The Shield System

[Zkieve]

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?

leves and easy stuf the shield with +7 atack.
When your high enough get the vintage shield .I think is in a class on its own and its well the best currently in game, even over the scutum.

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

this 100%.....

[wind]

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

Don't think he mentioned anything about hate control, just that using it maximizes your TP/stam most effectively. Which is true. Blowing 250tp and dealing dmg/increasing hate without using any stam, is obviously amazing. Sure phalanx II does probably 100-150 less dmg but you can fit in 4 phalanx's into 1 primary WS. Not to mention saving stam for other useful things.

[Amsai]

So I'm supposed to use my shield as an excuse to be more stamina thrifty instead of it being used as the best and most efficient defense mechanism for GLD?!?! Thanks but I'll just stick with other cures and buffs and enmity abilities, and war drum and shield bash.

[Falcus]

because doing all of that while using your shield is out of the question... right..
but in anyway, good luck fighting NM with your infinite supply of MP!

[Amsai]

Well maybe I would if shield guard wasnt so lackluster and disappointingly not worth the effort. I mean its a friggin shield!! It should have a bigger impact on defense......

[wind]

So I'm supposed to use my shield as an excuse to be more stamina thrifty instead of it being used as the best and most efficient defense mechanism for GLD?!?! Thanks but I'll just stick with other cures and buffs and enmity abilities, and war drum and shield bash.

Just so you know siphon MP and stygian spikes don't proc off of NMs, wasn't sure if you were aware of it. I mean I am all for everything you listed action wise aside from buffs since most of the time you wont be killing anything worth it solo, no need to waste AP .

But I'm a little confused maybe I missed it in one of your previous rants but, how is mitigating a decent chunk of dmg not a good thing? You said using the shield more for stamina thrifty-ness vs best and most efficient defense mechanism. Why are you acting like shields atm don't provide both? ANY mitigation on dmg intake is ALWAYS a good thing for tanking, why in the world would you think allowing more dmg to happen to you would be acceptable 'end game'. So that others can make up for it via cures?

Now IF your entire argument is revolved around solo play then you can disregard what I said. But if you're tanking for others and you're responsible for that and don't want to hinder people. My suggestion is to be open to using a tool that is given to you and is pretty amazing.

I know you're more upset about the 'guard' aspect but the pro's far outweigh the con's. Dmg decrease(worth it already), Reaction WS(decent dmg-250tp) vs taking more dmg, not really saving stam cuz you'll be blowing it on heals, time wasted on 'casting'.

[Amsai]

Thats just it, durring guard you are constantly lowering your shield and leaving yourself wide open to attack. Maybe if it at least functioned as it should with keeping your shield up for the durration of Guard, I'd be OK with it. So it just seems like a massive waste of potential damge mitigation and not worth my effort. While Guard is up I get hit 70% of the time. Is my game glitchng or something? Becuase I fail to see that being that effective or worth my effort. Its not like guard lasts that long in the first place, so filter out about 70% of its effectiveness and I'm left with a very small amount of damage mitigation. I suppose its true that if durring that 30% of the time, my guard is up when a massive attack hits I would be saved, but thats extremely unlikely, and I have horrible luck so dont like to gamble.

[Alderton]

The issue you are having is that you are using a shield with a low Blocking rating. The lower that number is, the less likely you are to block an attack when you have your shield raised.

[Amas]

When your high enough get the vintage shield .I think is in a class on its own and its well the best currently in game, even over the scutum.

How do you figure? You sacrifice Def and Blocking for 2 points in Wield Rate. Which doesn't even go up with HQ shields.

[Zkieve]

How do you figure? You sacrifice Def and Blocking for 2 points in Wield Rate. Which doesn't even go up with HQ shields.

First , defence does almost nothing currently in game , your rank vs the enemy rank is the biggest damage modifier.
Second , with 90 block you will block almost over 95% of the atacks i am yet to see 1 atack unblocked with the vintage shield.
2 wield rate more is better than any of the above the succum gives. 2 more wield rate saves you a lot of stamina , that is way more important than 1 atack unblocked out of lots of blocks or 3 more defence.