Rextard, I hope you don't mind if I quote some of your arguments,
1) Shield bash is a real technique that has historically factored into melee fighting.
That's true.
2) 2handers can carry weapons that destroy shields in 2-3 hits.
Yeah, crappy shields. A normal/heavy shield user takes a lot more hits with an anti-shield weapon.
4) Shields break during fights, heavy armor doesn't. All the tin cans running around in plate with 2handers get the same protection as the best shields, without having to worry about the armor's protection disappearing in an instant, or having to aim their armor to get any use out of it.
But they can't hold RMB to bring up a forcefield around themselves. All the tin-cans? Heavy armor became a rare sight now, most people use mail because of the upkeep, and the lower base stats/wpf they've got. And the protection of armour is laughable compared to a shield.
5) 2handers become effectively about as fast as a 1hander when they swing their cursors into the strike.
You can use this technique just like anyone else.
6) 2handers are vastly dominant over 1handers without shields: Range, damage, effective speed, retarded close range swings that would not have the luxury of breaking real life collision.
I only agree about Range. The others are bullshit. You can get a powerful, and fast 1h in one package.
7) Currently, anti-shield strategy is gang up on the shielder: it's very hard to get a kill let alone survive against multiple enemies long enough to get help. A skilled 2hander can take on multiple enemies with far more likelihood of winning the encounter than a skilled shielder. You basically have to be in a clan to find the teamwork required to pwn alongside other shielders.
Are you kidding me? A shielder can hold RMB to protect him/herself for a while, and can take on multiple opponents with greater efficiency than us, 2h/polearm guys, and if there are two of them turtles, it's all over. Also, we have very skilled shield users, fight them, and you'll take back what you said.
8) 2handers have no respect for shielders. Careless ffs and tks happen a lot because allied 2handers swing wild while shielders take hits for and/or from them.
Bullshit. TKs and ffs happen a lot, but not just with 2handers and polearms, it happens to everyone, no matter what build, you seem to be a bit biased.
9) Plenty of 2handed weapons can get 1hit kills. WHAT 1H weapon can do that consistently? None. So what often happens in group fighting? 2handers swoop in for the kill after a shielder takes damage (to self or shield) and softens up the enemy. No assist and little recognition for the work they put into 2handers having great k:d's.
A lot of weapons can do that, with enough Powerstrike. Ah, you fight for recognition, and kills? Sorry to tell you, you've already lost. This isn't a Frag hunting FPS, this isn't Sparta, this mod is about teamwork, tactics, and having a good time. That's it.
I would like to see shield bash instituted. 1handers want a fair shot at top scores, I would say most don't have it. Hell I'd like to see shield spins too, to smoke fools with the edge of a shield (tiny line of contact = big pressure), and follow it up rapidly with a one handed swing. I don't think it's ridiculous, given the high costs of higher level shields, that people should start having to think of them as more than just a defensive pin cushion with completely binary use.
Saying that the game is balanced is horseshit when the vast majority of the top scorers are 2handers. The game simply isn't balanced for skill if it's compromised for some member of the rock-paper-scissors scheme. I think it's getting further away from rock-paper-scissors, but it really could use some tweaks to get it well away from that horrid, terrible, inaccurate, inappropriate analogy.
The top scores again? You have to change your mind about this, you'll only find the game frustrating if you want to be on the top all the time. Weird, there are 1handers who can manage to do this. Pracitce a bit more with your technique.
I have nothing against a shield bash, as long as I can counter it with a kick/something. Well, the rock-paper-scissors thing will stay for a long time, I think it'll stay forever, as long as people can make different characters. Each build has it's own weakness,
and they'll always have one.
Why do all you 2handers think that you should have an equivalent to whatever 1handers might get, when 1handers have none of the range or damage that you get, nor the diversity of weapon effects and choices?
Simple: Game Balance. Let's say, 2handers would get a move that can hit through your shield no matter what weapon, you would like an equivalent to counter it, right?
You have that diversity.. just look around.
PS: From your post I see that you're a bit biased/1h lobbyist. Stay calm, man.
