Shield Use

[cronuss]

What's the deal with shield use?

Just trained my cleric back to sword/shield route and I noticed that when I dump points into shield use ranks it doesnt even seem to affect my DS in any stance.

From krakiipedia:
((Shield Ranks + (STR bonus/4) + (DEX Bonus/4))/(1.5)) = Base DS bonus

So... is this saying that all shield use does is give you... what... like 0.8 DS per rank?

At this point, is it even worth my wasting 13 PTP on this skill if I'm not even going to see much of a difference? Would I be better off just holding my shield with no ranks?

Ugh... what a waste of points... unless I'm wrong?

How EXACTLY does Shield Use work?

Thanks...

[Celephais]

Actually it's worse than 0.8 DS... in guarded stance you get 0.6 DS per rank of shield use.

Enjoy.

[Bobmuhthol]

If you're going to factor in stance you can't just use that formula so it doesn't become a per-rank comparison anymore.

Using that, though...

But it's pretty easy to figure out how much your base DS increases per rank from that formula:

1 / (3/2) = 2/3 = 0.667 base DS

[cronuss]

okay... so if my problem is that im getting nailed in offensive stance from a poor DS than shield use wont even really help me?

how the hell are you supposed to raise your DS nowadays in this game?

my cleric, fully spelled up at level 24, has a defensive DS of like 230 and offensive of about 130 or 140.

This is WAY too low... any tips?

[Bobmuhthol]

Are you training in dodge? If not, you might want to try using a tower shield, I think they're +15%, -10 DS. The -10 was put in for balance.

[cronuss]

Are you training in dodge? If not, you might want to try using a tower shield, I think they're +15%, -10 DS. The -10 was put in for balance.

What do you mean they are +15% but -10 DS?

I do have a Vultite Wall Shield I can use... same idea?

Would using that help me even if I don't train in Shield Use?

As for dodge... it's 20 PTP per rank. No way.

[Bobmuhthol]

All shields have a +20 DS inherent bonus, but tower shields only have +10 instead, and large shields have +15 IIRC. It's actually large shields that are +15%, tower are +30%.

Even without shield use ranks, you still have a base DS of (STR + DEX)/6 using stat bonuses. The next formula, and I'm too lazy to look up, has a factor for shield size: .85/1.00/1.15/1.30 I believe are the numbers for small/medium/large/tower. So with all other factors the same, your DS is 30% higher and then -10 vs. a medium shield if you use a tower shield.

[Latrinsorm]

okay... so if my problem is that im getting nailed in offensive stance from a poor DS than shield use wont even really help me?A rank won't help you. Being singled will.
This is WAY too low... any tips?What x are you in spells?