Shield changes

[Alhanelem]

3. Shield Skill

Not being bound to any class in particular, the shield skill has been handled as an irregularity when it came to the obtainment of experience points and actions. In reviewing the identity of each class, it was decided that shield actions should be made a part of the gladiator arsenal. In order to streamline the system and accentuate class uniqueness, the shield skill will be phased out and instead take the form of actions and traits learnable by gladiators.

Please be aware that the above changes will render all gains associated with the shield skill (levels and EXP) invalid.

What??? No, no no nononononono. Don't do this. Now anyone (current and future classes) who use a 1h weapon will have to level gladiator to learn any shield skills.

Shield isn't something that SHOULD be bound to any class in particular.

[RemVye]

What??? No, no no nononononono. Don't do this. Now anyone (current and future classes) who use a 1h weapon will have to level gladiator to learn any shield skills.

Shield isn't something that SHOULD be bound to any class in particular.

I agree. But arguing is futile, it's been decided. So this is pretty pointless.

Keep in mind you can only use 10 cross class abilities as well... and block rate currently is trash (which hopefully gets some love). Casters will probably be using most of there cross class for the opposite caster.

[syntaxlies]

shield skills on mage have become obsolete imo since i never have my shield out since id rather recover mp in inactive mode. Made for solo play though.

[kwestro]

cnj - protect, shell, stoneskin is your shield
thm - absorb def, firm conviction is your shield

[syntaxlies]

cnj - protect, shell, stoneskin is your shield
thm - absorb def, firm conviction is your shield

i think hes referring to the fact that mages can carry shields and want the abilities go with them

[kwestro]

i think hes referring to the fact that mages can carry shields and want the abilities go with them

my bad. I misunderstood.

[Holland]

This directly affects casters that solo. You wont have the shield skills unless you level up GLA. I've gone solo very rarely on CNJ, but the times I've done it the shield skills are helpful.

[Mrfox0707]

This directly affects casters that solo. You wont have the shield skills unless you level up GLA. I've gone solo very rarely on CNJ, but the times I've done it the shield skills are helpful.

That's the same issue I have. I solo a lot on THM and CNJ while doing some levie quests. I don't care so much about the shield actions but rather that the skill lvl also increases block rate and stuff too right?

[Rentahamster]

What??? No, no no nononononono. Don't do this. Now anyone (current and future classes) who use a 1h weapon will have to level gladiator to learn any shield skills.

Good. The current shield skills were designed with the gladiator in mind, anyway. They're not mage skills at all.

[Alhanelem]

Good. The current shield skills were designed with the gladiator in mind, anyway. They're not mage skills at all.

They aren't <insert class here> skills. They were for anyone who could carry a shield.

You have no right to impose your playstyle on others.
Shields and their skills are extremely valuable for soloing. This is NOT a good thing.
I fully agree that some classes need more "identity" but don't agree that our freedom to choose should be completely eliminated.

One thing you don't seem to realize is that other classes in the future may also use one-handed weapons. Why should any such class have to level up gladiator to be able to use those skills? In FFXI many jobs (including some mages) could use shields. I realize that this isn't changing who can equip shields, but in FFXI, nobody had to level up Paladin to gain benefit from a shield on another job.

This is going to severely diminish solo survivability for THM/CON. I was also hoping sometime in the future that shield would become more independent and actually become a class of its own, using a shield as the primary weapon. That idea's basically a non-possibility now.

*IF* shields are wieldable by any 1 handed class, maybe Glad will get traits that greatly increase block rate and defense.

They already had better block rates/effectiveness because they had better stats for it. It doesn't mean it wasn't useful to anyone else.

People need to get this idea that mages can't do this or can't do that out of their head. The final fantasy universe has had several magical classes throughout its history that could use weapons and armor.