Shield skill should be Strength based

[Remy]

No, as it would completely and utterly unbalance the melee game.

[Glyph]

it should be half agi half strength, but that would be unbalanced, so NO!

[Fluffy_Muffin]

My answer to this suggestion : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvdf5n-zI14

[camperus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXOG5eqN8xg&feature=youtu.be

Noooooooo noooooooooooo noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[ArchonAlarion]

So should this game have any rhyme or reason at all, or are we just going to end up with a nonsensical hodgepodge to compensate for whatever the unbalance of the day is?

Shields are the only item in the game (besides horses) that are unlocked by an agility based skill. Conceptually, this is ridiculous, even though it is a cheap fix for preventing an unbalanced build.

Armor: Strength unlocks
Melee weapons: Powerstrike (str) buffs, Strength unlocks
Bows: Powerdraw (str) buffs and unlocks
Throwing: Powerthrow (str) buffs and unlocks
Crossbows: Strength unlocks
Shields: Shield (agi) buffs and unlocks

Now, there are two ways to consider the Shield skill relative to the other skills. We can view it like a "Power___" skill or as a sort of bastardized Weaponmaster solely for shields. If it is considered as a Power___ skill, then it should be strength based. Further, the Difficulty of shields may be determined either by strength (like melee weapons) or the shield skill (like ranged weapons). If it is considered a sort of Weaponmaster, then the skill SHOULD be agility based (like weaponmaster), but unlocking shields should be strength based.

I don't think the underlying issues of this game will ever be addressed, if they are simply compensated for by nonsensical and arbitrary skill requirements.

Fine, currently shields cannot be strength based due to balance issues. However, shields were a weapon (the effective wielding of which determined by strength) that historically had its benefits, drawbacks, and eventual disuse, which gives me reason to believe that if shields cannot be implemented correctly without resorting to nonsensical skill requirements, that something is innately wrong with attributes and skills. I'd like to see this issue fixed at some point.

[Blondin]

If it is considered a sort of Weaponmaster, then the skill SHOULD be agility based (like weaponmaster), but unlocking shields should be strength based.

You said it, it's like weaponmaster, because every shield is unlocked by your mastery on how to use it, you're right when you say that you need strength to hold a shield, but you need mastery to use it in the good way.

[Lordark]

maybe give bigger shields more weight so they cant move as fast?

[ArchonAlarion]

You said it, it's like weaponmaster, because every shield is unlocked by your mastery on how to use it, you're right when you say that you need strength to hold a shield, but you need mastery to use it in the good way.

Sure, but you can compare that argument for the reasoning behind melee weapons. Weapon mastery accounts for the character's subtle technique that the player cannot translate directly into the game via the mouse and keyboard. It is slightly redundant, but effectively narrows the scope of any single character's play style.

Melee weapons are unlocked by strength; the reasoning is that you can at least wield a weapon if you are strong enough, but without the subtle technique of those trained in its use.

This should apply to all worn/wieldable items, but I would be content if it at least applied to all melee items INCLUDING shields, which are really more like melee weapons than anything else.

[EponiCo]

The thing about unlocking with strength is quite silly though if you are going for realism.
You don't need to press weights to be able to carry a sidesword, not even for a poleaxe. The only thing that is realistically unlocked is bows.

[ArchonAlarion]

The thing about unlocking with strength is quite silly though if you are going for realism.
You don't need to press weights to be able to carry a sidesword, not even for a poleaxe. The only thing that is realistically unlocked is bows.

I agree. Ideally, the formulas would go

strength - weight(*misc wpn factor) = weapon attack/block speed spd
weapon spd*weight(*misc wpn factor) = incoming dmg

Below a certain very low attack/swing spd threshold, the weapon would not be wieldable, but generally you could wield any weapon, just not well.

This would significantly change the stat system though, so I didn't mention it.

[Wookimonsta]

make it dependant on both str and agi. Needs 3 of each to get one more shield skill.

[Trikipum]

Any AUS players remember DIMOS before shields were agil based. Plate, steel shield, 33 str or more elite scim. All this before upkeep and with native stats. He was unstoppable and effectively unbreakable being l maybe level 45.

Shields have been always agi based...since mount and blade the original XD. Send me the phone number of your dealer....

[Spawny]

make it dependant on both str and agi. Needs 3 of each to get one more shield skill.

This would do what?

It only prevents agility shielders from spending more than 3 or 4 points in shieldskill.
Strength shielders are unaffected, as they allready are capped in their shieldskill cuz of their low agility.
Balanced builds don't feel it because they have multiples of 3 in both stats allready.

It doesn't really do anything but nerf agility shielders.