The Shield System

[Amsai]

I really cant stand the guard mechanic. I love the rest of the shield system, but guard seems awkward and broken to me. I would like to see it more streamlined and intuitive. I would also like it to be more worth while the effort. As of right now I almost completely ignore it and focus on cures instead. Thats how inefficient and useless it is to me in its current state.

[Visch]

I really cant stand the guard mechanic. I love the rest of the shield system, but guard seems awkward and broken to me. I would like to see it more streamlined and intuitive. I would also like it to be more worth while the effort. As of right now I almost completely ignore it and focus on cures instead. Thats how inefficient and useless it is to me in its current state.

... What?? LOL.

Do you not have Aegis Boon or something? You're doing something wrong if you're not using your shield bro. Do you just not use phalanx too?

[Falcus]

it seems pointless if you're not using your shield.
hell, the damage reduction alone makes it worth using, never mind all the skills like phalanx and aegis boon etc.

[Vasch]

it seems pointless if you're not using your shield.
hell, the damage reduction alone makes it worth using, never mind all the skills like phalanx and aegis boon etc.

Agreed. I can think of many occasions where having my shield up completely saved my arse. I keep Cure on my action bar for emergencies, but rarely have to use it.

[Rentahamster]

1. They need to get rid of the Sentinel class and just incorporate all of its skills into the gladiator class.

2. Create new mage-specific shield skills and incorporate those into the THM and CON classes
2b. Create mage specific 2-hand staff only skills and incorporate those into the THM and CON classes

3. Create weapons and shield sheathing/unsheating animations while running so my char doesn't stop in her tracks all the time.

4. Lower the stamina cost on Guard, and slightly increase its base duration, and hasten the animation.

5. Make more variety in the sheilds so that the player has a choice of optimizing for block, wield, or def, and make all the choices have good reasons for someone wanting to optimize that way.

6. Enable block animations for shield skills

7. When a successful block (or parry or evade, for that matter), show it in the chat log in bold, bright, capital letters.

[Erdrick]

What situations are best suited for the diff shield types: Scutum, Hoplon, Kite?

I haven't fought any NMs yet but have been using scutum for everything which is basically just tanking in SP/Leve parties. What situations would make hoplon preferable to the higher block rate and higher defense of scutum? And are there any situations that a kite shield would be optimal?

[Rentahamster]

What situations are best suited for the diff shield types: Scutum, Hoplon, Kite?

I haven't fought any NMs yet but have been using scutum for everything which is basically just tanking in SP/Leve parties. What situations would make hoplon preferable to the higher block rate and higher defense of scutum? And are there any situations that a kite shield would be optimal?

As the game is currently designed, it doesn't really matter. A lot of times, your best bet is to just a shield with a long wield rate and pop Aegis II, Outmaneuver, and Deflection over and over.

[Amsai]

... What?? LOL.

Do you not have Aegis Boon or something? You're doing something wrong if you're not using your shield bro. Do you just not use phalanx too?

If your asking if I have survivability issues, I do not. I use buffs from other classes and cures, and I use several hate grabing abilities. So keeping enimity and staying alive is not much of an issue. Yes I do have Aegis Boon 2 and no I dont use phalanx. As I said before, the guard mechanic is next to useless, and I do just fine without it. However, I see that as a problem, because it should at least be useful enough for me to bother using it.

[Jet]

As I said before, the guard mechanic is next to useless, and I do just fine without it. However, I see that as a problem, because it should at least be useful enough for me to bother using it.

The reason to use it is Phalanx. If you're not using Phalanx, you're not being very efficient with your stamina and damage.

[Undeadfire]

You don't really need Phalanx for hate control really.