block a like-level foe roughly 5% of the time in stance offensive. A character with 3x shield training and all other factors the same would have roughly a 15% chance to block that same attack.

For Bolt DS, which includes all ranged attacks (arrows, hurled weapons, and bolt spells), the size modifier of your shield is increased by 50%. For example, a wall shield would have a 60% size modifier versus ranged attacks rather than the 40% versus melee attacks. Five DS is added for each size greater than medium, while small shields have a reduction of 5 DS. Normally, it is not possible to block bolt spells.


You may lose some physical DS, but remember your adding a percentage chance to be able to outright block the incoming attack.

Larger shields help more against bolt attacks and ranged stuff.

[Latrinsorm]

Originally posted by Kitsun
For Bolt DS, which includes all ranged attacks (arrows, hurled weapons, and bolt spells), the size modifier of your shield is increased by 50%. For example, a wall shield would have a 60% size modifier versus ranged attacks rather than the 40% versus melee attacks. Five DS is added for each size greater than medium, while small shields have a reduction of 5 DS. Normally, it is not possible to block bolt spells.


Pardon me if I'm on crack, but that means that all shields give equal DS when at range, right? Cuz Bob's got that -10 to start, then I get +10 more, it all evens out, right?

[Kitsun]

I think it evens out because large shields have -10 when in melee while smaller shields have the negative when being bolted at. Thats how I read it anyhow.

This could all be wrong, wouldn't be the first time the site documentation was off base.

[Bobmuhthol]

Okay, so tower shields are better at ranged. They're still the worst in melee.