More Paladin-centered shields needed to close the gap with Aegis & Ochain

[Hayward]

OK, things were bad before with these lazy-minded players shouting "Aegis/Ochain PLD only" for any and all endgame events, but now it's gotten to the point people might as well not even level the job now without either of these supposedly rare items.

I'm calling on S-E to design shields that close the gap between these and shields that non-hardcore players can build or buy. I've recommended a Magian Elemental path series that allows different attributes and augments before, but I'd also like to see crafted shields that also narrow this chasm that has led to this lazy-mindedness.

No job should ever find itself locked out of events due to a lack of R/M/E/D weapons/gear. This, above all else, is killing the game.

[Camiie]

You'll probably get a lot of flak for saying what you did, but you're absolutely right. If a job is essentially non-functional without an item of that caliber then the job is highly flawed. If the perception is that a job is essentially non-functional without an item of that caliber, when that is not actually the case, then the perception is highly flawed.

[saevel]

Yeah it's gotten to the point where unless you have an O.Chain you don't even come PLD. SE's fault for making those shields so broken in the first place, then making NM's with such high offensive power that their needed in the first place.

[Mirage]

Totally agreed. non-aegischain shields are extremely far behind, while RMEs actually have weapons that are pretty close or better (before SoA), depending on which level version you're talking about. You will find common weapons that are close to or better lv85 (and sometimes lv90 RMEs), but there are no shields in the entire game that even get within ten miles of aegis and ochain, even when we're talking about their lv85 versions.

We need common shields that are as good as ochain is at 90, and aegis is at 75. The delve shield is a complete joke. We need something with a lot bunch of Magic Defense Bonus and a high block rate, and something with no MDB and an even higher block rate (and that has very strong blocks). Ochain lets you regain MP when you block, so even if you add a common lv99 shield that block as often and for as much as a lv90 ochain, 90ochain will still be better, and 99ochain will be even better than that again.

Actually, you could probably add a shield that is equivalent to a 90 ochain in block rate, but have it block 20% less damage than ochain, and then put a converts 10% (or 15%) of damage taken to MP upon block, and it still wouldn't really make ochain wielders wet their pants.

Seriously, SE. You need to do this.

[Taint2]

Steadfast shield. Easy to get and very good.
DEF50 is a big deal with a 65% block rate. There are also Rumors of lots of 0s using the shield.


Same can be said of Adamas, it just takes more prep work.

[Traxus]

The increased block rate from reprisal dissipates after blocking a certain number of hits, adamas sucks.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

Yeah it's gotten to the point where unless you have an O.Chain you don't even come PLD.

"Gotten to?" It's been "Bring Aegis or bring another job" practically since the Aegis was introduced.

[CrystalWeapon]

It's not just a pld issue. I have friends who can't get any of the key items due to their choice in a main job.

If you have Whm, Cor, Brd, (R/E/M/D)sam, (R/E/M/D)mnk, or (R/E shield)pld then you're good to go for just about everything. Other than that it's all a matter of luck whether or not you'll be able to make any damn progress.

[OmnysValefor]

Oh well, gonna be the naysayer.

If you like the job, invest the time. Aegis hardly requires hardcore playtime to build. Ochain will take longer, but it doesn't either. If you go do 2 VNM a night 45m-2hr, depending on your upgrades/competition), you'll have your vnm done in a month.

Aegis is soloable (farm/buy your currency). VNMs are soloable with Aegis (except Diabolos).

As others, though in support of your post, have pointed out, Paladin is not the only job that needs REMd to be viable in players' eyes right now.

Why should players who committed themselves--yes, like me--be effectively nerfed, because you don't want to build your shield?

(Edit: Tad over-the-top with previous line. )

An aegis pld can tank most the delve NMs just fine. An ochain is safer on the scorpion, and shield swapping is best, but that's the commitment it takes.

[Duelle]

Oh well, gonna be the naysayer.

Why should players who committed themselves--yes, like me--be effectively nerfed, because you don't want to build your shield?

You mean besides Aegis/Ochain acting as on/off switches for paladin viability being fundamentally wrong and unfair to anyone that wants to pick up the damn job?

This also applies to other jobs where RME are on/off switches.

OP has it right, as the gap between a non-Aegis/Ochain PLD and an Aegis/Ochain PLD is huge. The main question is whether it should be resolved via new shields or whether a revamp of shield mechanics is in order and reitemization of shield stats to fit within the new model.