shields need an overhaul.

[Esp]

Shields blocking magic? That's ridiculous, just ask Haurchefant how that works out.

Too soon *sniffles* too soon..

[Brannigan]

The bucklers were actually quite good even with the lower ilvl in 2.0. However, now that Sheltron exists, bucklers are going to be bad until they really buff shield swipe a lot.

[Kosmos992k]

Was thinking about this a little and had an idea to change shields in the game, and possibly breathe life back into their use. I hate boring Fridays at work, they often lead to off the wall concepts, so please be gentle if this sounds crazy...

What if, shields were based on PDef/MDef and a generic 'blocking' stat, instead of being based on block chance and block strength?

Make blocking a secondary stat that is modified by DET to determine block strength, and modified by Parry to determine block chance. Then put PDef and MDef on the shields instead of the block chance/strength stats. As a balancing factor for lighter vs heavier shields, apply a modifier to GCD based on the size/bulk of the shield type. Shields would carry a third statistic - blocking based on ilvl and shield size/type.

I don't have the source numbers or formula for calculating block chance/strength, so someone else will need to determine what reasonable values are for the blocking stat. But since shields are used to block attacks, they should retain that function, but it should be a less important part of their function.

The idea would be that shields provide a certain amount of passive defense (additional PDef/MDef) and a certain amount of active defense (blocks)

There are currently 4 types of shield; Buckler, round, Kite and Scutum. When they could use them, mages had access to bucklers, round and Targe (resembles a small kite) shields. Typically though the mage shields offered half the defensive benefit of the melee shields.

So, to lay out how shields would work, first the effectiveness of shields would be 100% on frontal attacks, 50% on flank attacks and 0% on rear attacks.

Bucklers would offer 75% of the defense of an equivalent ilvl DoW belt, but bring a 5% reduction in GCD.

Round shields would offer 100% of the defense of an equivalent ilvl DoW belt, with 0% modification to GCD.

Kite shields would offer 125% of the defense of an equivalent ilvl DoW belt, but bring a 5% increase in GCD, is 75% effective on flank attacks.

Scutum shields would offer 150% of the defense of an equivalent ilvl DoW belt, but bring a 7.5% increase in GCD, is 100% effective on flank attacks.

Magic users would have access to bucklers, round and small kite shields (Targe), no larger shields due to their weight. However, the weight of the shield will matter more to casters;

Mage bucklers would offer 75% of the defense of an equivalent ilvl DoM belt with a 5% reduction in GCD

Mage Round shields would offer 100% of the defense of an equivalent ilvl DoM belt with no change in GCD

Mage Kite/Targe shields would offer 125% of the defense of an equivalent ilvl DoM belt with a 5% increase in GCD

Finally Since Blocking would now be a secondary stat like Parry, base it on Dex, and potentially use a trait for enhanced blocking for GLA/PLD.

I used the Belt as the base PDef/MDef since it's the smallest contributor to defense in armor. That should help keep shields from being OP. Removing the block strength and block chance from the shields should offset the additional defense that they offer, as long as the base blocking skill is not unbalanced. Also, remove any skill/spell speed from shields since they would have more direct influence over GCD now.

Finally, CNJ/THM/WHM/BLM weapons could easily be rescaled to have the same stats in the 1 or two handed form. Basically cosmetically, you can either use your weapon two handed and it will look like a staff or 1H with a shield and it will look like a want/brand. Mage shields would therefore carry no stat bonuses since everything would be weapon based except the shield action.

A mage that decides to wield 2h without a shield would receive a 10% reduction in GCD since they are giving up the benefit of the shield.

A GLA/PLD who drops their shield would similarly gain a 10% reduction in GCD, but their weapon is still a 1H weapon. Also, GLA/PLD shields retain their existing stat bonuses since their gear is balanced around the extra stats on shields being included. So a GLA/PLD playing without a shield is at quite a disadvantage, even with the reduced GCD.

e.g. for a lvl 50 PLD with the standard Zenith relics and Myth gear, the Zenith shield would have +122 Pdef/Mdef, +181 blocking along with Strength +9, Vitality +10, Parry +11

Over all the idea is to revamp shields entirely, and change how they function as shields. It would reduce the role of blocking, but not completely, but add in a greater passive defense impact from shields which I think is missing.

OK, that's the end of my Friday ramble...

[Marxam]

stuff

They also need to overhaul the scaling of shields on Roes. I'm tired of seeing shields that look tiny and lazily placed off center towards the top left shoulder. If its a data limitations issue then why not reduce the size on some of the smaller races and use that space to increase the size of shields on Roes? Tower shields on Lalas look more like great shields but Tower shields on Roes look like Kite shields. Small shields on Roes are hilarious as they look more like bucklers or even bracers (since it hangs off the wrist instead of actually being held).

[Dererk]

Actually I'm pretty sure shilds can block breath attacks. If so this means all of them are physical damage types.

[Blackbird1]

I completely agree the selection of good looking shields has gone down and those that we do have the stats are question able at times we need new shield selection with better stats on them Come on SE!

[Nomad-phx]

I completely agree the selection of good looking shields has gone down and those that we do have the stats are question able at times we need new shield selection with better stats on them Come on SE!

We need more shields like the 840 day vet reward too(almost non-existent) or a retractable shield that only gets full size upon blocking (similar to the shield in "Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief")

[Nomad-phx]

Obviously not a "magic" shield.

Well, I hadn't considered that but..... Since we have guaranteed blocks with sheltron now and bucklers are kinda non existent in relevant ilvl they could fill the gap WITH a magic only shield, would add pretty interesting customizing for each scenario, would also alleviate the need to re-balance physical vs magic damage a little bit.

[Tadus]

This is true, if shield are just shields to mitigate 21% damage of a physical attack i may as well go DRK. Whats the point of PLD if he is only seen as the tank with the shield? Low dps, boring, and now falling under a hole why even bother with pld.

[Mycow8me]

I think the problem is the stat selection... the stat selection currently is so bland on everything. Wheres +magic defense, +attack power, or even enhancements towards abilities and traits. From what ive read, they should definitely start with shields but future gear should add some variety imo...