Crossbows vs Shields & Shield skill

[Elmokki]

Like I wrote to game mechanic thread based on a post by Paul, crossbow penetrates shield if

damage > 30 + 3 * (shield armor)

So basically 20 resistance will make you fairly safe from even +3 arbalest with +3 steel bolts (need over 90 damage to penetrate that), but speed bonuses might still cause you to get penetrated.

Out of all shields the following have resistance 20 or above:
Elite Cavalry Shield (21)
Knightly Heater Shield (33)
Knightly Kite Shield (31)
Plate Covered Round Shield (61)
Huscarl's Round Shield (20)
Steel Buckler (62)
Round Steel Buckler (40)
Steel Shield (74)

+3 on a shield increases resistance by 4 I believe though, so many others pass this limit. Regardless, it's a fairly arbitary limit anyway due to speed bonuses and air friction. Yet, to be safe Knightly Heater Shield, Knightly Kite Shield or any of the metallic shields give you resistance to at minimum 123 damage which is 90 damage shot with 37% bonus from speed. At under 15 shield resistance (30 + 15*3 = 75 damage) you start to seriously risk getting your shield penetrated by a bolt.

[ThePoopy]

does it penetrate easier on dmged shields?

[Elmokki]

does it penetrate easier on dmged shields?

No. Only shield armor matters, so the only two factors are:
- Type of shield
- Heirloom level of shield

As far as I know shield armor (ie resistance value) isn't boosted by shield skill. I believe shield skill is a separate factor reducing damage and thus doesn't affect this.

[Renten]

I would like to note that the force field effect works much better on a round shield than the kite and rectangle shields. To the point that you can't even shoot someone with a round shield in the foot due to the arrows teleporting up to their shield. I feel bad when people complain about the archer not shooting them in the foot when its pretty much impossible as long as the guy has 4 or more shield skill. Low shield skill on the other hand lets people shoot through the model of the shield, which is hilariously depressing when levelling up.

[Elmokki]

I would like to note that the force field effect works much better on a round shield than the kite and rectangle shields. To the point that you can't even shoot someone with a round shield in the foot due to the arrows teleporting up to their shield. I feel bad when people complain about the archer not shooting them in the foot when its pretty much impossible as long as the guy has 4 or more shield skill. Low shield skill on the other hand lets people shoot through the model of the shield, which is hilariously depressing when levelling up.

Yeah. I only noticed this now that I started using the tiny shield skill 5 buckler at shield skill 6 (and it'll be skill 7 at 30!). Sometimes a ranged may get a shot to my feet or my upper body, but most of the time my tiny ashtray absorbs everything as long as I point it towards the right direction. Sure, bigger round shields are even safer, but the ashtray is ridiculously good against ranged considering how tiny it is. I've started to use it more and more since it's also fast, very durable (it's basically steel plated round shield with about -33% hp) and light. Also with the 60ish armor a crossbow would need 210 damage to penetrate the shield

[Renten]

Yeah. I only noticed this now that I started using the tiny shield skill 5 buckler at shield skill 6 (and it'll be skill 7 at 30!). Sometimes a ranged may get a shot to my feet or my upper body, but most of the time my tiny ashtray absorbs everything as long as I point it towards the right direction. Sure, bigger round shields are even safer, but the ashtray is ridiculously good against ranged considering how tiny it is. I've started to use it more and more since it's also fast, very durable (it's basically steel plated round shield with about -33% hp) and light. Also with the 60ish armor a crossbow would need 210 damage to penetrate the shield

I also started using that shield when I have 5 shield skill. Almost no reason not to use it, and funny as hell when the ranged people shoot at your feet and it just teleports up to your wrist.