[Suggestion] The "Guard" skill.

[Stufoo]

I think the Guard skill should be removed as the normal sorce of making your shield do it's job. Instead, your shield should automatically block. determined by its Blocking value and if you are wearing the optimal rank shield. In addition, Deflection, Aegis Boon, and Outmaneuver should be switched to set times instead of dependent on the shield wield rate and if you have self-preservation equipped or not, Altered by if your shield is the proper rank. Given that, Self-preservation can be changed to increase shield blocking rate instead of the duration your shield arm is kept up.

I disagree with having shields being automated and passive, I believe it actually adds to the gladiator's gameplay, and strengths. The stamina investment system for blocking is well done, and to get the most pay off from it, through both the free phalanx weapon skill and actually blocking attacks, you have to keep hate on yourself, which is stamina intensive once they fix the silly no-stamina self-buff hate gain. I don't believe it needs to have any disadvantages to using the shield either, like the proposed "attack down" in this thread. You are already putting stamina into this, guard isn't very much but the special boons are, you are missing out on Heavy Stabs or provokes, or anything else that's more effective. It's called a trade off, and is part of playing the role of a tank. You do the defensive stuff, stamina wise, so others can cast freely or do damage as fast as they can. If the gladiator isn't tanking, the shield isn't being utilized and the stamina is going into attack buffs, weapon skills, and other attacks.

However, I do agree that the special boon abilities are a bit too strong to be based on wield rate, as 19 wield rate shields can get 100% up-time on deflection and aegis boon, in rotation. Of course these shields can miss blocks, but with the blocking stat able to be raised through high quality shields, and the cures in the game being so powerful while monster attacks are so weak, it feels a bit off.

A flat wield rate of 10, modified by self-preservation, would be nice I think. This is the lowest standard wield rate, and in line with what gladiators should be wearing. Scutums can get a rotation of 15 seconds aegis boon, 15 seconds of deflection, and 15 seconds of sentinel mitigation (the ability, not the shield class), and all of these are 1:00 cooldowns. You can rotate these infinitely with only 15 seconds of actual "guard" time, but it's a lot of stamina, if phalanx weren't free you wouldn't be able to do much. The 15 seconds of guard time is covered by the massive healing ability of cure and sacrifice, which is where I think the problem is, not the shielding mechanics.

I agree that guard should also be automated because when you're getting pounded as a tank you don't have time to worry about wheather or not your shield is up while trying to use Cures and Aegis Boon to try to stay alive so your party doesn't wipe.

What exactly in this game is pounding on you? Why would you rather something be based on chance instead of paying attention and playing properly? You know the best way to stop being "pounded on"? Raising your shield. This game plays very slowly, so I have no idea how you are scrambling for time to think.

But I agree with Reika, Shield blocking should be automated so we can focus on the excitement of battle, instead of the micromanaging of defensive abilities.

Maybe you shouldn't be playing a tank then. Don't neuter the only actually well done class mechanic because you don't want to think to perform your role.

/agreed
Block needs to be passive, the animation(s) really screws the current situation up.

I'll just say that I disagree again, but I completely agree about the animations in every way. Trying to move, and the shield falls, you stumble. Aegis boon doesn't show enemy attacks, and the number displays are very delayed. When you've just blocked an attack, move back into idle stance, then pop suddenly back into the guarded stance. All of it is very annoying and I do hope they get those fixed sometime.