Shield changes

[TinnySnips]

I think the point is kinda being missed here. There will be no shield skills, period. Gladiator may gain a few of the abilities that currently belong to shield, but there will only be 15 gladiator abilities at level 50, so I can't see those shield skills making the cut unless they are very beneficial to the Gladiator's role. Even if Gladiator inherits every ability from shield, it's still not a shield ability. It will be a gladiator ability.

You can argue that you should get a return on your investment in leveling shield, but very few people specifically leveled shield. It's always been a silly tacked on class, and it levels as you level another class. Very few people leveled shield. Most people ended up with shield leveled as a side effect.

Every class will be losing some skills that are situationally useful. If you are worried about losing out on abilities that you currently possess, then Shield is probably the least of your concerns.

[HoolieWho]

They said they want to streamline the armory system, which I think is a good thing. Having class skills from both main hand and off hand items, while certainly possible, would not be as streamlined.

Now Gladiator will have class skills that involve use of a shield. Probably similar to the existing shield skills, but maybe they will get overhauled.

If the developers want mages to use shields for more than stat placeholders, then they can assign special shield skills to the mage classes. Maybe stoneskin will get a buff if a shield is equipped.

If you want to be a mage who uses a shield as a tanking aid, then you should be required to level gladiator for the cross-class skills if any are made available.

[Alhanelem]

I think the point is kinda being missed here. There will be no shield skills, period. Gladiator may gain a few of the abilities that currently belong to shield, but there will only be 15 gladiator abilities at level 50, so I can't see those shield skills making the cut unless they are very beneficial to the Gladiator's role. Even if Gladiator inherits every ability from shield, it's still not a shield ability. It will be a gladiator ability.

You can argue that you should get a return on your investment in leveling shield, but very few people specifically leveled shield. It's always been a silly tacked on class, and it levels as you level another class. Very few people leveled shield. Most people ended up with shield leveled as a side effect.

Every class will be losing some skills that are situationally useful. If you are worried about losing out on abilities that you currently possess, then Shield is probably the least of your concerns.

That's another factor i've forgotten about. They can't use the current skill learning setup without sacrificing some skills or making multiple skills learned per level.

I'm sure we'll be able to sub skills from gladiator, but the point is, we didn't have to do that before.

As long as the appropriate skills are still available through gladiator, I can't complain TOO much, as it's akin to leveling a subjob, but still, I can't say I like this chaing.

[Cycloptichorn]

I'm happy about this change, because the concept of mages carrying shields flies in the face of pretty much all lore and logic. It never made much sense.

[Mishakai]

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 can make the exact same argument about having to level cnj or thm for spells on my gladiator. Or having to level marauder for defender, or pugilist for second wind. Personally I like the change and am looking forward to seeing it in action.

[Kaizlu]

What's the matter? As far as I recall everyone was leveling up GLA to get Sentinel anyways.

[PSxpert2011]

You know, I didn't wast my time reading everything here but I'm sure there's controversy by any means. SE, you still MAKING A BIG %$$#! mistake.

Shield skill shouldn't be bound to any class and everyone plays their class differently no matter what individuals think. HELL, if a mage feel like he should carry a shield so be it. I might want to be a mage some day, at-least I have my shield skilled up, you don't have the right to patronize me. THE END.

[Cycloptichorn]

HELL, if a mage feel like he should carry a shield so be it.

Hmm, I don't think this is a logical argument. A mage shouldn't be allowed to carry a shield for the same reason they aren't allowed to wear plate armor - it runs against all known lore in practically every game or story which concerns such things. It's a trade-off for their bad-ass powers. Not only that, but it takes a tremendous amount of physical strength to use a shield effectively in battle, and mages aren't typically known for their strength.

I might want to be a mage some day, at-least I have my shield skilled up, you don't have the right to patronize me.

Oh, I'm quite sure that we/they do.

[Jinko]

I don't care as a caster (blackmage) you "shouldn't" be using 1 handed if you want to maximise damage, healing on the other hand is more suited to 1 hand and shield but meh I can live with it.

It was pretty lame to have a seperate class for shields anyway and it was more a psudo-class that a real one anyway.

[Ronik]

Uhm, what shield skills are so damned critical that you can't survive without them? There's like 4 shield abilities total. War Drum is utterly useless for just about everything. Outmaneuver and Aegis Boon are garbage since blocks are rare and a tiny bit of defense against frontal physical attacks is seriously not going to hurt your solo ability on some easy-as-all-hell leves. Shield Bash? Mages shouldn't be in melee range anyway. These abilities aren't even worth the action cost to set on your bars.

Seriously, you guys will complain about f*#$ing anything.